Nursing home pageant contest to be held Aug. 29 in St. Charles

The 27th annual Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Pageant will take place Aug. 29 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles.

Fran Clutts, a resident at Heartland Care and Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau, will be a contestant in the Missouri Health Care Association sponsored pageant. As second runner-up at the June 30 MHCA pageant held at Plaza Conference Center, she qualifies to compete in this statewide pageant. The ages of contestants at the prior pageant ranged from 78 to 89 and represented six area nursing homes. A queen and four runners-up will be chosen at the event.

Clutts was born in Marble Hill, Mo., and has been living at the facility since July 2003. She was married to Irwin Clutts for more than 35 years. She has two children and a granddaughter. Her granddaughter, Chantel Mouser, is employed at Heartland Care and Rehab.

Clutts worked as a makeup consultant for Merle Norman. She and Irwin were entertainers in their country western band, "Star Wrangler." Currently her activities at Heartland Care and Rehab, where she has made many friends, keep her busy. Her favorite activity is being a member of the Red Hat Society.

At the upcoming statewide pageant, Clutts will compete with contestants from 14 nursing facilities for the honor of queen. They are judged on personality, life activities, participation in activities where they reside and their attitude toward life, among other criteria.

The MHCA, representing more than 300 facilities statewide, is a trade association for nursing and residential care facilities in Missouri.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133