Favorite Ladies of the Island 

BY KATHY Y. FUTCH

A few weeks ago, Delores Savas remembered special island people. I would like to add a few of the ladies who are memorable to me, in no particular order of importance.

Watching Mrs. Junkin feed mullet every day at 5 p.m. on her front lawn at the water’s edge to the bald eagles. God bless her.

My time with Barbara Mooney, poet and traveler. I had the privilege of putting her extensive travels to paper and she also encouraged my own poetry writing. Later started a Royal Palm Players tradition of Poetry Night in the Caribbean Room of The Temp and a stage for the Island’s many budding poets to perform their writings.

Remembering Margurite Padilla Downing, welcoming everyone into the Boca Grande Clinic, as well as Evelyn Darna who operated the Island Beauty Shop along with Barbara Chatham, sister of Isabel Joiner and daughters of paper-hat-wearing fishing and hardware supplies marina owner, Capt. Sam Whidden.

Kudos to our very own island Julia Childs, culinary artist Mona Amen, who, with perfect assistance from Mark’s aunt, Sarah Tucker, provided so many delicious delights to a host of fortunate diners.

Dear Mrs. Greenie Hooker. She, after raising her children, returned to studies and became a Shakespeare scholar. To my good fortune, she supervised the island production of “The Tempest,” in which I had the opportunity to play the Sprite, Arial, at the age of 50. I have had a love of the author’s lyrical writings since I was a young child, when I discovered the library.

Mrs. Eleanor Ames, premier party-giver of Washington, D.C., and then “Alley” parties in Boca Grande, for which I had the pleasure of drawing up her lively invites.

I think of Mrs. Newlin and her knowledge of the Grist Mill and my introduction to the 4 o’clock Dubonnet on the rocks. Lovely. They still have it on the shelves at The Temp.

Speaking of The Temp, while doing dictation from her husband, George Weymouth, I met his dear wife, Deo, a du Pont and the artist of the mural decorating the Temp’s dining room. She is the one frolicking in the surf, arms extended behind her, near the painting of E.I. du Pont, who is wearing a large black hat. It was my good fortune to identify many of them, with the help of Frank Smith, of course.

This brings me to Geraldine Fugate. Mark and I met her not long after our wedding in 1975, the first to wed on Banyan Street. She took us under her wing and gave me my first job cleaning their lovely apartment adjoining the shop.  She later brought the first Fashion Show to Boca to the enjoyment of many island residents, who modeled her unique apparel offered in the shop brought back from her exotic travels. 

To be continued …