| Notes |
- Email from Nina to Dwight, Sent Fri 4/30/04 2:31 PM
Hello Dwight
I was surprised,but pleased to hear from you. I will do my best to tell you about my volunteer activities (I don't know if you are interested in what I did in my younger, or work years) much has been either lost or is in storage. I had a wall full of framed certificates in the house in Denver, but they are all in storage now.
I did locate an old file with some of the information you might want. This is going to sound a bit like an obituary I expect,though.
I was State Director of AARP in Colorado from December of 1981 to December of 1985. By the way, how in the world did you come across the newspaper clipping of a letter I wrote so long ago?
As Sate Director (I believe they call that office State President now).. both Bill and I had many opportunities. I not only travelled over the state visiting chapters, but attended yearly conventions in different cities, as well as trips to Washington DC and other meetings requiring my presence. In 1986 I served on the Resolutions Committee requiring me to go to Washington DC. This is a committee that sets up priorities that AARp will work for at the next convention. All of my expenses were covered, but there was no salary.
Before I took that office I was president of my local chapter for some years, then served as Assistant State Director for a few yeaars. There were a number of people serving in that office under the SD.
After serving my term as SD, I was a member of the AARP Legislative Committee. We met weekly and went over bills that had priority for us with the Legislature. We attended the sessions, and I sometimes testified for a bill.
I served as a member of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) in 1994, then resigned, for what reason I don't presently recall.
Served in 1983, for how long I don't have record, under Mayor Federico Pena on the Commission on Aging, and have a beautiful wooden plaque from him for my service.
I don't have a date on this, but I served on the Board for OASIS, a senior activity and study group which started out in Denver at space given them by May D&F. Mayor McNichols and I cut the ribbon upon its opening there.
In 1986 I served on the Denver Commission on Aging, don't have a record of how long--and have also a very nice certificate from Governor Lamb.
I worked with Congressman Tim Wirth with a senior group who lobbied for him and through that, met and shook hands with President Carter. i have a picture of the President and myself.
Locally, im my community, I worked with City Councilman Sam Sandos to get a senior center in the Barnum Community. I wrote many letters, attended many meetings and testified at City Council to achieve that. I had assistance from other local people. It is a beautiful center and has served the BarnumCommunity well. I have taken part in a lot of the activity there, and before moving here had led a discussion group for six or more years, on every topic you can think of.
In addition to that I was active in the Bethany United Methodist Church in many offices and received some wonderful recognition and plaques from them.
This is as much as I can think of currently. If you are interested in any part of my life before retirement, I will be glad to see what I can put together for you.
Incidentally, have you read the book "An Owl On Every Post"? This is a story--mostly true--about the area where my dad and mom homesteaded and where I was born. My great granddaughter, Laura Frank, presently has the book and is working up a report on it for one of her classes. It would give you an insight to where your grandmother lived, and what her life was like there.
Hope this is what you want.
I have my ups and downs, lbut so far am staying in there.
Love,
Nina
Died:
- http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=NINA-EASON&lc=4262&pid=156941951&mid=5064721&locale=en-US
In Memory of NINA B EASON
Nina Bertha Eason passed away in Grand Junction, Colorado at the age of 97 on April 4, 2012. Born in Two Buttes, Colorado on March 6, 1915, to John Ralph Nicholas and Bertha Myrtle Mayhood Nicholas, Nina spent her early years on the plains of western Kansas and eastern Colorado.
Much of her childhood was spent on a small farm in eastern Colorado. Known as the "Oasis" due to her father's horticultural skills, the farm was located 12 miles south of Boyero. Her parents raised most of what they required and she rode a horse to attend a small country school. Her world expanded when she left the farm in her early twenties to attend Barnes Business School in Denver.
On June 4, 1939, she married William Jay Eason, "the cowboy next door". Their marriage lasted 57 years until his death on January 8, 1997. Their early years together were spent on ranches across the Colorado plains, but they transitioned to the city with a move to Denver in 1953. It was at that point that she dusted off her business school training and went to work as a secretary at Colorado Metals.
After retiring at age 62, Nina found her true calling as a community leader and an advocate for seniors. It was then that she became actively involved with the American Association of Retired Persons, serving first as president of her local chapter. That was followed by three years as Assistant State Director. She then served as Colorado State Director of AARP from December 1981 to December 1985. It was during those years that she traveled over the state visiting chapters, attending yearly conventions and traveling to Washington DC for meetings. She then served on the Resolutions Committee which set priorities for the next AARP convention and also served on the AARP legislative committee.
In addition to her involvement with AARP, Nina served in 1993 under Mayor Pena on the Commission on Aging, in 1994 as a member of the Denver Regional Council of Governments, and as a board member on OASIS which was a senior activity and study group. Her active involvement continued in 1996 with service on the Denver Commission on Aging. She was also an active participant in efforts to get a senior center in the Barnum Community. It was in that center that she participated in numerous activities to include leading a discussion group for several years that explored many and varied topics.
Throughout all this, she was very active in the Bethany United Methodist Church where she held many offices and received numerous recognitions for her efforts. As age slowed her ability to participate in the many things in Denver that meant so much to her she made the decision to move in October 2003 to the Grand Junction area where she could be closer to family.
She is survived by her son and daughter in law Nick and Marian Eason, granddaughters Christie Frank (Larry) and Karen Eason, and great grandchildren Laura Frank and Philip Frank, as well as many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Bertha Nicholas, her husband William Eason, and sisters Thelma Thompson, Inez Schroeder and Kathryn Inness.
Services for Nina Eason will be conducted at Bethany United Methodist Church at 3501 West 1st Avenue, Denver, Colorado on April13th at 11:00 AM. It is suggested that a donation be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado; 2754 Compass Drive, Suite 377; Grand Junction, CO 81506; or www.hospice.com, in lieu of flowers.
The Celebration of Life Service
Friday, April 13, 2012
11:00am - 12:00pm
Bethany United Methodist Church
3501 W 1St Ave
Denver, CO
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1915 - 2012 (97 years)
