Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Volunteer Spotlight: JULI SIMON

In order to tell Juli`s Mossyrock story we need to go back two generations to Juli`s grandmother Anne Belcher, who graduated from Mossyrock High School in 1932. Community service started generations ago in this family with Grandmother Anne serving as Mossyrock Garden Club (est. 1932) president for several years. Later, Juli`s mom, Sharon De Weese, known to everyone as Sherri, continued the family tradition. 

Sherri graduated from Mossyrock High School in 1961, moved to Oregon to raise her family, but her heart remained in Mossyrock. She longed for the community, wildlife, and natural beauty of the area; so in 1983 the family returned to care for Grandmother Anne. Sherri spent the next 23 years bringing back, and greatly contributing to the success of the community events she loved as a child; Pioneer Days, the Tulip Festival, and the Dam Rod Run. Sherri, like Mother Anne, served as Mossyrock Garden Club president for many years. Juli shared a favorite story of her mother`s: as young teen Sherri would drive her father`s tractor and wagon and make the rounds loading up all the area kids to go to the 5 cent movies at the G Theatre.

During this time, Juli graduated from Mossyrock High School (1986).  She has spent most of her adult life in Mossyrock, with a short time in Portland for college, Alaska, Idaho, and a brief stay in Puerto Rico to help out with Hurricane Hugo cleanup (1990).

Juli has seven children ranging from 31 to six, with three still at home. She has inherited the family passion for public service and now volunteers with the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival as Vendor Coordinator. She also coordinates the vendors for the City of Mossyrock`s Spirit of Christmas event and happily helps out elsewhere whenever the community asks.

What Juli especially appreciates about this community is the support and solidarity that shines whenever there is a need for a member. "The Mossyrock Community is one that really pulls together when someone needs help".

The Mossyrock Area Action League would like to extend a heartfelt thanks and
gratitude to Juli for all her contributions to our community.

1 comment:

Lydia said...

I AGREE!!! Mrs. Simons has done an amazing job in helping to facilitate the Blueberry Festival. I sold as a vendor for the first time last year, and she was AMAZING, encouraging, and she came by often to see if I needed any help. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MRS. SIMONS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, and for the incredibly cheerful way in which you do it!!!!!!