A group gathered at Tri-Valley Developmental Services in Chanute on Wednesday afternoon to pay tribute to John and Georgia Masterson’s late daughter, Jennie, in the form of a renovated computer lab named in her honor.
Tri-Valley dedicated the Jennie Masterson Memorial Computer Lab, complete with new paint, carpet and computers for their clients to use. Tri-Valley assists those with special needs throughout the area.
Jennie Masterson, who had special needs and utilized some of the services of Tri-Valley, passed away in 2007.
“Jennie had touched a huge number of lives,” Georgia said.
She said Jennie participated in in-home therapy many years back, and the family needed help from the community. She said nearly 500 people volunteered to help, and Jennie did the therapy — patterning — seven days a week. She said the overwhelming support from the community eventually made a donation such as this one possible.
“It’s really special,” Georgia said. “They had no computers.”
John said he and his wife worked closely with Tri-Valley over the years, and they couldn’t stress enough how much its services were appreciated in the community.
“The people are all very caring individuals,” he said. “They helped make our life more normal.
“We’ve formed a special bond with Tri-Valley.”
Lab is dedicated in Jennie’s honor
