Ballad Offers Lament For A Mistreated Life
“The Ballad of Marguerite Shirley” They found her homeless, abandoned, Walking Coeur d’Alene’s streets confused, No one claimed her as friend; her wounds they did mend, Just another old woman abused.
They took her to Pinewood Care Center, With her suitcase and one little sack. Now she serves out her days in a medicine haze Texas calls, but she can’t go back.
Just who is Marguerite Shirley? Her storage unit gave clues. A cook, seamstress, wife; wrote a book on her life Once wore fringe and gold party shoes.
A marriage took her from Texas To Colfax, Wash., in ‘41. Two husbands each died; Marguerite survived And to Post Falls she moved on.
A companion she found in the ‘80s, But his family didn’t approve. Sick, he left her alone, she was kicked from his home, And beaten up, bloodied and bruised.
She suffers a form of dementia, Kind souls found her Pinewood’s care. The state pays her bill, but she’s unhappy still She has no one who knows she is there.
She needs money for clothes, for glasses So her stored treasures had to be sold At 79, Marguerite’s spirit’s crying If only she hadn’t grown old…
Charges were filed against Shirley’s alleged abuser, a relative of her Post Falls companion. They were dismissed when Shirley missed the hearing. A judge gave Kootenai County’s Board of Guardians responsibility for the woman who started her life in Texas. That responsibility included emptying her storage unit last weekend. Donations to pay for her personal needs, which the state doesn’t cover, may be sent to the Board of Guardians, 1221 Ironwood Dr., Suite 102, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
Coyote speaks
Rodney Frey’s new book, “Stories that Make the World,” hits the bookstores this week. Rodney is Lewis Clark State College’s Coeur d’Alene director and an incredible storyteller in the Indian tradition.
For this latest work, Rodney and Coeur d’Alene tribal elder Lawrence Aripa collected tales from tribes throughout Washington, North Idaho and parts of Montana.
They wrote the stories in poetic style, so readers could feel the oral traditions of storytellers like the Kootenai Tribe’s Basil White.
Rodney and Lawrence will sign copies of their book at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library; 10 a.m. next Sunday at Moscow’s Bookpeople; and at 7 p.m. April 12, at Sandpoint’s Community Hall.
What a hoot
North Idaho College math teacher Barb Davis won first place at NIC’s poetry yelling contest Friday. Barb wowed the standing-room-only audience with “Piddlin’ Pete.” Student body vice president Kris Stein took second and Jerry Gee, NIC’s dean of instruction, took third.
Only seven brave souls vied for the title, but I hear they really raised the roof.
My Condolences
Evelyn Babbitt, Plummer’s generous piano teacher for 50 years, died last week after falling in her home. Her story filled this spot a week ago thanks to her neighbor, Walt Wetter.
Evelyn was a town treasure everyone should know about. Who are the treasures in your community, the unsung heroes? Share them with Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814; fax to 765-7149; or call 765-7128.