St. Louis is home to many amazing senior living communities, and each one is filled with the unique stories of its residents. We’re spotlighting some of the sensational seniors who call St. Louis home.
Jim Vail | EverTrue Meramec Bluffs
Jim Vail was born and raised in northern Iowa. He earned a bachelor’s in education and later a master’s. His career brought him to the St. Louis region. He moved to West County and worked for the Rockwood School District for 35 years. Vail retired in 1995, and after that, he discovered a passion for cycling. “In 1998, I started riding across Missouri on the Katy Trail to support Habitat for Humanity,” he explains. “I did that around 15 times. I’ve ridden Route 66 in Illinois and even rode from St. Louis to Chicago. I’ve done the RAGBRAI across Iowa seven times. I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve gotten to have.”
Due to health issues, Vail had to stop riding, but he has been able to stay connected to his passion for cycling thanks to a bike rehab program hosted by his church, Manchester United Methodist. The Bike Rehab ministry was founded in 2000, and Vail got involved right away. “We collect used bicycles and recondition them mechanically,” he says. “We then distribute them to around 30 partner agencies who provide them to people who need them for recreation or transportation.”
In the Bike Rehab’s second year, Vail was asked to take over coordinating it. He saw the initiative grow substantially. It went from donating 60 bikes in its first year to around 1,000 annually. The number of volunteers also increased, with around 50 people now meeting during two weekly sessions. To participate, Vail notes that individuals do not have to be Manchester United Methodist members. “We offer training classes for new people,” he says, “I was the coordinator up until around the time we donated the 6,000th bike, and then we spread out responsibilities and tasks. The program has blossomed from there. It’s a very unique ministry.”
Vail is equally engaged as a resident of EverTrue Meramec Bluffs. He and his wife, Linda, are part of the ambassador program, working with potential residents. He previously served on the building and grounds committee as well as the Green Team, helping promote recycling and energy saving practices. Every third Saturday of the month, Vail also is part of the “Fix It Group.” “We invite people to bring anything down to the shop that needs repaired,” he explains. “We manage to fix it around 90% of the time—it’s very seldom that we can’t get something back in operation.”
Rev. Noel Stephens | EverTrue Cape Albeon
Growing up in the Sydney, Australia, suburb of Bondi, Rev. Noel Stephens spent his childhood surfing—and trying to avoid the sharks! He studied mining engineering in university, earning a masters in environmental pollution control. His career took him and his wife, Gillian, to many remote Outback locations. “At one mining town, there were only two things to do: Visit the pub or go to church,” Stephens recalls. The couple started spending more time in church, which changed the course of their lives. “Straight away, I knew I was called to the ministry,” he says.
After completing a one-year intensive program in Australia, Stephens and his family relocated to Pasadena, California, where he attended seminary. “We hopped on a plane with all of our possessions in six suitcases,” he says. They stayed in California for 10 years before a doctor advised Stephens to get away from the smog and pollution for his health. The family moved to Dodge City, Kansas, and spent 15 years at different churches around the state. When Gillian struggled to find a job, the Stephenses found themselves at another turning point. “I asked her what she would do if there were no strings attached, and she answered medical school,” he explains. “She passed the MCAT at 42 and completed her residency at the University of Kansas.”
For Gillian’s career, the couple moved again. Stephens had one request. “Not St. Louis,” he laughs. “We had two kids who attended Washington University, and after years of making the drive from Lawrence, Kansas, I didn’t want to deal with that traffic again.” But St. Louis it was. Without a church, Stephens started working with local funeral homes to officiate services when needed, and a friend connected him with Living Word United Methodist Church in Wildwood, where he continues to teach classes.
Living at EverTrue Cape Albeon, Stephens keeps active—important for a man who earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and jumped out of a Cessna airplane seven times as part of a sky diving club in Sydney. He teaches mahjong to his fellow residents, plays table tennis regularly and is a jigsaw puzzle maestro. “I just finished a 1,500-piece one, which I’m going to frame,” he says. The couple, who have four children and 10 grandchildren, made the move to a senior living community for Gillian’s health, and the transition has been successful. “One time at dinner, she performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved the life of someone choking—it was really impressive,” he notes, “Gillian and I are the only Australians, so that gives us some notoriety.”