~A Mother ~
~ A Community
Leader ~ A Friend ~
On August 19, 1941, Margaret was
born to Earl and Lucy Chappell in National City San Diego County California. Nick-named
Micki, was raised and attended school in San Diego. She met and married Art Luhnow. The Luhnow’s
gave birth to and raised four children, Bradley, Brian, Brenda and Bonnie. They
are grandparents to Jourdan, Alexa, Trevor and Shelby.
Micki’s second marriage was to Stanley
Plummer and together in 1993, they purchased a part-time home in Big Bear
Lake. In 2004, the Plummer’s built their
full-time home in Eagle Knolls, in Big Bear Lake. Sadly, Stan passed way in August of 2011.
Family members and friends in the
Big Bear Valley have been encouraged by Micki Plummer‘s forge ahead attitude. Her
dedication to voluntarily serve the community, in her local Baptist Church and
contribute major time and talent to the Bear Valley Community Healthcare
Hospital Auxiliary, as well as other commitments that Micki choose to
participate and serve, all just came naturally. Various projects and challenges that displayed
their needs for assistance in caring for others, automatically appealed to
Micki.
For more than twenty years Micki
has been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Big Bear Valley. Meetings
with church friends on a regular basis and Bible studies were a major part of
her life. As a member of the Women’s
Ministry, she served as President for four years. Micki Plummer enjoyed monthly meetings with
the Women’s Connection.
Planning and setting up events
seemed to be one of those areas that Micki excelled in, such as the BVCH
Auxiliary fund-raisers. The
Mall-in-the-Hall and Hot & Saucy events have become popular attractions for
the Hospital and the community, while helping to meet the needs of patients. For
nine years Micki Plummer has willingly been a leader as the BVCH Auxiliary
President.
Until Wednesday (March 4th)
afternoon Micki Plummer performed her role as an Auxiliary volunteer, as though
it was her full-time job. The Pink Lady’s
daily beat at the Hospital was to
have the Emergency Room covered, as well as the Front Lobby by Auxiliary
volunteers. Wednesday mornings her
assigned weekly duty was delivering the Big Bear Grizzly newspapers to patients
and hospital staff. Micki greeted everyone throughout each day, whether at the
Hospital or anywhere in town, with that Happy
Hello and welcomed friendly smile!
Wednesday March 4, 2015 BVCH
Auxiliary President Micki Plummer made her
last round, before checking into the BVCH Hospital Emergency Room. Immediately,
medical personnel realized that Micki was having difficulties. Complying with
her wishes and being among her friends, in the place where she had worked and
lived for so many years, Micki Plummer passed
away in the afternoon.
A Celebration of Life Service in Micki’s memory will be at
the First Baptist Church, Saturday March 21st. Friends and Family
will gather at 11:00 A.M. for the service with a reception immediately
following.
Micki’s Family requests in lieu of
flowers, that donations be made to the Micki
Plummer Challenge in care of BVCH
Auxiliary.
The First Baptist Church of Big
Bear Valley, is located next door to the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, at 41960
Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear Lake.
LEFT BVCHD Auxiliary President Micki Plummer kids around with actor Steve Cassling during the Pink Glove Campaign.
RIGHT Mother Grandmother Micki Plummer
~~~~~
BRAD -
My Mother, Micki
and I had a special bond unlike any I
have ever experienced. She was a pure joy to be around, so loved and respected
by many friends and family. Mom was my rock! I will miss her smile, her laughter, our many
talks in front of the fireplace, our trips to the store, restaurants, post
office, crossword puzzle time, Malls In The Hall, Hot & Saucies, Taco
Tuesdays, church on Sundays, Friday night bingo, and the countless other times
we shared.
Mom had a glow
about her. She transferred that glow on
to her children and grandchildren. She was selfless and kind, generous, confident,
beautiful and caring, both inside and out.
I was her Baby
Boy, she was my good friend and confidant. I was blessed to have been able to spend so much quality time with someone who
I truly loved and cared about. Mom was my
everything. I cannot begin to tell you how much I will miss her. I know that
she is truly one of God's Angels
looking down on all of us with that radiant, beautiful smile.
This beautiful poem
from Hallmark describes My Wonderful Mother.
On
The Loss Of A Mother
We can shed tears
that she is gone. Or we can smile because she has lived.
We can close our
eyes and pray that she will come back.
Or we can open our
eyes and see all that she has left.
Our hearts can be
empty because we can't see her.
Or they can be full
of the love that she shared.
We can turn our
backs on tomorrow and live yesterday.
Or we can be happy
for tomorrow because of yesterday.
We can remember her
and only that she is gone.
Or we can cherish
her memory and let it live on.
We can cry and
close our minds, be empty and turn our backs.
Or we can do what
she would have wanted.
Smile, open our
eyes, love and go on.
Bradley Luhnow
TOP BVCHD Auxiliary Volunteers posing during the Pink Glove Campaign
BOTTOM Left to Right Jim Ortez, Micki Plummer, Rob Robbins and Sara Tully working the Phone Bank asking for support of the Measure F Parcel Tax.
Friends
Remember
* Megan Meadors, MOMS & DADS PROJECT
“I have been thinking about our dear friend Micki and her
impact on our hospital and on me personally. I know that the front lobby, Board
meetings, and Hot & Saucy and other projects will never be the same without
her smiling face. Although there is much
pain and loss in these moments I spent a good amount of time last night
thinking about her legacy. Micki was a big chunk of the heart and soul of this
district. Without her efforts with the Auxiliary and with each of us
personally, will leave a gaping hole.”
“She lived and breathed goodness; she was positive, helpful
and straight forward. The work that she did with the Auxiliary will leave big
shoes to fill. Micki was always about improving the Hospital.”
* Betty Cummins, BVCH
Auxiliary Pink Lady
“For many years Micki has been a major player in the life at
the Hospital and keeping the Auxiliary Pink Volunteers enthused about the
service they provide. Micki was so
happy, always greeting people with a big smile.”
* BVCH
Auxiliary Volunteers
Many of the Volunteers have expressed much sadness of Micki’s
passing but acknowledged how she has left a unique legacy to the importance of
the Auxiliary. The Pink Ladies and Guys must carry on with the guidance of President
Micki Plummer, as well as her positive, uplifting charisma that she portrayed
wherever she served.”
* Rob Robbins, BVCHD Board of
Directors
“When
I asked Micki and the Auxiliary to participate in making telephone calls for the
Measure F campaign, Micki said that
she would talk to her team and get back to me. A few days later, I spoke
with Micki, she told me that the Auxiliary would take Wednesday to work on
the phone bank. Gratefully I said, ‘That's great! What Wednesday would
you like?" Micki replied, ‘All of them!’
“Many
good people volunteered and made numerous calls. However, Micki and her
team were a real driving force behind
the telephone campaign. I'm not sure that Measure
F would have passed without Micki's dedicated effort!”
“Our hospital has lost a huge asset and I have lost a wonderful
friend!”
* Dr.
Christopher Fagan, BVCHD Board of
Directors describes
Micki Plummer as his Best Friend! He
continues, “She was most ethical, honest and a paramount leader in the
healthcare community; of which Micki will be greatly missed. It won’t be the
same without her laughter and cheerfulness.”
* Barbara Willey,
BVCHD Board of Directors
“As
it happened I saw Micki on that Wednesday
at her desk, smiling and kidding around as usual. The last stop she made was in
the Hospital was to the Emergency Room. In the afternoon, Auxiliary Ladies
regrouped to carry on as Micki had directed.
Micki Plummer was known to be a true
leader, when it came to fund-raisers or charity events; she delegated the
volunteers to making them successful.”
“During
Measure F campaign, Micki rallied her
team together to help with the phone bank. She and her team never complained but joked about
the not too friendly folks. Micki
and the BVCH Auxiliary volunteers were
there to help Ray
Hino, staff and I with the town halls meetings.”
“Part
of the job was, helping in E R with transporting patients and checking in with folks,
that everybody was okay. Micki was fun,
full of energy, a team player and a leader, a go-to gal. You asked for it and
it was done, she never said, No.”
* Elaine
W. Trei, Physical Therapist
“BVCHD
Hospital has lost a great advocate, a supporter, a LADY! One who believed in
what BVCHD believes in, and the community we served; she cared about the
residents and the employees. The Physical Therapy department, is aware that Micki
brought us the weekly Grizzly along with her Special Smile.
For
me personally, she was a wonderful listener, with no judgments, just listened,
which is a special gift. If
asked, she would give advice but never forcefully. Thanks to her encouragement
the Auxiliary, donated numerous items for physical therapy equipment and needs
for the residents.”
“Micki and I just happened to go to Special Effects at the same time to get our
hair done. I never felt her hair ever needed to be done. It was fun to see her Special Smile each
Thursday morning, assuring me the day would be a great day!
That smile was how she was able to touch people's lives; a true gift to the Hospital
and to the Big Bear Community.”
“I will miss her for the rest of my life. That hoped-for dinner or lunch with each other, never happened. Often, Micki
and I passed in the hospital hallways but she had no idea how she affected my
life. The way she viewed the world with her kind words, the genuineness of her
personality, her big smile She was always happy and content with her beliefs about
life. So many of us go through life and never reach that plateau of knowing
ourselves and accept who we are, or accept others for where they are on their life’s
journey. Micki Plummer was A Great LADY!”