Best of the Nest: Phoenix Senior Living honors local resident

Each year, Phoenix Senior Living Communities across the south-central and southeastern United States honor the “Best of the Nest,” selected from 49 communities across 10 south-central and southeastern states. The resident recognition award was created to honor the remarkable individuals whose lives, legacies and character have left a lasting imprint on their communities. This year’s recipients included Bonnie Garrett, a resident at The Bungalows at the Meadows in Branson. 

Garrett, who turned 101 on January 2, was honored with a special ceremony at The Bungalows, joining the other recipients via video shared among the 10 communities. Residents are nominated by community associates and peers who have seen firsthand the impact the nominees have made through their stories, demonstrating service, resilience and community presence continuing into their senior years. From these nominations, a committee of associates thoughtfully review and select the 10 most impactful stories that exemplify the heart of the Phoenix Senior Living mission. 

Phoenix Senior Living President Seth Pesek opened the video ceremony by thanking the associates in the various communities for their hard work and the residents’ families for entrusting their loved ones to the communities’ care. He then commented on the importance of legacy and making sure those residents’ stories are celebrated and not forgotten. 

“These award recipients are living examples of resilience,” said Pesek. “Their experiences remind us why it is a privilege to serve, to listen and to learn from the generations that came before us.” 

Following the introductory remarks, the video shifted to each local facility in turn as the honorees received their awards. A representative from the national office of Phoenix Senior Living was present at each ceremony, including Shawn Pekar, who traveled to Branson to present Garrett with a plaque on behalf of the national leadership team and shared that hearing residents’ stories was the most enjoyable part of her job. 

Program and outreach director Victoria Garrison of The Bungalows hosted the local ceremony and presented Garrett with a gift of her favorite fruit. Garrett’s daughter and son-in-law, Pat and Larry Campbell of Branson, were also in attendance, along with representatives from Haven Home Hospice and Typaldo Rehab, which serve Bungalows residents. 

Garrett’s life reflects a century of resilience, service and adventure that began January 2, 1925, on a farm near Corning, Arkansas. Bonnie worked at a U.S. Naval Base in California while her husband, Carl, served in the U.S. Army Air Forces; following the war, they raised their family in the St. Louis area where Bonnie worked 20 years for Schnucks, winning awards for her dedication and work ethic. After retirement, the couple founded a senior travel company, guiding trips to 34 countries over the next 16 years. Following Carl’s passing, Bonnie moved to Branson in 2003 to be closer to her daughter, where she devoted herself to serving the area veteran community. She loves to salute whenever appropriate, and the Day Room at the Veterans Village was named in honor of her 100th birthday.  

Bonnie also held the title of Miss Missouri for a year; her crown and sash are still cherished mementoes. Asked to recount a favorite memory, Bonnie said that one of her most treasured memories is of a trip to Israel during their years in the travel industry. 

Joining the other celebrations by video was a treat, hearing so many inspirational stories. Just a few of their highlights—

●      A member of the Navajo Nation whose memories include wearing beautiful handcrafted pow-wow regalia to vibrant, joyful dance celebrations; 

●      Several military veterans from the World War II and Korea era, both men and women, including an Army photo lab supervisor; 

●      An Arkansas doctor whose work paved the way for Black students to gain access to predominantly white institutions, and who found time to complete several Boston and New York Marathons alongside his career; 

●      A lifelong scholar with multiple master’s and doctoral degrees, who attributes her longevity and energy to decaf coffee, non-alcoholic wine and V8 energy drinks! 

●      NASA officials including a Recovery Officer for the 1966 retrieval of the Gemini space capsule off the African coast, and a research manager who helped develop the engines on the Saturn I, IB, and V rockets; 

●      The first woman to serve as Alumni Board President at Emory University; 

●      One of the original “Rosie the Riveters” who worked as a welder in ship construction while still in high school during World War II. 

These highlights, as with Bonnie Garrett’s remarkable career, help underscore the importance of asking questions and learning from these wonderful people’s decades of service to their communities. They also help explain why the staff and volunteers at Phoenix Senior Living Communities and other facilities are so dedicated to the residents and families they serve. Congratulations to Bonnie and the other “Best of the Nest” recipients!