Ashley honored for a lifetime of caring

NEW MADRID, Mo. —For her lifetime of caring for others, Christy Ashley was honored as the New Madrid Beta Sigma Phi’s 2023 Woman of the Year.

In introducing Ashley, Beta Sigma Phi treasurer Allison Fowler explained even before Ashley graduated from New Madrid County Central High School in 1983 she realized her love for caregiving while serving as a student nurse and working at a local nursing home. After working in billing and insurance with SEMO Health Network for several years, Fowler said Ashley decided to get back into caregiving.

“Christy decided to get her daycare license and started her own in-home daycare,” Fowler said. “Christy had her in-home daycare for 27 years, raising and loving all her ‘babies.’”

Christy Ashley, left, was named the Beta Sigma Phi 2023 Woman of the Year in a special ceremony on May 10 at the New Madrid Country Club. Presenting the engraved glass vase is Beta Sigma Phi member Allison Fowler. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Christy Ashley, left, was named the Beta Sigma Phi 2023 Woman of the Year in a special ceremony on May 10 at the New Madrid Country Club. Presenting the engraved glass vase is Beta Sigma Phi member Allison Fowler. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Fowler noted while she was never officially one of Ashley’s “babies,” her younger sister was Ashley’s first newborn that she cared for. However, Fowler added, she would often go to the daycare just because it was fun and after they grew up Ashley’s “babies” would often drop in because of their love for her.

Recently Ashley decided to retire in order to spend more time with her family including her parents, Mary Lou and Sammy Ash; brother, Mark Ash; and husband, Ben David Ashley.

As she presented Ashley with an engraved glass vase, Fowler concluded: “Daycare is very hard to find in our community so we were very thankful to have you for those 27 years. We just wanted to honor you and show our appreciation to you for taking care of all of our kids as if they were your own.”