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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2016)
10 Wednesday, November 16, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Massage therapist puts down roots Obituary Wilma Earlene (Loving) Sweatt By Jim Cornelius March 17h 1932 — November 12h 2016 News Editor Wilma was born in Dinuba, California, to William and Gertrude Loving. She had a twin brother, Jordan; and a younger brother, Duane. She lived in Monterey and Visalia, California and later in Vale, Oregon. She spent one year at Oregon State College where she became a Beaver Believer. She moved to eastern Washington in the early ’50s where she met her husband Raymond. They married in Quincy, Washington, in 1954 and had four chil- dren: Shelden (1955), Curtis (1956), Raelene (1960), Shirley (1962). In 1973, the family moved to Tigard and then Portland in 1977. Her husband died in 1985 and she moved to St. John’s, Oregon, where she became a short-order cook in a small restaurant run by her best friend Sue Cathcart. She retired at age 60. In 1998, she moved to Sisters with daughter Shirley and was joined by Raelene a few years later. She spent many happy years in Sisters watching the vari- ety of wildlife in the area and spent many happy hours cooking for family and friends. Around 2005, she started experiencing mem- ory loss and was diagnosed with senior onset dementia (senility). As time passed she became more frail and What started out as a “ w him ” f or Mc Ke nz ie Lighty-Wilcox has turned into a calling and a life adventure. Born and raised in Bend, she moved to Portland in 2008. She had been interested in a career in health since she took a health occupations course in high school. She decided to attend an intensive six-month program in mas- sage therapy in Ashland. “I kind of went on a whim,” she said. Initially overwhelmed with information on the anatomy and function of the body, McKenzie gradually found her footing — and a realization that she was good at this. “I can actually get the A,” she recalled realizing. “I wasn’t that person in high school. That was a special moment. School was the best time of my life… I finally found like-minded people.” The academic knowledge she discovered meshed with a natural desire to connect with people. She had found her path. But that path took a dark turn when she was injured in a 20-foot fall that fractured ribs and vertebrae and punctured a lung. “That shook my world, obviously,” she said. “I spent two days in the hospital.” That was followed by a long recovery in Bend with family. That delayed her licensing. But she was not derailed. She went to work at Oasis Day Spa, then moved back across the mountains to work in Lake Oswego. “I had a crazy amount of mentors,” she said. Getting pregnant with her daughter Willow brought her back to the east side — and to Sisters, where she worked for a time at Shibui Spa. One Stop Spa Shop! Cassidy Ferris can do that! Hair, Nails ft Skin! Ce Av rt Gi ai ifi la ca bl te e s Call for your appointment... 541-549-1784 PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS McKenzie Lighty-Wilcox has established a home and a massage practice in Sisters. Now she’s out on her own at Respire, located in the Sisters Art Works building at 204 W. Adams Ave., Suite 103-A. “The timing was right and I just decided to go for it,” she said. “Respire” is to breath in and out to maintain life. For Lighty-Wilcox, it represents results. “There’s nothing better than someone having that sigh, that respire — that breathe moment,” she said. She helps people reach that moment through a vari- ety of modalities, from Swedish massage to deep- tissue work to Thai massage RESPIRE MASSAGE MCKENZIE WILCOX-LIGHTY 541-610-4665 ENTER TO WIN Our Turkey Giveaway! that includes manipulation and stretching. She also likes to work with the front of the body, which often goes neglected, in order to release the back. She is committed to her clients and to Sisters. She found housing fortuitously in a notoriously tough market, and enrolled her daughter in a Montessori preschool here in town. It all feels very right. “Every time I look out the window, I think, ‘I can’t believe we live at the foot of these mountains,’” she said. For more information or to make an appointment, call 541-610-4665. Dine For The Cause Every Tuesday this November, 10% of the gross sales from lunch & dinner will be donated to Furry Friends! Four Turkeys Awarded Friday, November 18! Enter at our offi ce, 257 S. Pine St., #101 You do not have to be a Farmers Insurance customer. hair | massage | nails | facials | makeup 161-C N. Elm St., Sisters Jason Rybka, 541-588-6245 www.farmersagent.com/jrybka Auto • Home • Life • Business Open Mon.-Sat., 11:30 a.m. to close Located at Clearwater Gallery | 303 W. Hood Ave. unable to remember family and friends but occasionally her sassy personality and sense of humor would make an appearance and surprise us all. She was preceded in death by her parents, hus- band and son Shelden. She is survived by her son, two daughters, granddaughters Jessica (Danny) Weinreich, Paula (Trish) Hambleton and grandson Daniel and two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by her daily caregiver Angie Pratt, who faithfully came every day for over two years to make sure her toes got tickled and she ate her favorite breakfast — ham-and-cheese omelet with fresh watermelon. She is also survived by her grandfurbabies Cricket, Nash, Chewie, Raven, KC, Isabeau, Squeakers, Belle and Fluffy. They gave her daily giggles and snugglies. The family wishes to say thank you to Partners In Care Hospice for their won- derful care during her final months. Chandra, Denice, Jolene and Jessie are angels in disguise. She may no longer be here in the flesh, but will always be in our hearts and memories. Donations and remem- brances can be made to Partners In Care, Furry Friends of Sisters or a char- ity of your choice.
