Another reason why the beginning of May was so special for me was that we got to celebrate my great-grandmother, Pardner. Many of you know Pardner as “The Flower Lady” because she would boat across Lake Taneycomo every morning, climb up the old trail, and water all of the flowers in both the boys’ Kamp and the girls’ Kamp. One of my favorite memories of my time in cabin one at K-1 was waking up early and looking through the screen of the cabin towards the fountain where Pardner would be watering the flowers. When she would finish, she would walk over to me, and we’d whisper together like dear friends before the rest of Kamp would wake up.
Just look at this photo—how blessed am I that I am in that generational legacy? Pardner, Darnell, and Debbie-Jo before me, I have no excuses for not being the most amazing woman ever (I’m a work in progress)! Pardner was just so steady, and she loved without any hesitation or boundaries.
I wish I could have known more about her life as she grew up in a totally different time. Born to the Hays family in the 1800s, she got to ride her horse to school and had nine brothers and sisters. She worked for Neiman Marcus during the time when the editor of Vogue said, “I dreamed all my life of the perfect store for women. Then I saw Neiman Marcus, and my dream had come true.” Even though she was not a drinker, she had the most amazing collection of rare Jim Beam bottles, and I wish I knew the story behind that collection. She lived to be 100, and she left a positive impression on every person who met her. I don’t know much about her relationship with Christ, but I know that she loved people so well, and it came from the overflow of Christ’s love within her, and that is a lasting testimony for me.
I am so thankful that Pardner was in my life for so long, and I hope that my great-grandchildren know me as I knew her.
Jamie Jo Johnson
Alumni Engagement Director
