February 8, 2018
This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Many of us
had the pleasure of working with or being aided by the late LaVerne Allen when
she worked as a school nurse or at Geary Community Hospital. In an article written by Brenda Green, a
staff writer for the “Daily Union” newspaper in 1986, the author wrote that
“Throughout Laverne’s years in nursing she has not only seen many people die,
but also seen nearly as many healing miracles.
She graduated from Christ’s Hospital in Topeka, which is now Stormont
Vail, in 1940 and “grabbed” the first job she could get. There weren’t many jobs available, so she accepted
a position in Norton at a salary of $55.00 a month and room and board. The work day was from 7 PM until 7 AM – with
perhaps one night off during the month.
She then transferred to Hays, Kansas for about a year, and then went to
Key West, Florida.
LaVerne’s nursing career began in Junction City in 1943. The
Junction City hospital was then located at Ash and Jefferson Streets before it
was renamed Geary Community Hospital, which is now at the corner of Ash and
Eisenhower Streets. That hospital opened in 1966.
LaVerne also
worked as a school nurse from 1942 until 1984, when she retired from USD
475. Sheridan Elementary was the last
school in which she worked. She recalled
times when she and her husband, James, a former Junction City Fire Chief were
at the movies and her name would flash across the movie screen with
instructions for her to call the hospital.
(This was before beepers and cell phones.) LaVerne also recalled that her personal
experiences with losing loved ones had better prepared her to deal with her
work and to understand what people go through when they lose someone.” LaVerne Allen was somewhat of a miracle
herself for doing all the good she did for others for many years. Those are some fond memories of a kind lady –
LaVerne Allen.
And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the
Geary County Historical Society.
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