COUNTY LIFE
Jacob Skinner
By BARBARA GREEN
“We don’t meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.” (Unknown author)
Melissa Sillivent calls the young man who crossed her path on the worst day of her life a “hero.” Someone who embraced a hysterical mother trying to get home to find her child.
Missing
It was a tragic day for Melissa and Robert Sillivent as their only child, Benjamin Ryder went missing and was found a short time later in a nearby pond.
It occurred on May 25 at a rural residence on Lawhorn Lane near Sunset. Robert Sillivent called 911 to report his two-and-a-half year old son was missing. He told law officers he had been feeding horses and Ryder was playing nearby. When the dad stepped away for a moment he returned to find the boy gone.
Firefighters, police and sheriff’s deputies and medical first responders from across the area arrived to search. After Ryder was found, medical personnel attempted to revive him and he was airlifted to Cook Children’s Hospital, where he died.
The Sillivents are devastated by the death of their first and only child. Melissa says they are trying to take it day by day, but it is so hard
“It just seems so unreal, like living in a nightmare every minute of the day. It’s like you’ve always heard, you blame yourself, hate yourself, ask what’s the point of life? Why is this happening? He was the light of our lives,” she explains through tears.
While the death of their child is the center of their life, Melissa approached The Bowie News because she wanted to thank one young man whom she says helped her get to her baby.
That grieving mother had no idea who the young man was who gave her ride in an effort to get home as everyone searched for her lost child, but eventually she found Jacob Skinner and she wants everyone to know of his kindness on the worst day of her life.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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