Mrs. Soss

As I sat and read Dan Soss’ obituary tonight in the 1.4.24 Gazette, I couldn’t help but go back to June 7th, 1975, when the existing nursing home was to become a boarding home/assisted living facility with most of the staff and nursing patients being transferred by us, our employees, friends, relatives, etc. to the just finished and licensed Whitman Convalescent Center. As the administrator, I was so fortunate to have an experienced staff who had worked with our residents, some for years, so they knew and trusted each other as we all moved into a much lighter, spacious, just everything new place.

I had forgotten until this writing that WCC was built and licensed to care for 81 residents and it was nearly full all the time. My dad would often sneak a few from the “old place” who needed a little extra or what we called “heavier” care for a week or two and not tell the State. That made him (and me) feel good.

So, with 81 (or more) residents to care for – Nursing, Kitchen, Laundry, Housekeeping, Activities, etc. we were in for a lot of work. It reminded me then and now of a giant beehive and of course like all beehives we had our Queen Bee in this case Queen Dee, Doreen or as well called her Dee Soss, wife of Dan, she was great. A very active, smart, and respected by staff who had worked for her at the “old place,” she woould be checking a residents bottom in one room, and I’d look around and she would be across the hall comparing Grand-kid pictures with another resident. She was always smiling whether she meant it or not and showed great compassion, especially to relatives of passed-away residents.

When she and Dan finally retired, it was a tough blow to the whole staff (many who are still alive). Of course, we were fortunate to have other good Directors of Nursing but it just wasn’t the same. We who had the honor to work with Dee will always love her.

Denny McDonald

Colfax