KIDS ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL SHE DOES

With a smile on her face and a mission in her heart, Mary Ann Pensel of Cape Girardeau embraces service.

For 30 years, she taught secondary students in Scott City, Jackson, Bloomfield, Perryville and Cape Girardeau. For the last 17 years of her career, she ran the commercial foods program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, directing students and the mini-restaurant.

Children have been at the heart of all she does for many years. That didn't change upon her retirement in May 1994.

She volunteers more than 30 hours a week for children's ministries at Grace United Methodist Church.

"Mary Ann is always the sunshine of our staff meetings on Monday mornings," said Dr. Larry Gallamore, pastor of the church. "She really watches over the kids."

Her newest project is a puppet ministry, called The Scotties, dedicated to the memory of Scott Grantham. He too worked with the children's ministries after his retirement from Southeast Missouri State University. He died in February.

The puppets -- two boys, two girls and a frog -- were dedicated during children's church last Sunday.

You'll never hear a harsh word from Pensel. Her unwavering bubbly spirit just rubs off on everyone she meets. She's also the kind that will do everything quietly in the background.

Each Thursday morning, you can find her at Cape Girardeau's Convention and Visitors Bureau, volunteering through the RSVP program. She also works with the Paddle Wheelers, greeting passengers when the boats dock.

"Mary Ann is one of the sweetest people you'll ever want to meet," said Marsha Johnston, administrative secretary at the visitors bureau.

"She does a lot of city tours, especially the ones for children," she said. "She's great with kids."

Pensel admitted she has trouble saying no.

"A friend of mine told me that when I'm ready to say no, I'm to call her so she can be there to witness it," she laughed.

In her "spare time," she serves as president of the JN chapter of the PEO and is finishing a term as district vice president of United Methodist Women. She's also very active in the Methodist Women organization at Grace church.

But it's the children who hold the key to Pensel's heart.

During her formal teaching career, she worked mostly with 17- and 18-year-olds. Now, the children she interacts with the most are from 2 through 12 years old.

"It's a very fun age," she said. "They love you so much and respond so spontaneously with a hug."

She coordinates the gathering of the children during the second church service each Sunday, which is followed by children's church.

Mary Ann and husband, Ray, have two daughters and four grandchildren who live on the East Coast. They visit them as much as possible.

Between visits, the Pensels are substitute grandparents for at least three families -- attending birthday parties, running errands, and babysitting in a pinch.

Ray Pensel, the former principal of Cape Central High school, is equally active in volunteerism. His kind spirit and generous smile make the two a matched set.

"Laughingly we say we'll occasionally meet during the day and compare notes," said Mary Ann Pensel.

She is a big believer that people should try and make each and every day count.

"We receive what we give," said Pensel. "It all comes back to us in some way. We need to constantly try to make each day count by reaching out and touching the lives of someone else."

For Pensel, the care and compassion of helping others is a way of life.