Member Spotlight Archives - Page 4 of 5 - First United Methodist Church

Member Spotlight, Megan Moss

Posted on Dec 2, 2016 in BLOG, Latest News, Member Spotlight |

Megan Moss

Member Spotlight, Megan Moss

Megan Moss has lived all her life in Taylor, and as a member of First United Methodist Church of Taylor. Her immediate family includes her mom and dad, Brad and Belinda Moss, and her sister, Amanda, who is married and lives in New York. Her fondest memories of childhood are of visiting her papaw, SR Moss, and mamaw’s house, watching movies and doing art projects with them.

Her biggest influence in the church has been her papaw, SR Moss. He has inspired her with his faithful attendance and dedication. She loves the fact that everyone at church is friendly with each other, and knows each other. “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place” is her favorite hymn because she likes the music behind it and it sticks with her. She wishes we would sing that hymn more often.

Megan is a senior at Taylor High School this year. Along with the usual high school subjects, she has studied art for years, and also took a course in graphic design, which sparked her interest in pursuing graphic design as her career. Her hidden talent is drawing, which she does with any spare moments she has. Her favorite type of art is black outline drawings with Sharpies which was the technique she used on her favorite project of a tree with a swing and a man sitting in the tree.

Next year, she will enter the University of North Texas in Denton, and plans to study communication, focusing on graphic design. Her dream job would be to become a graphic designer and design logos and advertising that people see everywhere. She would prefer to work for a graphic design company because she would enjoy the greater variety of projects she could accomplish.

While in high school, Megan has enjoyed spending time with her friends, and learning new things. Her friends say that Megan looks out for them, and is smart because she knows the answers to the questions her teachers ask. She is also funny and can tell a really good story. Her caring nature shows in many ways, but especially in her participation in many community service projects. She gives of her time most generously, working for three community service organizations. Those three are Interact, which is a Rotary Club for high school students, National Honor Society, and Silver Cords, which is THS’s community service group. In Silver Cords, you pledge to do 160 hours of community service during your high school years. Megan is the Creative Officer for Interact and is the historian for NHS. Her favorite service projects are those when you interact with people such as the Kiwanis Club Pancake Supper because it is more personal, and she has done many projects that involve cleaning up a street or park in Taylor.

She also has participated in the High Steppers, THS’s dance team, for all four years of high school. She began dancing when she was little, studying mainly jazz. Her favorite type of dance now is creepy dance which is dark and tells a story. The most fun she’s ever had was to attend High Stepper camp. She admits it was a very stressful experience especially because they rose at 6 a.m. and went to bed at 3 a.m. for three days straight, but was fulfilling and a lot of fun working with her team and getting to know their strengths.

High Steppers also gave Megan the opportunity to become a stronger person. Last year, the director of the High Steppers was very challenging for her to work with, and Megan learned to push through the hard times and not give up. She was able to ignore the bad things, and continue on to a better year this year.

And in the midst of all those volunteer activities, Megan also puts in time at the family store. Something everyone may not know is that Megan started working for her mom and dad when she was in the 5th grade. Work days at the store may include anything from taking cash to wrapping gifts to filing.

With all her varied activities and hard work, next year is sure to be a great success for Megan. We will be looking forward to visits back home so that we can hear of her adventures!

Written by Robin McKinley

Member Spotlight, Roy Rogers

Posted on Oct 28, 2016 in BLOG, Latest News, Member Spotlight |

Member Spotlight, Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers was born in Poteet, Texas, and grew up on a farm and ranch. His family raised cattle, hogs, and milk cows, goats and horses. His granddad gave him a horse when he was three years old and from that young beginning, he rode nearly every day until he was 40 years old, moved to town and didn’t have room for horses.

Roy was married to Pat for 54 years before her passing in 2013. He and Pat had 2 sons and 2 daughters, and 3 granddaughters and 3 grandsons. They lost one daughter in a car/train accident. “My family was my main objective,” he says.

His friends describe him as friendly, loving, quiet and faithful. “And I’m hard of hearing,” Roy adds with a grin. And he loves to play cards. He has the most fun with his friends and family playing games (42 was mentioned, but Pitch has become a new favorite.) “Doing family stuff is what I enjoy,” Roy declares.

After college, where he studied Ag Ed, Roy worked for the Soil Conservation Service, a part of the USDA. Later he bought out an Exxon agency in Taylor. He distributed gas, and ran 2 convenience stores and 2 service stations. He retired in 2000. He liked best working with the people. “You run into all types of people, and learn to deal with them,” Roy says. He feels his Exxon business was his second biggest success. His biggest was raising his beautiful family.

Roy and Pat joined the church in 1975. His mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Busby, were already members of the church. Roy appreciates the friendliness of Taylor FUMC. Roy adds, “I like the people. They make you feel welcome.” His two favorite hymns are “Amazing Grace”, and “In the Garden”. He was raised in a Baptist church, and these are hymns they sang.

Roy would like to travel to Wyoming and the western part of the United States, but he admits he is not much of a traveler. He likes New Mexico, and used to go to Ruidoso and listen to music. They had a festival there with old bands, and he and Pat would dance Western dance and the two-step. Together, they won many contests as best dancers.

In fact, dancing was a favorite past time for Pat and Roy. “We loved it,” Roy remembers. They started dancing the day they met at SW Texas. And they were selected by their class to be representatives for Frontier Days. They wore matching shirts and dresses at the special weekends, and rodeos.

Roy taught his kids to dance as well. His daughter, Trisha Copeland, fondly remembers learning to dance by standing on her daddy’s feet. She reports her mom and dad had been dancing as long as she could remember.

Another thing Roy loves is the outdoors. Roy was an avid gardener before his back started giving him trouble and he still loves it. He likes to grow flowers and vegetables: tomatoes, squash, and bougainvilleas. Also, he spent many a happy hour hunting with his sons and grandkids. They would take his hunting dog, a Brittainy Spaniel, out to hunt deer, dove, and quail.

And his hidden talent is that he can yodel – well at least, sing. He once sang “Lovesick Blues” for the 4H Club competition and won third place! He loves music and singing. Get Roy to demonstrate his yodeling, er, singing skills for you! Don’t let that quiet exterior fool you! He has friendship and many talents to share.

Written by Robin McKinley

Member Spotlight, Debby Vester

Posted on Oct 21, 2016 in BLOG, Latest News, Member Spotlight | Tags: debby vester

Member Spotlight, Debby Vester

Debby Vester was born in Lyons, Kansas and lived there until she was 5 years old. Her dad worked for an oil company, so they moved to Odessa, Texas, where she first took piano at age 7. Later, the family moved to Thousand Oaks, California and she graduated from high school there. She attended California State University in Northridge, studying music, and took one semester in organ. She majored in Home Economics and planned to teach.

She married her husband, Roger, who is a CPA, and they moved to Midland. By then, her family included her son, Mark. Mark is now in the army stationed at West Point, and flies helicopters. (Ask Debby to show you the pictures!) He is married and has 2 children, Isabella who is 9 and Jackson who is 6. Later, daughter Kelly came along. She is also married, lives in Georgetown, is an emergency room nurse, and is mother to Kaden, who is 9, and Kamryn who is 2 months old. You’ll never find a prouder grandma than Debby!

In Midland, at her church St. Luke’s UMC, Debby was asked to play piano by the choir director, and then he suggested she try out the organ in the church. One thing led to another, and soon she was playing the early service, and later, the other services, and also playing for the youth choir. She’s been playing organ ever since. She was a music assistant as well. She has been playing two services a Sunday for a little over 30 years. Today, of course, she is both director and organist – a fete she is accomplishing superbly.

Her darling mother, whom Debby lost this year, laughed and laughed that Debby became a full time musician because of the fights they used to have when Debby was a child and didn’t want to practice. She used to say, “I can’t believe you ended up on an organ bench!” Of course, Debby thanks her now and her mom was so proud of her.

Debby has taught children and youth from 3- to 4-year-olds all the way up to high school. She loved the times that she would go with her Midland church’s youth choir on their annual summer trips. They travelled many places, including the US, England and New Zealand, playing concerts all the way.

One treasured memory of those trips was when she went with the choir when they did a Wesley tour of England. One concert was in the Wesley Museum in London. Debby got to play on John Wesley’s instrument, a manual organ enclosed in a cabinet with a very narrow keyboard. The thrill of playing the same keyboard that John Wesley played was a once in a lifetime event. The instrument is worth $800,000 today.

Debby likes music because it touches people. She says, “You never know who or why, but it will help somebody. You never know.” Debby says 90% of the hymns in the hymnbook are her favorites, but she particularly likes “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (just because) and “O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” because that’s the hymn she played on John Wesley’s instrument.

Remember to listen and appreciate the gift that Debby brings to us at Taylor FUMC. You can hear that all those years of practice paid off!

Written by Robin McKinley

Member Spotlight, Frieda Isbell

Posted on Oct 7, 2016 in BLOG, Latest News, Member Spotlight | Tags: Frieda Isbell

Member Spotlight, Frieda Isbell

October 7, 2016

Frieda Isbell was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended art school, married and began traveling to many different places. She lived in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, as well as Louisiana and many places in Texas, including San Antonio, Rosenberg, and Bryan/College Station. Her first husband attended medical school first in Mexico, then in Texas. They had two children.

In 1992, her husband died, and she was left to raise her young children and support her family. She went back to school and became an art teacher. She met and married Mike Isbell who she says is her best friend.

After receiving her teaching degree, Frieda taught for 11 years. Frieda loved teaching and really enjoyed the kids. She taught high school for six years, and then switched to elementary school for five years before she retired.

Don’t think for a minute that Frieda has been sitting at home twiddling her thumbs since retirement. No, she has been busier than ever. She creates gorgeous oil paintings. Some she has used as the subject of her earring line that she created by reducing the paintings to a small size. She is embarking on a new angel-themed portfolio.

And not only does Frieda draw, paint and create other works of art, she also writes! She is the author of a novel, titled Ice Angels. She is planning a sequel soon.

Frieda’s family likes to say she is crazy, of course in a fond way. She says she is the crazy artist aunt of her family. Her kids appreciate her cooking talents. She is an avid watcher of the TV show “Chopped,” and loves to throw unexpected ingredients together to create a new, delicious dish. She never cooks the same thing twice, loving the thrill of experimentation.

Frieda and Mike have been members of the church for four years. She remembers being most warmly welcomed by Vesta Ryan who brought cookies to her house when she first joined. Frieda likes best about Taylor FUMC, she replies emphatically, “The people.” She says that everyone has been really sweet to her and Mike.

Frieda wasn’t always Methodist. In fact, for many years, she was atheist. Her first mother-in-law, whom Frieda dearly loved, kept praying that Frieda would know God. One day, suddenly, Frieda had an experience she could only describe as an indwelling of the Holy Spirit. After that, she never doubted the presence of Jesus. She went to lots of churches, and looked for ones that matched Jesus’s teachings, one that was a refuge from the world, where everyone would accept each other as sisters and brothers. Her favorite hymn is “In the Garden” and she has a beautiful voice to match.

Despite the hard times in the past, Frieda has had a lot of fun in life. “Mike and I do a lot of laughing,” she says. They love to ride motorcycles, go with their family to Matagorda Bay, go snorkeling and horseback riding and have gone on several cruises to such places as Cancun, Cozumel and Hawaii. She still would like to go to Jamaica on a cruise, but on their Hawaii cruise, they got so sick that it is hard to get up the nerve to go on another cruise.

When you next see Frieda, be sure to ask her about her paintings and her book. There is sure to be a sequel coming out soon!

Written by Robin McKinley

Member Spotlight, Carmen Tucker

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 in BLOG, Latest News, Member Spotlight | Tags: carmen tucker

Member Spotlight, Carmen Tucker

September 25, 2016

Carmen Tucker was born in Waco, but moved to Austin and grew up there. Her mom is from New Jersey, is an attorney and a vice president at a college, as well as running a catering business. Her father is from California and is a head hunter for executives and is semi-retired now. Her mother and father divorced when Carmen was a girl, and her mother remarried. Her stepdad is a retired police officer.

Carmen’s mom loves to say that Carmen is creatively inclined, and that she thinks outside the box. (Thanks, Mom!) Carmen’s creativity led her to earn her bachelor’s degree in art, which she uses in her hobby of finding broken antiques and restoring them into something beautiful. She is particularly proud of fixing chairs that came from her grandma, screwing them by hand since she doesn’t have a drill. She also restored a table top into a piece of art that she has hung on the wall. But her best friend has put the brakes on Carmen adding more furniture to her house, threatening to put tags on any new items and having a sale!

All that creativity, and restoration, as well as Carmen’s keen ability to show compassion plays right into Carmen’s profession and passion: teaching kids. She says it isn’t always about fixing something, but about getting it where it needs to be. Before starting in the classroom, Carmen earned her master’s degree in Human Services.

Carmen now is a special education teacher as well as a resource and inclusion teacher. This is her first year in the classroom, but she previously was engaged in college and career counseling as well as after-school programming at LBJ High School. Carmen loves her job, and she likes best to watch students’ faces light up when they come in her room. Students know her room is a safe place, and Carmen feels like she is doing God’s work with her students. She says, “Pay scales fade into the background when the students come in and we begin to work together.”

Carmen’s hidden talents are cooking, a talent she got from her mother. She loves crock pot cooking, and baking. Her specialty is strawberry cake. I sure hope she brings that to a fellowship luncheon one day!

Carmen joined Taylor FUMC in July, and she was welcomed most warmly by Mitch and Lisa Drummond. She loves the size of the congregation, and the casual and friendly approach of the church. She always dreamed of living in a small town where she can slow down and recharge. She finds the church to be her refuge.

Carmen’s favorite scripture is from Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” She says she hasn’t always been strong, and it reminds her to stay strong.

Be sure to give a hearty welcome to Carmen. What a blessing to have all that talent and dedication that Carmen brings!