COUNTY LIFE
Memories fade, love abides – Janet McMurray attempts to savor each moment as Alzheimer’s slowly steals her husband
By BARBARA GREEN
Each day when Janet McMurray sees her husband, Clyde, she says “I am Janet your wife, I love you.”
Not uncommon, but it’s different for Janet because her husband of 54 years may not recognize her that day because he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
One in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia. One in three seniors dies with the disease or another dementia.
It accounts for an estimated 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. An estimated 5.3 million people are suffering with the disease.
It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death in the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented.
Alzheimer’s disease was first identified more than 100 years ago, but research into its symptoms, causes and risk factors and treatment has gained momentum only in the last 30 years. Research has revealed a great deal, but much is still left to be learned about the precise cause of Alzheimer’s and why it progresses at different rates among affected individuals, and how it can be prevented, slowed or stopped.
The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is advanced age, and while age is the greatest risk factor, it is not a normal part of aging and is not sufficient to cause the disease. Individuals who have a parent, brother or sister with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease than those who do not have a first degree relative.
Janet and Clyde McMurray on their wedding day July 22, 1961. (Courtesy photo)
The McMurray’s fell in love while attending Texas Christian University and wed in summer of 1961. They both enjoyed careers as educators and were looking forward to travel adventure after they retired. Fate has dealt them a cruel hand as Clyde is a victim of Alzheimer’s the same disease that took his mother.
Read the full feature on Janet and Clyde McMurray as the couple battles Alzheimer’s Disease in your weekend News.
Pictured: Janet and Clyde McMurray on one of their last European River Cruise as they enjoy a turn on the dance floor.
In recognition of National Adoption Awareness Month this November, Texas Community Counseling and the Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas are partnering to bring resources to Montague County families.
The two organizations will host an adoption, foster care and kinship care resource fair on Nov. 14 at the United Presbyterian Church of Montague County Fellowship Hall, located at 300 W. Nelson St. in Bowie.
The resource fair will run from 10 a.m. to noon, bringing together local agencies and service providers to answer questions and share information about support available within the county.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Members of the Montague County Historical Commission invite the community to join them on Nov. 14 for a Rolling Bus Tour.
This tour will cover the cemeteries in the south west corner of Montague County. You will have the opportunity to stroll through some of the cemeteries, others the bus will stop and Commission member Calvin Durham will tell the history of the cemetery.
The bus tour will meet at the Old Jail in Montague at 9 a.m. and return at approximately 3 p.m. The tour will include a sack lunch, a brochure of each cemetery visited and a book “This Soil will Grow Grapes” written by Melvin Fenoglio.
The cost of the tour is $20 for adults. There is no charge for children under 12. The commission members strive to preserve the history of the county and to share as much of it as possible with our citizens. You can RSVP by calling 940-841-2674 or 940-872-1007. Please leave a message with your name if there is no answer.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at 1:20 p.m. on Nov. 17.
FEMA’s emergency alert system is a national public warning system made up of thousands of radio, TV, cable and satellite and wireline video providers. Through the EAS, the President can address the American people or share life-saving information with the public during a national emergency.
FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. These tests allow FEMA to identify technical or operational issues before the system is needed during an actual emergency.
FEMA and the FCC are sharing the test date in advance because it is important the public understands what to expect on the day of the test.
At approximately 1:20 p.m. (Central time), on Nov. 17, all the electronics providers will interrupt normal programming to relay a test message.
This message will state: This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency management Agency, covering the United States from 1:20 to 1:50 p.m. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
When the test is concluded, normal programming will resume.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with stakeholders, including participating communications providers as well as federal, state, tribal and territorial agencies to prepare for and conduct the test.
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