STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Fifty women donned their tiaras and white sashes last week as The Senior Connection honored members of the Blaine County Historical Museum’s Heritage Court.

The Connection treated the ladies to a lunch of chicken salad on croissants and organizers gifted this year’s new inductees with a clock and a professional photograph of themselves in their “Lady” sashes.

“It’s not just about all you’ve done, but who you are,” said Rebecca Cox, executive director of the Blaine County Historical Museum. “Each one of you have your own personality--you’ve handled every situation with your own personality. And it’s not just your actions but who you are that is so incredible for our community.”

Lady Jerry Ann Heaney encouraged her cousin Carol Eittreim to move to the Wood River Valley from Pendleton, Ore.

The ladies loved chatting with one another as they reminisced about old times. GeeGee Lowe filled her lunchmates in on all that she’s currently involved in, including helping Kiwanis get a new stage at Hop Porter Park, recruiting volunteers for the Trailing of the Sheep Festival and working on the Book and Bake Sale for the Hailey Public Library.

“This is one of my favorite things when we all get together,” she added.  

Jovita Pina, the executive director of the Senior Connection, said her staff strives to make it special for the ladies.

“They’ve made this community better. And we don’t want people to forget what they’ve done,” she said.

This year’s new inductees are Lady Dianne Parke of Carey, Lady Jerry Ann Heaney of Ketchum, Lady Ann VanEvery of Bellevue and Lady Betty Brooks of Hailey.

Jeralyn “Jerry Ann” Heaney, a Ketchum resident named to the 2024 Blaine County Heritage Court, said she’s enjoyed riding in the Fourth of July and Pioneer Days parades.

“It’s fun. You see all kinds of people you know, and they yell really loud!” she said. “I was exhausted trying to engage everyone I saw.”

Heaney came on the Heritage Court one year after her cousin Carol Eittreim.

“She was so beautiful I used to brag she was my cousin,” said Heaney.

GeeGee Lowe rode up on her daughter’s bicycle.

Eittreim moved to the Wood River Valley in 1971 from Pendleton, Ore., with four children in tow after visiting Heaney here.

“I visited and thought it was pretty cool, I paid $169 a month for a rental initially and then brought a home for $18,000,” said Eittreim, who worked as vice president of finance for Sun Valley Company and, later, Bitterroot Realty/Property Management while she and her husband Bill raised five children in their home on Broadford Road.

“Now she’s filling the valley—she has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren,” chimed in Heaney.

As the luncheon wrapped up, Michelle Johnson, who serves on the organizing committee, challenged the women to encourage the younger women in the community, some of whom may one day be honored by the Blaine County Heritage Court for their work in bettering the valley.

Carol Eittreim and GeeGee Lowe talk to Lady Denise Thomas, one of the cowgirls in the bunch.

“We have women who are working a couple of jobs and taking care of their family and the community,” she said. “We should try any way we can to encourage them. Tell them they’re doing a good job and ask, ‘Can I lend a helping hand?’ ”