Mary Kay Menees passed away peacefully on April 26, 2019. Mary Kay Hardesty was born July 18, 1921, to T.O. Hardesty, M.D. and Katherine (Killam) Hardesty, in
Jacksonville, Illinois, where she later graduated from McMurry College. After college, she married Charles Menees of Virginia, Illinois in 1943, and the couple moved to St.Louis. They lived on Art Hill Place, adjacent to the St. Louis Zoo, and then had homes in University City and Kirkwood. Mary Kay had three children, Nancy Katherine, Charles Hardy, and Marcia Anne, born between 1945 and 1955.
Around 1960, Mary Kay returned to Webster College to become a teacher. She was aFaculty member of Central then Conway Elementary Schools in Ladue from 1962 until retirement in 1984. She was a third-grade teacher and loved to teach children to read!During child-rearing years, Charlie Menees worked at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a feature writer, columnist and music critic, and then for the McDonnell Douglas Air Scoopas editor of this newspaper. In retirement, Cactus Charlie started his beloved jazzprograms on Saturday nights on KWMU and then KMOX radio with his last showentitled: Jazz Under the Arch. His car license plate was Dr. Jazz while Mary Kay's carplate became Saint Jazz. Mary Kay accompanied her husband most Saturday nights andsat by his side during broadcasts.
In retirement, Mary Kay became a community volunteer at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, a storyteller with St. Louis Gateway Storytellers, and a tutor at Reading is Fundamental (RIF) for 36 years. She was also active at the Kirkwood Library, Toastmasters, and participated in several book clubs and bridge groups. Mary Kay is survived by her three children, Nancy Menees Hardesty (John Parker), Hardy Menees (Kathy Menees), Marcia Menees Kessel (Brian Kessel). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Bob Menees (Susanna Menees), Annie Menees (Hon. Joseph L. Goff, Jr.), Evan Hardesty Parker (Cailin Parker), Bonnie Kessel Gregg (Jack Gregg), and Sarah Kessel. Additionally, her great-grandchildren are Sage and Alice Menees, Gracie Goff, and Emerson and Ellis Parker. Mary Kay's family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the staff at Evelyn's House and St. Luke's Hospital for the compassionate care they provided.
(Text from Mary Kay's obituary)
A group of friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist thought the competition unfair.
He asked the good fathers to close down, they would not. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the most vicious thug in town to persuade them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he’d be back if they didn’t close. Terrified they did so, proving that: Hugh and only Hugh can prevent florist friars.
Jackie and her husband, puppeteer and percussionist Glen “Papa” Wright, work together as a team. They have been featured tellers at the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, the Kansas City Storytelling Festival, and the By Word of Mouth Storytelling Festival.
Jackie is a member of the National Storytelling Network and is their Missouri State Liaison. She is a member and former vice-president of Missouri Storytelling; a member of the National Association of Black Storytellers; and a member of St. Louis Gateway Storytellers. She is on the St. Louis Storytelling Festival Planning Committee. In 2014, Jackie became a first-time editor for author Diann Joy Bank’s A Pot of Mizvot - 18 Jewish Folktales.
Jackie and “Papa” were featured in the January 2018 issue of St. Louis Magazine in an article entitled, “The Many Artistic Facets of Jackie and Glen “Papa” Wright” and in 2007 they were recipients of St. Louis Magazine’s 2007 A-List Awards for Best Story Time.
What is your interest in storytelling? How did it begin?
It was July 1994. I travelled to Hannibal, MO, with my husband Glen “Papa” Wright, to the By Word of Mouth Storytelling Conference. I had no idea what storytelling was all about. Gladys Coggswell, the founder of the the By Word of Mouth Storytelling Guild, hired “Papa” to do a percussion workshop. I was really impressed with the tellers I met and the stories I heard. It was a great atmosphere of comradery and fun. I wanted to become part of it, but I didn’t think I had the courage to speak in front of an audience. Nonetheless, Gladys encouraged me to try. She even sent me home with one of her cassette tapes.
But for twelve months, I did nothing toward becoming a storyteller. “Papa” was invited back to the conference again the next year and I attended with him. Needless to say, I had to tell Gladys that I wasn’t prepared to perform a story. But this time at the conference, I met Diann Joy Bank, a St. Louis storyteller who taught a workshop on becoming a storyteller. So, in late September 1995, I signed up for her class.
Why did you decide it was important to be a member of Missouri Storytelling?
I decided that it was important to be a member of Missouri Storytelling because MO-Tell is keeping the oral tradition alive throughout Missouri. It creates community and opportunities for its members to spread the art and joy of storytelling.
What tellers have been influential in your life?
The tellers that have been influential in my life are Gladys Coggswell, Diann Joy Bank, and Sue Hinkel. Of course, I enjoy listening to all of them tell, but Gladys was the first to ignite the desire in me to tell.
Attending her conferences and listening to her and the other tellers was inspiring. When I was ready, Gladys allowed me and “Papa” to be a part of the By Word of Mouth Storytelling Festival.
After Gladys ignited the desire to tell, Diann took me under her wings and taught me how to tell. She introduced me to the St. Lous storytelling community by taking me to storytelling concerts and storytelling guild meetings. I learned about the St. Louis Gateway Storytellers, MO-Tell, Riverwind Storytellers, and the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. Diann and I told tandem tales and presented storytelling workshops together. I learned a lot from her. To this day, I seek her advice, and she continues to encourage me.
In 1997, Sue Hinkel was the president of MO-Tell. ON Diann’s recommendation, Sue featured me and “Papa” at MO-Tell’s annual Missouri River Storytelling Festival. I was thrilled and honored. “Papa” and I always looked forward to the festival in the Fall of the year. Since then, Sue has also encouraged me to get more involved in storytelling. I became an officer in MO-Tell; an officer in St. Louis Gateway Storytellers; and she and I have worked together for years on a couple of committees for the St. Louis Storytelling Festival. Lastly, Sue suggested that I get involved on the national level and become NSN’s MO State Liaison. So, I did. So, I am.
What is your favorite story, movie, or song?
I don’t really have a favorite story, movie, or song. However, I love musical theater. My most favorite musicals are Wicked, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, and The Lion King.
Favorite Trick or Treat Joke? Memory of Christmas? Valentine memory? Favorite vacation?
My favorite Valentine memory just occurred this year. “Papa” and I made a reservation at a White Castle restaurant. It was a very nice experience.