Valentines at Mesa Valley

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The residents at Mesa Valley Estates celebrated Valentines Day in style due to the kind-heartedness of volunteers Rosealee Lee, Carol Saldivar, and Lauri Trobough. The three women planned the “Bubbles and Velvet” celebration complete with music and decorations.

The Mesquite Veterans Center generously donated $250 to be used for celebrations and parties at Mesa Valley for this and future events.

The residents were seated at red and white decorated tables listening to the beautiful sounds of the Fusion Trio, that volunteered their time and talent. The group was taking requests and playing what the audience wanted to hear.

Jim Riley who was celebrating his 88th birthday did not let the fact that he was in a wheelchair stop him from enjoying the music and dancing with the ladies. Party goers enjoyed Red Velvet cupcakes and Sparkling Cider Bubbly in fluted glasses.

All attendees were given a chance to vote for a king and queen of the ball. An energetic 91-year-old Rudy Riley was voted king; and a personable 87-year-old Darlene Heider was voted queen, even though she has only been living at the facility for six-months.

One couple at Mesa Valley Estates had a remarkable Valentine’s story. Ray Benson and Sandra McIntosh had their romance begin when they met one another right at Mesa Valley Estates.
The two had similar stories before meeting. Each of them was widowed and living in Sun City. Each had taken a fall at home and decided they should not be living alone.

Benson became an MVE resident first. Then six months later McIntosh became an occupant.
Benson said when McIntosh came to MVE she was sitting all alone and caught his attention. “I went over and asked her if I could sit with her and we could have a conversation,” he said. “We have been together ever since.”

Benson is 87-years-old and a Navy veteran who was stationed in Hawaii. He loves to dance and his career was post-military working for an oil drilling company

McIntosh is 81-years-old, likes to gamble and does not like to dance. She lived in Anchorage Alaska for 20 years and was secretary for the Police Chief.
They are a couple and now share the same apartment at MVE.
“I never thought I would find someone this late in life,” Benson said “I watch her gamble and then she watches me dance with other ladies in the Casablanca lounge.”

“I just sit and look beautiful,” he joked. “And they come and ask me to dance. It works out.”
McIntosh laughed and called him sweetheart.