What started out as one woman’s vision is now a community’s dream. At 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1st, the George R. Smith, M.D. Chapel will hold its christening service to celebrate the completion of the chapel and honor the numerous benefactors who helped make it possible.
Several years ago Lynda Smith approached Ron Cackler about her desire to sponsor a small hospital chapel to honor her belated husband George R. Smith, M.D.
“He believed deeply that faith and medicine go hand in hand,” Smith said in a recent interview. “I was thinking it might be a small room somewhere in the hospital, never did I dream it would be what it is today.”
The Smith family – Lynda, Dr.& Mrs. Danny Smith and Mr. & Mrs. Randy Smith – made the initial donation, with the hope the funds would be enough for a simple chapel. Unfortunately – or perhaps fortunately – Hillcrest/Ardent doubted the donations were enough to complete such a project, so it was decided not begin construction.
The CRH Foundation, however, believed a chapel would be a great asset to the hospital and accepted the responsibility of raising enough private funds to complete the project. It was also decided, since the chapel was the idea of Lynda Smith, once constructed, it would bear the name: George R. Smith, M.D. Chapel.
From that point on, others were invited to become a part of the project. First on that list was The Carson Foundation who made a generous donation to help see the chapel completed. It was their desire to honor other doctors in the community who along with Dr. George Smith had laid groundwork for the high standard of medical care that remains today. Those funds were given in memorial to Dr. Clifford Bassett, Dr. James Martin, Dr. John Marin, Dr. H.C. Manning, Dr. W.N. Davidson, Dr. R.E. Leatherlock, Dr. Orville Davis, Dr. Edward Thorp, Dr. D.W. Humphreys, Dr. E.O. Martin, Dr. Benjamin Davis and Dr. George Smith.
As time progressed, employees (Connie Patterson, Dan Wilson, Bernie Woodard, Carma Bowyer, Nancy Franklin, Haleigh Carothers, Stacy Pendergraff and Marian Shiever) began giving as well. Individuals who knew the Smiths or the other doctors began sending in their checks for the fund. Sizable donations came in from the CRH Auxiliary, Mr. Tom Howenstine, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Dooley, the Martin family, the Cochran family, Mr. & Mrs. Nick Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. James Roll, Mr. Tom Sosbee, Mr. & Mrs. John C. Fechner, Mr. & Mrs. Lee Roy Kalka, Ms. Marilyn Duff as well as the Thrivent Financials for Lutherans.
Little becomes much when a community is in it.
Today the George R. Smith, M.D. Chapel is completed – and paid for – due to the generosity and vision of this community.
The public is invited to attend the dedication service which will be held Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. The Reverend Ted Uhlig will begin the dedication. He will be assisted through out the ceremony by Rev. Kevin Clouse, Pastor David Helmer and Pastor Michael Murray. Vocalist Denise Kinzie, accompanied by Holly Tichenor, will share a song and Pastor Dan Wilson, Chaplin at Cushing Regional Hospital, will perform the official Act of Dedication. Closing the ceremony will be CRH’s new CEO Randy DeBois who will lead the group in the Lord’s Prayer.
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