As we age, security and comfort become even more important than they were earlier in life. It’s much easier to enjoy your later years when you know all of your needs are anticipated and help is never more than a few steps away. For Sharon Owens, the combination of ease and comfort is one of the main reasons she decided to move to The Gatesworth. For more than three decades, the senior living community has been dedicated to offering residents innovative services and a variety of amenities to ensure they remain active, happy and comfortable.

Owens grew up in New Mexico. “I started out my life on a Navajo reservation,” she recalls. “My father owned a trading post there.” She pursued a degree in education and became a fourth grade teacher. In 1970, she moved with her husband to St. Louis. After making the transition, Owens began operating a dry cleaners in Des Peres. “I may not be a native St. Louisian, but I feel like one,” she notes. “It’s my husband’s hometown.”

Owens and her husband made the decision to move to a senior living community in 2021. He was dealing with Parkinson’s disease, and the couple wanted an easier way of living. The choice to go with The Gatesworth was a simple one. “My husband had worked with owner Bob Leonard and his team at the property as a carpenter,” Owens explains. “He knew what a beautiful place it was and how good the food was. That’s why we wanted to live here.” That appreciation for The Gatesworth’s dining has extended to Owens’ family. Her son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren love to visit. “They’re excellent cooks, who rarely ever eat out, but they can’t wait to dine with me here,” she says.

Having now been at The Gatesworth for four years, Owens has enjoyed getting to connect with a wide variety of people. “Everybody has a unique story and different experiences—it’s wonderful to learn about them all,” she notes. “I’ve made a lot of friends. It’s just a great community.” Connecting with the staff also has been another standout facet of Owens’ Gatesworth experience. “I asked one of the owners how he trains such good people,” she recalls. “He answered, ‘I don’t train them. I hire them.’ The staff really is the best of the best. They all work hard, and everyone is happy to assist you with anything you need.”

Life at The Gatesworth has kept Owens active and engaged. The community offers a wide variety of activities and entertainment, including exercise classes, live music, happy hours, art, lectures and more. Owens’ favorite? “I absolutely love playing games,” she says. “I’m learning bridge, and I also enjoy Rummikub, Canasta and train dominos. There is such a wide variety of things to do here—it’s difficult to be bored. I’m grateful every morning that I get to live at The Gatesworth. It’s a wonderful place, and I love everything about it.”

Located at One McKnight Place, The Gatesworth offers residents a wide variety of innovative services and amenities so they can live life to the fullest. Pictured on the cover: Resident Sharon Owens. For more information, call 314.993.0111 or visit thegatesworth.com.

Cover design courtesy of The Gatesworth
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography

Pictured at top: Resident Sharon Owens and executive director Carrie Montrey during Cruise Week
Photo: Rayley Smith