Clifton Fine Central High School - Mountain Echo Yearbook (Star Lake, NY)

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Dedicated to ERSEL REED ERSEL REED gave of herself on and off the job, in and out of our school with grace, style, vigor and vitality which came to be synonymous with her name. For sixteen years she helped make lunch time less frightening for very young students, joyful and fun for junior high students and pleasant and helpful for high school stu- dents and adults. We all have vivid and lasting memories of this vivacious wonderful woman who gave of herself to everyone she met. Her personal and professional lives both are a testimony to her immense gift for compassion for and love of others. Ersel and her beloved husband Clint moved to Fine in 1952 and bought a large farm on the Harrisville road. She dedicated herself to her husband, her teenage daugh- ter Eleanor and the farm. She and her husband hunted, cut wood, and did chores together. By the time Eleanor had finished high school and moved away, Ersel had another baby girl, Barbara. When Barbara was only six months old, Ersel's husband Clint died, leaving her and her new baby very much alone. Ersel, who didn’t drive, who had never handled money, and who had never faced home and family management alone before, went into a period of several years of near hermitage, giving all of her time and talents to her daughter. In 1968, however, Ersel began to extend her energies outside of the home when she came to work in the Clifton-Fine cafeteria as a substitute. Shortly thereafter, she had an opportunity to work full-time but knew that a colleague also needed the job and gave up the chance and remained a substitute. This incident personifies Ersel's dedication to others. By 1972, Ersel had learned to drive a car and got a full-time job. A co-worker didn't have a way to work, so Ersel would leave home an hour early so she could pick her up and bring her to school. When others didn't feel well at work, Ersel did extra work to make their days easier. She made birthday cakes for students, pies and cakes for custodians and cookies and sweetrolls for teach- ers. When students organizations such as the Senior Class or French Club needed a worker for one of their fund raising activities, Ersel was always a reliable and happy volunteer. If students needed money for ice cream or po- tato chips, Ersel bought it for them. If cafeteria banking had to be done, even on the coldest days, Ersel did it. When secretaries wanted to save coins, Ersel sorted them out for them. When students lunch charge sheets had to be completed, Ersel took them home and did them rather than charge the school overtime. Outside of school, Ersel was the same. She took young people with her everywhere at any time and cleaned and mowed lawns for the elderly and less fortunate. When weddings and dances were held at the fire hall, Ersel was always there to help serve food and clean up afterwards. Both in the school and community at large, Ersel Reed's memory shines as a beacon of love, compassion and all else that is profoundly human. Just as we loved and respected her in person, so must we cherish her memory. Ersel never thought of Ersel; she always cared for everyone else—the school, its students, her co-workers and peers were Ersel's care. (Monica Shene, Cafeteria Supervisor) Dedication 3