By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Sunday is Mother’s Day a day on which we traditionally pay tribute to and recognize our mothers with cards, flowers, gifts, special meals and anything else we feel suitable and proper. For those of you who may have forgotten, which, I’m sure is quite impossible, let this be a little reminder.

Contrary to popular belief, the flower delivery and greeting card companies around the world aren’t responsible for Mother’s Day. And while it’s still quite noble and appropriate for us to honor that wonderful woman to whom we owe our lives (and oh so much more) with a special note or bouquet, this Mother’s Day let’s take a little time to go beyond our immediate circle.

For just a moment this Mother’s Day, take a look around and remember all the mothers everywhere who have done so much for us, whether we realize it or not.

Mother Earth, metaphysically, is the giver and sustainer of all life on our planet. Yes, I know, Earth Day was last month, but when we get right down to it, Mother Earth, or Mother Nature if you prefer, is responsible for all of us being here. She is the life-giver to whom we really owe our existence. Throughout history we as a species have worshipped and honored her for her bounty, fertility and fecundity.

Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world and even though those in other countries link the day to their principal mother, the recognition goes far beyond that one individual. Other societies seem to recognize far better than we, that our lives are gifted with many mothers.

There’s a reason we use the terms Mother Earth and Mother Nature.

If I seem to be going a little too far afield, perhaps too far into right field, let me come back to Moapa Valley to see if you can get the idea.

We all owe a supreme debt of thanks and gratitude to Mildred Anderson, who as a young woman in 1912 was selected as the “Most Popular Lady in Clark County,” according to Beezy Tobiason’s tome “Moapa Valley Reflections.” Mildred was selected to drive the last spike in a railroad spur into St. Thomas that was constructed long before Lake Mead was even a tear in anyone’s eye.

If I might dare, Mildred, as Mildred Anderson Robison, might be considered the mother of the Moapa Valley postal service since she held the job of Overton postmaster for some 45 years. Women, many of them mothers, are still staffing the post offices in Moapa Valley.

Still too far out?

How about the woman who might be considered the mother of the Moapa Valley Water Company, Elaine Whipple?

Bringing water into the homes of Moapa Valley communities was a near impossible chore. In the early days there was river water, then ditch water, then the Union Pacific allowed residents to fill water cans out of its railroad tank.

It wasn’t until 1960 that residents had the wherewithal to form a company to construct and maintain a culinary water system that piped water from a spring into homes all over Moapa Valley. In 1961 Jay Whipple was hired to manage the new water company with his wife Elaine as chief biller, secretary and “water district mother,” if you will.

For 20 years Elaine and Jay’s home was the water company, a hallway the main office and their post office box and telephone the means for contact. It wasn’t until 1979 that operation became too big and was moved, thankfully, out of the house – much like a sticky kid who was slow to grow up.

Anyway, mother Elaine was there for the water users day in and day out and still today we should be thankful for that, just as adult children are still thankful for their mothers although they’ve left home.

Elaine and Mildred are just two examples of the alternative mothers we might take a moment to remember this Mother’s Day. There are many, many more and I’m sure with a little thought you could come up a whole list of names.

“Rural Rants” is a column about rural living and the people who live here. It appears the first and third Wednesday of the month. Your comments and input are important and will be appreciated. Contact me via email at mouse@mvdsl.com