TEG
Good Evening
VVV
‘Tis the
season.
Christmas past
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
By Jessie Wagoner
[email protected]
During the month of December
Joyce Kennedy waits with great anticipation for Christmas cards to begin arriving. She collects and keeps
each one but waits for one in particular — a cherished card from her first
grade teacher, Doris Ware.
“Every year I wait for the card to
arrive,” Kennedy said. “And so far,
every year it has.”
Miss Doris, as Kennedy calls her,
taught school at Pleasant Valley, a
country school outside of Greensburg. Miss Doris began teaching
Kennedy in the first grade and continued for several consecutive years.
She was a young teacher, not much
older than the oldest students at the
country school.
Miss Doris is now 97-years-old
and Kennedy just recently celebrated her 84th birthday. Regardless,
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Miss Doris still addresses each card
to “Young Joyce.”
“She always found the good in every student and situation,” Kennedy
said. “She found good everywhere. I
suppose that is probably why she has
lived so long.”
As Kennedy waits each December with anticipation of the card’s
arrival, it conjures up memories
from years ago. Memories of her
childhood, memories of her schooling and memories of Christmas’
past. Many of her fond memories of
Christmas involve Miss Doris.
“She loved Christmas and made it
a special time for us,” Kennedy said.
“We would practice and practice for
the Christmas story we would put on
Courtesy Photo
for our parents.”
Kennedy recalls that the school A photo of the card Doris Ware
served not only as a place for educat- sent Joyce Kennedy this year.
ing surrounding children but also Ware was Kennedy’s first grade
Please see Cards, Page 5
teacher and send her Christmas
cards every year.
Kendra Johnson/Gazette
Courtesy Photo
A photo of Joyce Kennedy when she was in school with her classmates and teacher, Doris Ware.
Joyce Kennedy sits for a portrait in her home on Monday.
Kennedy gets a Christmas card from her first grade teacher, Doris
Ware, every year.
Mr. Christmas Jose Feliciano
A
bove, Jose Feliciano is known as Mr. Christmas. This
year he has 14 Christmas trees on display throughout
his historical home.
Left, the kitchen Christmas tree is decorated with
pieces of silverware.
Right, this tree is found in the TV room or “bachelor
pad” in Feliciano’s home. Underneath it are Christmas
items that he has received from family and friends.
By Jessie Wagoner
[email protected]
The formal dining room is ready to entertain family and friends for
Christmas dinner.
VOL. 124, NO. 150
P HOTOS B Y
J e s s i e
W a g o n e r
What would Christmas be without a Christmas tree? If you asked Jose Feliciano it would be a sad affair.
For Feliciano, or “Mr. Christmas”
as he is referred to by friends, one
Christmas tree makes Christmas —
but 14 Christmas trees make Christmas magic.
Christmas has always been a
special time for Feliciano. He recalls
childhood Christmas with his family, celebrating the birth of Christ
and spending time together. He says
there was never a bare spot under
the tree growing up; that his parents
and Santa made every effort to make
the holiday memorable. The magic
of Christmas that he experienced as
a child has carried over into adulthood.
“I’ve always been Mr. Christmas,”
Feliciano said. “It started when I was
a kid when you have those magic
moments. Every year without fail
my family has had the best Christmas.”
This is the first Christmas that
Feliciano has spent in his home lo-
cated on State St. When he bought
the home he knew he was buying a
piece of Emporia history but he had
no idea what a strong connection he
would have to the home and previous owners.
“It was built in 1904 by John
Martin,” Feliciano said. “Entrepreneur, mayor, Chamber of Commerce
chairman. He was very connected to
the community. After he passed, Cora Miller owned it. She was the first
superintendent at Newman Regional Health. After that the Goff family
lived in the house and they are the
Christmas people. The home was on
the holiday tour for Christmas.”
Feliciano believes deeply in being
connected and involved in the community. He works as general manager at the Flinthills Mall and has
previously served as chairman of the
Chamber of Commerce.
“I had no clue when I bought the
house that John Martin was chairman of the chamber like me,” Feliciano said. “I bought the house because
I fell in love with it. But this man is
the spirit of entrepreneurship and
when I realized it all I just thought
‘this is weird.’ It was like chills, like
it was meant for me to have. I’m very
fortunate to have this home.”
Much like the Goff family before
him, Feliciano goes all out decorating for Christmas. Finding the time
to decorate not one but 14 Christmas
trees can be a challenge but one that
Feliciano takes on eagerly. Working
in retail during the Christmas season
can be emotionally draining however he says that his home filled with
the magic of Christmas serves as a
refuge.
“This motivates me,” Feliciano
said. “This motivates me to pull
through. It motivates me to find the
magic and celebration.”
The trees begin outside, on the
front porch and wind through the
house spreading Christmas magic.
A beautiful silver tree sits in the living room, reminding Feliciano of the
Christmas tree he was used to as a
child. Nestled under the tree are
gifts, but not typical gifts. They are
items that remind Feliciano of the
gifts in life. Seashells that take him
back to the beach and items that
were given to him by his mother.
Please see Feliciano, Page 3