For Betsy Gekiere, many of her strongest childhood memories from small-town life are saved in old newspapers.
Gekiere grew up in Olney, Texas, a small town northwest of Mount Vernon near Wichita Falls. Not long ago, she was going through old family boxes and found a newspaper photo from the nation's bicentennial. It showed her, her sister, and their dog in a local pet parade. Their dog was even named the "Most Bicentennial Dog." Even after many years, that clipping still brings back a special moment for her family and the community she remembers. "It kind of helps explain my story and then why I was motivated to get involved in MVNow," Gekiere said. "I just know how much a newspaper really inspires the community, but also just connects everyone."
After Olney, Gekiere's family moved to Arlington, where she finished high school and then went to Baylor University. Years later, while she and her husband Roger were living in Dallas, a trip to Alaska changed their outlook. They visited places so remote they needed a float plane, and for the first time, Gekiere saw a landscape that felt truly wild. When they flew back to Dallas and saw the endless suburbs below, she wondered if there was another way to live. That thought led them to East Texas. They bought a lake house and visited on weekends, but after meeting people in Mount Vernon, they decided to move there for good when their daughter started first grade. Both of their children later attended Mount Vernon schools.
Moving to Mount Vernon gave Gekiere something she didn't always find when volunteering in bigger cities: she could see the results of her efforts. Over the years, she has helped with groups like the Mount Vernon ISD Education Foundation, Mount Vernon Key Club, Bountiful House, Mount Vernon Cares, and other local and church projects. "One of the most gratifying things is being in a small town, you can actually see the fruit of your labor," she said. Whether she is raising money for a project or working with children and families, she finds it meaningful to know where her work goes and to see the difference it makes. That personal connection keeps her involved. She also became certified with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and visits assisted living centers with her dog, calling these visits another way to connect with people.
Gekiere's work in communications, writing, and with different organizations has shaped how she sees others. She says these experiences taught her that everyone and every group has a story worth hearing. "Sometimes if we'll just be quiet and listen, they'll tell it," she said. This lesson has stayed with her through years of community work, church involvement, and now her time with MVNow. Even at church memorials, Gekiere often learns something new about someone from the stories their families share or from photos on display. These moments remind her that we can miss a lot about people we see often unless we take time to ask.
Children and young people have also remained a common thread throughout much of Gekiere's service. She has volunteered with students, worked with youth organizations, and even taught young kids at a ski school in Colorado. "I have a heart for children," she said. She loves how honest and open young children are, but her desire to help the next generation goes beyond any single program. She thinks towns like Mount Vernon need young people to see all the chances around them, whether that's helping with kids' sports, volunteering at school, visiting seniors, or joining a neighborhood project. "There are so many opportunities," she said. "It's just a mindset of being willing to look for the opportunities," allowing them to eventually lead. New leaders may approach a project differently than those who came before them, but Gekiere believes that difference should be welcomed. "You have to realize that there are many different ways to accomplish something. It's not always going to be done exactly your way, and that's okay."
Some of Gekiere's favorite memories are from her years leading music at church. She says bringing people together to sing creates something bigger than any one person. Even rehearsals became special, as people who might not sing alone found confidence with others. "When you're all together, we're so much stronger," she said.
That idea sums up much of Gekiere's life in Mount Vernon. Whether it's students, volunteers, neighbors, church members, or stories in the local newspaper, she sees real strength when people come together, notice each other, and know their efforts count. The newspaper clipping from her childhood captured one small moment in her family's story. Now, she finds the same value in helping save the stories happening in Mount Vernon today.
