Florence Nightingale once said, “Live life when you have it. Life is a splendid gift-there is nothing small about it.”
Mary Elizabeth “Bette” Conover of Springfield Masonic Community truly exemplifies this sentiment. She will tell you how blessed she feels. At 97, she is very independent, despite her failing vision, and it is clear from the moment you meet her that she is a genuine “people person.”
Bette was born on April 4, 1918 in Logan County, Ohio. She moved to Springfield in the late 1930s to be near her beau, Brother Fred McDonald, who twice served as Master of New Carlisle Lodge 100. Bette attended nursing school at City Hospital before the pair was married in 1940. They soon had two wonderful sons, James and Jack, both of whom now reside in Florida. Jack is a very active Mason, serving as Marshal and a Past Master of Indian River Lodge 90 in Titusville, Florida. While her sons were growing up, Bette devoted her time and energy to raising them and it wasn’t until the nest was empty that she decided to rejoin the workforce.
Bette began her career at the Ohio Masonic Home in 1962 at the age of 44 as a registered nurse on the 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift. For ten years, she worked two nights per week, spending her Fridays and Saturdays providing medical care to residents. In 1971, Bette was promoted to assistant director of nursing, and then two short months later was offered the position of director. Over the next decade, Bette served as director of nursing, making rounds, overseeing a large staff and coordinating with the Ohio Masonic Home’s Chief Executive Officer, Ill. Brother Keith M. Bruster.
During this time, the campus consisted of four main buildings, Rickly Memorial, Eastern Star, Cunningham and the Walcutt building, a cottage formerly occupied by child residents. Most of Bette’s time was spent in Rickly which held living quarters as well as a clinic and physical therapy area.
Even with her busy schedule, Bette still tried to make rounds every day simply to say hello. She remembers the closeness between her employees and the residents, including one bittersweet occasion when a resident thanked her and remarked how glad she was that her husband had prepared her final days to be spent at the Ohio Masonic Home. The closeness extended beyond the employee, resident bond, and on to the nursing staff itself. More than once, Bette would enjoy a friendly chance meeting with an employee while running errands or out to dinner.
When Bette retired in 1981, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, George H. Thomas remarked how the Ohio Masonic Home would no longer be the same without her smiling face and loyal support.
In 1990, the year of Bette and Fred’s 50th anniversary, Fred passed away. Bette took solace in the Lord, and her friends and family. It was at church where Bette would meet Bob Conover, a retired podiatrist and member of Anthony Lodge 455. During Bette’s time working as a registered nurse, Bob had been volunteering his expertise at the Ohio Masonic Home as well, giving his Wednesdays to check on residents. Bette and Bob were married in 1995 and lived in town before moving to Springfield Masonic Community in 2012. Although Bob passed away only two years later, Bette still says there is no place she would rather live.
In August 2015, a flagpole will be raised at Pathways Memory Care Center on the Springfield Masonic Community campus in loving memory of Bob Conover. Inspired by Bob’s military career as a bomber pilot in WWII and their mutual love of our great country, Bette donated the funds to gift Pathways with their own flagpole. Here, the American flag will fly in celebration of God, country and family, a reminder of Bette’s favorite quote, “May God hold you safe and secure in the palms of his hands.”
