Mrs. Kinder is remembered

To the editor:I will always remember Mary Frances Kinder's beautiful smile and graceful manner. She was one of Cape Girardeau's great ladies who seemed to effortlessly carry out her roles as a wife, mother, sister, friend, gracious hostess and volunteer leader.

I first remember meeting Mrs. Kinder in 1986 at a dinner and ice-skating event hat the Plaza Galleria to benefit the American Cancer Society. I was a relatively new field representative for the American Cancer Society, and this was our first attempt at having a social fundraiser. We had quite a few unfilled chairs.

Mary Frances Kinder and Frances Blankenship volunteered to chair the first annual Cancer Gala. It was held April 4, 1987, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. The event drew over 250 people. The event continues to be a premier event that has lasted 20 years due to her efforts and those of countless others.

At the time, I was amazed at her ability to gather people around, feed them a wonderful meal and gently nudge them to volunteer time and money. The volunteers she recruited were excited about the project and came together for a monthly dinner meeting hosted by the various chairmen. Over the years, Dr. and Mrs. Kinder graciously opened their home for many ACS events.

I will always remember her kindness to me as a new field representative. Our community will be less bright with her passing. My heartfelt wishes go to the Kinder family over the loss of one so dear. Our community is a better place because Mary Frances lived here.

VINEY MOSLEY, Cape Girardeau