A Missouri widow has carried on a cherished tradition with her late husband of more than 30 years through a modest flower shop in a moving story of love and loyalty. Despite her loss, she has found solace and meaning in continuing their common passion for bringing joy through flowers.
Cierlita McGee is a Missouri resident. The 78-year-old has spent her life committed to helping others.
She has taught English to people who want to immigrate to the United States from other countries, has helped disabled adults in their homes, and most recently, lying on the living room floor behind her husband, doing cross-bike motions. air to keep your blood pumping.
McGee now runs a flower stand called “Just Because” in a Springfield parking lot, looking to brighten the day of passers-by, all in memory of her late husband, George.
McGee can be under his bright red umbrella from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Saturday. Among the many species available at McGee’s are roses, carnations, orchids, and lilies. Customers can purchase one or a large bouquet for $5-20. From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, McGee will set up her booth in the Phillips 66 parking lot. She accepts cash and checks.
Love in Full Bloom: A Missouri Widow’s Tribute Through a Flower Stand
Credits: Nathan Papes/Springfield News – Leader
McGee opened her flower stand on July 1 to honor George, who she said showered her with gifts during their 31 years of marriage. George died on March 4, 2022, at the age of 71.
“Every time I would come home from work, I would say, ‘Honey, I have a surprise for you.'” “It could be a rose stem, a candy bar, or a $1 ticket,” McGee explained. “I would jump up and down.” He kept telling me, ‘It’s just because,’ so I called my company Just Because…”.
McGee visits George’s grave at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery every morning before opening the flower business. George served in both the Army and the Marine Corps.
Cierlita and George met in Hawaii in the 1980s. Cierlita was working as a residential counselor with three disabled people at the time, and George was the maintenance coordinator for the unit in which Cierlita worked and lived. When Cierlita put in a maintenance request for her unit, George came to fix it. “After that, he would come every day and ask, ‘Mrs. Cierli, is there anything he needs?'” “I didn’t need anything, but he kept coming back,” Cierlita laughed.
She is originally from the Philippines and immigrated to the United States to continue her education. She wasn’t familiar with Hawaii, so George offered to give her a tour. Love blossomed quickly, according to Cierlita. George quit her job as maintenance coordinator and moved to Chicago before they could make things official, but not before giving Cierlita her phone number.
Credits: Nathan Papes/Springfield News – Leader
She worked as a high school and college teacher in the Philippines before moving to the United States. She has a business degree. Cierlita also taught English as a second language to recently arrived refugees.
Cierlita went to Springfield shortly after George left Hawaii to earn his master’s degree in special education at Missouri State University. When she arrived, she called George, who had moved to Springfield, to be with her. They got married in 1990.
Credits: Nathan Papes/Springfield News – Leader
He had a full-time job in addition to attending school while George drove a truck. Cierlita admitted that she did not have her textbooks due to lack of financial resources. Instead, while they were both off work, George helped her make copies of books in her library so she could study and finish her thesis. Cierlita worked as a case manager for the Missouri Department of Mental Health after graduating from Missouri State.
what do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.
For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn