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By Mark Dykes
Assistant Editor 

Florence Daugherty a familiar face at HSC senior center

 

Mark Dykes

Florence Daugherty visits with Bob Averill during lunch at Hot Springs County Senior Center. Daugherty has worked at the center more than 20 years.

If you happen to be at the Hot Springs County Senior Center for lunch, more than likely you're going to see Florence Daugherty, better known as "Toots," working.

At 95 years old, Daugherty has been helping out at the center for over 20 years. She recalled coming to Thermopolis when she was 68, though she was born in Hot Springs County and her parents, Jesse and Grace Walker, were the first people married in the county.

Born at Sunnyside, Daugherty grew up there and attended the Lucerne school. At 20, she married Russel Daugherty of Worland. After her husband passed, she returned to Thermopolis where her relatives are.

While in Worland, she played in a fun band. "I've been playing music since I was a little kid," Daugherty said. "I never learned any, but I've been playing it." She further explained she only took one music lesson and the teacher told her it was a waste of time, as Daugherty could play a tune easily after hearing or seeing it done once.

She continues to play to this day as she and Wally Van Antwerp, her nephew by marriage, perform at Thermopolis Rehab and Care Center Sunday afternoons and at the Pioneer Home. Daugherty has played the piano off and on over the years, primarily for her own amusement outside of being in the fun band in Worland. Van Antwerp would sing and play guitar, but not unless she accompanied him. Even when the two had conflicts about what key they were in, their knack for music got them on the same page quick enough.

Daugherty sees her talent as God-given, and one she's happy to share. "We've been doing it for 10 years or more," she said of her and Van Antwerp's performing. "I'm not really sure how long, and we're still at it . . . I think we do pretty good at our age." She noted the two are also working outside their playing.

As for her work at the senior center, Daugherty explained she is in charge of the cards. For those people who can't wait on themselves, she and others get their trays for them. "I'm more or less in charge of that. We have a card index with their names and we set up trays for them." As the people whose names are on the cards come in, Daugherty is among those who get their trays filled with what they want to eat or drink and bring them to the tables.

Daugherty added she's had several helpers over the years, among them Sheriff Lou Falgoust. She shared he introduces her to new people as "Reverend Toots," a reference to a time when he called her a name she didn't care for and she threw some water at him. He cautions those meeting her to be aware she might "baptize" them.

Regarding the nickname "Toots," Daugherty said she's had it since she was born and doesn't recall how she got it. "That's what everybody calls me. In fact, if you call me by my right name they wouldn't know who you were talking about . . . I get called most anything, but mainly that."

"I have enjoyed working there, I really have," Daugherty said of the center. "It's a nice place to work and they're nice to work for - the people who take care of it and the people we wait on, all of them are just real nice." She feels quite the same about Thermopolis, as she enjoys the temperature - not too hot or cold - and the overall friendliness of everyone.

"This is about the best place to live, in my notion. I wouldn't trade it for anything"

 

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