Friday, June 7, 2013

SUE BATES HAS PASSED AWAY


Sue Bates, one of the original Children's Festival five passed away on May 2, 2013 from complications of A.L.S.


Sue was one of the original Storytellers for the Storytelling Guild and alternated with four others doing weekly storytimes at the Medford Library Children's Room.  Sue was a favorite storyteller and was always bringing something of interest for our 'tots to five' group!   On occasion she would bring in "Jake the snake" who was a family pet Boa Constrictor for the children to pet.  Jake was small and lived in a cage in her son Jeff's room.  Always a good sport, Sue even let the Children's Librarian (me) have my turn at petting the snake!


For the first Children's Festival, Sue acted as the gatekeeper/ treasurer to take in the .25 cents admission that was charged to adults only that first year!  Children got in free.


Sue quietly took care of business and was always available to take on a job at hand whether it be doing stories, counting quarters, painting backdrops, running a booth with her own children, Kim, Jeff, Shannon and Meredith and giving encouragement and at the same time building confidence for other women.  She never expected the limelight, nor sought center stage but she was a star!  Sue traveled extensively serving as a mission worker for her church group in many third world countries and was always photographed with the children wherever she went.  She will be missed!  


Children's Festival T-Shirt Designs, 1982 to 2014

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