Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Queen beyond the day
Garnet Gruff wins regional senior pageant
Ididn’t think I stood a chance with all those other gorgeous ladies. They are so sweet,” Garnet Gruff said.
Gruff, who will be 95 in November, represented Bradford House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Bentonville when she was crowned the queen at the Region 3 Arkansas Health Care Association 2014 Pageant Sept. 19 at the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education in Springdale.
Gruff grew up in a small town in Ohio, raising her children in the same house where she was born. The family moved to Wichita, Kan., and then Bella Vista. She lived in Bella Vista about 30 years and said she has been a widow for 27. She believes she has made it through all these years because of good clean living.
“I didn’t drink. I didn’t smoke, but I danced a lot,” Gruff said.
Each nursing home previously held its own pageant, and winners went on to a regional pageant, pageant organizer Shannon Brewer said. After winning the Region 3 pageant, Gruff will go on to the State Queen Pageant Nov. 18 at Benton Event Center.
Other contestants included Frances Aldrich from Hillcrest Home in Harrison, Marilyn Sue Maiden from Shiloh Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Springdale, Jackie Gregory of Innisfree
Garnet Gruff, center, celebrates with her great-granddaughters Jordyn, left, and Kennedy after winning the Region 3 Arkansas Health Care Association 2014 Pageant Sept. 19 at the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education in Springdale. in Rogers, Maxine Caviness of Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville, Linda Mark of Jamestown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rogers, Carol Green of Ashley Health & Rehabilitation in Rogers, Robbie Dickson of Fayetteville Health and Rehabilitation Center, Mary Ann Stacy of Heritage Park Nursing Center in Rogers, Jean Shook of Brighton Ridge in Eureka Springs, Thelma Rounds of The Maples in Springdale, Marian Slape of Newton County Nursing Home in Jasper, Geraldine Copeland of Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation and Mildred Nordin of Autumn Hill in Berryville.
Heath Harrison of Elite Home Health was the master of ceremonies. Judges were Sandy Warmack of Autumn Place, Linda Vigil of Clarity Pointe, Shannon Robertson of Gravette Hospital, Peggy Martin of Vantage Point, Kelly Gemmel of Milestone Construction and Andrea Mercer of Gravette Clinic.
Pageant entertainment was provided by barbershop quartet The Go Getters.
Harps and Spring Street Grill provided refreshments.