By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Morry Atwell keeps his father’s memory alive by decorating a Blue Spruce evergreen tree on the grounds of WoodRidge Supportive Living Facility in Geneseo.
His father, Maurice (Duzie) Atwell, lived in Annawan until moving to WoodRidge in 2008. He died in February of 2010.
“My Dad was one of the first residents at WoodRidge,” Atwell said. “He loved Christmastime and all the Christmas decorations, so the Christmas after he died, I planted the evergreen tree at the northeast corner of the grounds at WoodRidge and decorated it with Christmas lights.”
The tree is planted outside the window of the living area that Maurice Atwell occupied at WoodRidge.
“Every year I add another string of lights to the tree as it has grown by leaps and bounds since I planted it,” Atwell said. “I use a ladder and a long pole to put the lights on the tree.”
He shared that he has had many families of residents at WoodRidge tell him how much their family members enjoy seeing the decorated tree…”I know it means a lot to the residents at WoodRidge, and we are so fortunate to have the assisted living facilities that we have in our town. My Dad loved living at WoodRidge.”
Morry Atwell, Geneseo, stands by evergreen tree on the lawn of WoodRidge Supportive Living, 620 Olivia Ct., Geneseo, which he decorates each year at Christmastime in memory and in honor of his father, the late Maurice (Duzie) Atwell.
