Very special presentation for Nita Thompson retirement brunch

Nita Thompson pictured with the Tuttle wedding dress. A tornado 
swept away the original dress, prompting the handmade 
replacement dress now on display at the Bates County Museum

Bates County Museum Curator, Nita Thompson, Retires and is honored at the Annual Ladies Spring Brunch

For fifteen years, Nita Thompson has served as Curator for the Bates County Museum. On Saturday, March 24th, before a crowd of over 100 women attending the 4th Annual Ladies Spring Brunch at the Museum, Nita’s retirement was announced. She was presented a plaque of appreciation for being a Visionary Leader and was given the title of, “Curator Emeritus,” by a proclamation from the Bates County Historical Society & Museum’s Board of Directors. A particular joy for Nita was the presence of many family members, including husband Doug Thompson who ‘snuck-in’ for the program and who served as Board President until early 2011. In attendance were sisters Teri Ridenhour of Holden, MO and Susan Salzman of Jefferson City, MO, daughters Dr. Sandy Wilkes of Stilwell, KS and Diane Bartels, as well as granddaughter, Corey Bartels both of Butler.

Nita created the display for the Ladies Brunch and it was the center of attraction, as it told the 1912 story of a young Bates County bride-to-be, a deadly tornado that swept her wedding dress into a mulberry tree and the replacement wedding dress that was sewn by her sister. Margaret Tuttle’s story of surviving the tornado, rescuing her dress, trying to clean it and finally having to settle for another dress all came together in a charming story of young love overcoming the adversities of Mother Nature. Nita absolutely out-did herself with this final artistic expression that helped to tell and define just one more story about the history of the people of Bates County.

Alice Totsch (granddaughter of Margaret Tuttle)
pictured with the wedding dress worn by Ms. Tuttle
 on her wedding day July 4, 1912

The day was even more special by the attendance of members of the Edgar and Margaret Tuttle family. They traveled to Butler from Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and ancestor Alice Totsch who donated both of Margaret’s wedding dresses to the Museum along with many personal items and photographs traveled all the way from Florida. Alice had first visited the Museum about eighteen months ago and shared the story of the wedding dresses and the great tornado of 1912. The Museum was quite honored when Alice made the decision to donate her family artifacts, and the theme for the 2012 Ladies Spring Brunch immediately became apparent. It would be, “Wedding Tales & Traditions.” Following the brunch, several of the male Tuttle family ancestors joined the women and enjoyed a leisurely tour of the Museum.

All of the Museum’s exhibits and displays are a direct tribute to the creativity and dedication Nita Thompson has tirelessly given during her tenure as Curator. Moving to the current building location on Elks Drive was a massive undertaking with the layout and design carefully managed under Nita’s watchful eye. Throughout her years at the Museum, Nita established herself to be one of the regions’ most talented and efficient archival managers and the citizens of Bates County owe a debt of gratitude to her for the level of excellence she achieved on their behalf. The Museum receives rave reviews and countless positive comments with regard to her intuitive displays that seem to draw visitors into the very heart of the stories of the artifacts.

According to Nita, in retirement she is looking forward to giving attention to many of her personal passions that have been so long neglected and to once again spend time developing her hobbies. It is also well-known that Doug is quite pleased to have his wife enjoying retirement along with him. There is no doubt that she will successfully excel in all her endeavors as she moves into a new chapter in life.

Nita received many congratulations, well-wishes, and heartfelt thanks for all she has given to the Museum and the people who call this county home.

The Edgar and Margaret Tuttle extended family recently visited the Bates County Museum