ROGERS — Pansy Pearl Bolain Gastineau was surprised by 120 friends and family members, who gathered at the Jones Center April 3 to celebrate her 75th birthday. Pansy was born in Bear Hollow, Mo., to Johnnie Wesley and Edna Jewel Petty Bolain. She grew up with siblings Jim, Ralph, Herb, Ed, Donnie and Sharon Bolain.
Guests came from Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and all over Arkansas to enjoy the dinner catered by Dickey’s BBQ. Jason Edmundson from Russellville, Ark., Sherry Barnett and Gwen Edmundson both of Pea Ridge, created cupcakes to form two huge ‘75’ on eight-foot round tables, at each end of the serving line, in lieu of a traditional birthday cake.
Those attending signed in upon arrival on pages from the scrapbook being put together as a memento of the milestone event. On an adjacent table greeting cards were placed next to a stuffed bunny rabbit used to note Pansy’s love of Easter.
The party theme “Lucky Lady” featured casino decorations. A banner welcoming attendees had the word casino with Happy 75th Birthday Pansy Pearl April 18, 2010. The walls were covered with rows of neon lighted slot machines and jackpot signs adorned the rooms center posts. Tables featured mini slot machines with tinsel dollar signs shooting from the tops. Around the mini slots were 75-dollar bills with Pansy’s photo on them created by Pat Clayton of Rogers. Also on the tables was a page containing a short biography of Pansy’s life written by Brenda Williams, Weatherford, Okla.
Guests were entertained by a DVD show of photos of Pansy’s life from the early 1950s to present day. The DVD was a gift produced by Pat Clayton. Clayton also set up a backdrop and took family photos of those attending.
Party hosts were Bill Meuser, Springdale; Dennis and Brenda Williams, Weatherford, Okla.; Robert and Gwen Edmundson, Pea Ridge; Wayne, Joanna, Blake and Hayley Gastineau, Rogers; Pat Clayton, Rogers; Sherry Barnett, Pea Ridge; Kennda Miller, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Jason Edmundson, Russellville; and Jonathan Hawthorn, Stephanie and Shelby Strong, Weatherford, Okla.
Community, Pages 11 on 04/14/2010