In Celebration of the Life of Caldwell Parish's Wenonah Lafferty

by Randy Braddock
It was well-known that she always liked to travel and keep “a foot in the road,” for most of her life. And, at almost 102 years old, that’s a lot of traveling. Her style was that of a true Southern lady who was seldom seen without a smile and dressed as if she might be having tea with the queen. It was not her age that made her special, but perhaps, her almost child-like longing to see what was behind the next hill. So, now, she takes her grandest and most rewarding trip of her life to arrive at her final destination. Our community, her family and friends now celebrate a life well-lived.
Her name was Wenonah Eden Lafferty. She was born in 1914 in Kansas and married her husband, J. Marvin Lafferty, by the time she was seventeen. They were married for 38 years before his death, but Wenonah still had so much further to travel. Wenonah became the first woman to sell insurance for Farm Bureau, worked at the Corey Gin and then worked at Brunson Tax Service for 30 years before retiring at the age of 90. During all this, she visited every state in America and always said that the only place she had not been was Australia. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 72 years and served in numerous offices with the Eastern Star. Bestowed upon her were various awards: oldest living cancer survivor, the Council on Aging Older Worker award, Grand Marshal of the Christmas Parade and Lions Club Honorary Rodeo Queen.
Wenonah’s greatest love besides people was always God, followed closely by her church, Columbia First United Methodist Church, and her family. Family meant everything to her along with her circle of friends who enjoyed Friday afternoon coffee and the many other outings Wenonah loved so well.
She developed a special friendship with Sheriff Steve May and his wife Shannon, and considered him almost an “adopted grandson.” A story published in the News Star newspaper showed a photo of Sheriff May and Wenonah when she was 100 years old enjoying a ride together on a Ferris wheel. The fair had not even opened yet, but they were able to convince the operator of the Ferris wheel to give them a special ride, even stopping at the top. This stop was special to Wenonah, because it was 85 years earlier that she had ridden a Ferris wheel in Kansas with her soon-to-be husband and it had taken them to the top before breaking down.
Most of Caldwell Parish witnessed, by way of a photo in the Caldwell Watchman, Wenonah’s ride on a motorcycle at the age of nearly 100. She loved every minute, and it seems there was nothing she would not undertake at least once.
According to Sheriff May, “She wanted to try everything and was always looking for something new to experience. I enjoyed that Ferris wheel ride as much as she did. She was a special lady.”
Now, after almost 102 years, Ms. Wenonah gets to rest. She certainly would have been greeted lovingly at the pearly gates and welcomed with open arms. It is suspected, though, that Wenonah is currently attempting to talk St. Peter into one last ride on the Ferris wheel.
For more news from Caldwell Parish, go to www.caldwellwatchman.com.