Community News
Donald Bray: Heritage Health Spotlight
Donald pictured with his birthday flowers and birthday presents he received just recently for his birthday.
Donald E. Bray is our Resident Spotlight for Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Center. Donald has been a resident at Heritage Health, previously Heritage Manor, since March of 2011. “It is very nice here, and the staff is very helpful and considerate,” Donald said. Donald boasted of his improvements since joining the Heritage Health family and wishes to return to “home” soon.
Donald, who is 82 years young, was born in the countryside of Raymond, Illinois. In the country, he spent mostly all of his time on the farm. “I had very good parents,” he bragged, “I was very blessed in that respect.”
After his father died, Donald lived with his mother before he put her into a nursing home. Donald did not marry or have children at a young age because he promised his mother he would never depart her for another woman while she was alive. Soon after Donald placed her into a nursing home, he got married.
Donald married Ester Peachmire, who he is still legally married to now, but he does not see her often. After moving out, he bought a house in Litchfield which was “run down.” Donald went on to say he hopes his house is still there to this date and he would like to go back and visit it to see what it is like or if it has changed any.
“It is very nice here,” Donald, who is a single child, said of Heritage Health, “They treat me very good.”
As a child, Donald spent much of his time on the farm and occasionally other children came around to play with him. For the most part, Donald had to learn how to entertain himself until he started school. He started school in a country school and recalled the great distances he walked to even get to school.
Sometimes Donald had to walk over 2 miles just to get to school. “I learned to love walking,” Donald said, “But the roads were not oiled like they are now and in the spring it was very muddy, but that did not stop me.” After attending country school, Donald started high school in Carlinville and later went on to finish his high school diploma at Litchfield.
High school was a fun time according to Donald, there were a lot of girls there. After high school, Donald got a letter from the president stating he was being drafted. “I did not know what to think,” Donald said, “But I only served for two years and then I was done.”
The Army, where Donald was a construction engineer, taught him a love for camping and traveling as he spent most of his stay in Germany. In Germany, he loved meeting new people and congregating among other “English-speaking” Germans. Heritage Health reminds Donald of the army in a sense where he persistently wonders when he will be going home.
“I did whatever I was told to do in the Army,” Donald said, “They liked me, because I always listened.” He did not love the Army, but it was a good experience and it could have been worse according to Donald. “It is much like here,” Donald said of Heritage Health, “I want to go home, but I am happy I am here and very fortunate we have something like this for seniors like me.”
Donald loves camping and recalled of many camping trips he took after he was out of the army and before becoming part of the Heritage Health family. “Before I came in here, I had a big pickup truck,” Donald stated, “I put a camper on the back and I used to travel all over.”
Outside of camping, the 82 year old youngster enjoys wood-working. Donald learned wood-working in high school after taking the trade class. “To carve wood, I first needed walnut trees,” Donald explained, “So, my father and I cut the trees down and took the wood to a saw mill to be cut into boards.”
As a hobby, Donald made different types of furniture. At his home, he has many things he made. “At my home, I have a huge desk I made on my own,” Donald said as he got excited, “I also made the pulpit for Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Raymond.” The church started without much money, so Donald helped out where he could.
The church bought some old church pews and they called on Donald to fix them up. “Finally, I took them home and worked on them,” Donald explained, “I sanded them down and put a new finish on them and gave them back.” I am blessed to have learned that trade in high school, Donald said.
At Heritage Health, Donald loves the long, large hall ways. He enjoys walking down them with his girlfriend, but also likes walking with his walker. “I can sometimes walk without my walker,” Donald bragged, “But I probably look like I drank too much alcohol because I am not as steady as I used to be.”
Along with the hallways, he enjoys his television. “They put this in just for me and I am very thankful,” Donald shared. He also enjoys the cordless headphones that go with the TV so his neighbor does not get annoyed.
Overall, Donald feels very blessed at Heritage Health and would recommend the place to anyone who needs assistance or would like some more friends.
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2:18 Missions, a nonprofit focused on home repair projects in the Gillespie area and humanitarian efforts at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, has launched a spring food drive to support families served by the Henderson Settlement Food Pantry. The pantry assists low-income families across five counties in the Appalachian region, where a steady supply of nourishing food is essential.
The organization emphasizes that no donation is too small or too large. Right now, all contributions received from now through the first week of April will directly fund food for families in need. It costs roughly $35 to provide food for a family of four for an entire month, a goal that this drive aims to meet for as many families as possible.
Donations can be made in several convenient ways. Checks or cash may be given to any 2:18 Missions team member. For those who prefer digital options, donations are accepted via Venmo or PayPal at 2:18 Missions Nfp. Community members are also encouraged to follow and engage with updates on the 2:18 Missions Facebook page.
2:18 Missions stresses that every contribution, regardless of size, makes a tangible difference in the lives of families working to make ends meet in the mountains of Kentucky and the residents of Gillespie who support their neighbors in need. The organization invites the public to join in this effort and to help spread the word through social media and word of mouth.
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The Gillespie Public Library invites the community to its 13th annual Night of Trivia and Games, a popular evening of competition, camaraderie, and cash prizes. The event is set for Saturday, March 28, 2025, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Attendees can expect a safe, social night out as organizers have arranged tables to accommodate social distancing, ensuring guests can enjoy the fun in a comfortable setting. The evening features prizes for first, second, and third place, along with a 50-50 drawing and other assorted cash games and prizes.
In keeping with the event’s lighthearted spirit, there will be no silent auction. Organizers emphasize that the goal is “Only laughs and fun,” with a chance to win money while enjoying a friendly competition format.
Entry is a $100 team fee, with a maximum of 10 players per team. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by March 25 to guarantee a table. Registration options include mailing a form to Gillespie Public Library, 201 W Chestnut, Gillespie, IL 62033; calling the library at 217-839-3614; or contacting Steve Joyce at 217-839-2839.
For those interested in joining or learning more, team captains should designate a contact person and provide a reachable phone number during registration.
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The estate of the late Lindell and Jean Loveless, longtime Macoupin County pork producers, has made generous equal gifts to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie CUSD #7 and to the Carlinville CUSD #1 Education Foundation. The gifts come from the remainder of a family trust established to ensure high-quality end-of-life care and were divided upon Jean Loveless’s passing, with equal shares allocated to the education foundations in each district.
Tim Loveless, local businessman and son of Lindell and Jean, emphasized the family’s enduring commitment to education and practical life skills. “It was my parents’ desire to use these remaining funds to support and enhance career and technical education programs in our schools,” Loveless said. He recalled his family’s deep roots in hard work and the value of life skills, noting that “the spirit of this gift is to prepare students for life in general, and to prepare them to earn a living by learning a trade.”
“The bottom half of the class,” Tim continued, “needs financial education and practical skills. A person can learn and earn their way to success.” He described his parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ diverse ventures—from farming and cattle to turkey production, nursing homes, meat processing, swine production, and subdivisions—and underscored that high formal education is not the sole path to success, but motivation and skill are crucial. He expressed hope that the gift will help school districts boost opportunities for students who may doubt their ability to succeed.
John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence in CUSD7, welcomed the gift as a strong alignment with the Partnership’s mission. “This Loveless family gift is a perfect fit for the established goals and policies of The Partnership,” Fassero said.
Since its founding in 1992, The Partnership has awarded nearly 600 scholarships based on goals and hard work rather than GPA or class rank. Fassero noted that the organization has several scholarships targeted to the trades, and that nearly 20 scholars have pursued trade school education in the past four years alone. “In addition, two-thirds of The Partnership’s giving is directed to curriculum enhancement across all three schools and in all specialties, including shop and FFA,” Fassero added.
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