Benevolence 2016

“The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful then a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

…Our Sincere Condolence

Paul BishopWe often don’t really know a person until they’ve left this plane of existence. Such is the case with Paula Bishop whom we lost too soon on May 31st. To those who knew her in the massage community, all whom she came in contact with knew Paula as a caring, warm, loving, skilled and gentle soul of a woman. If you were lucky enough to have been on her massage table, then you would know how she used her compassionate touch and caring attitude to bring out the very best in every body. This is only a small part of who this incredible person was.
                              
Paula was born to serve and lend her healing touch to others. Being the middle child of seven, she had a passion for the body and movement from an early age. Born in Meadeville, PA, she moved to Lexington, KY as a child and graduated from Lexington Catholic High School in 1967. As an adult, Paula moved back to Pennsylvania to pursue her dream of being a ballet dancer under the tutelage of renowned instructor, Arita Lee. Not long after, she married George Preston Bishop III and they traveled the country for about 3 years while George worked as a circus promoter. They settled again in Lexington, KY and they had two sons, Paul and Preston.
Continuing her education, Paula graduated with a nursing degree from Midway College in Midway, KY. Over the next several years, she worked at the UK Chandler Medical Center where she served in the MICU, outpatient recovery as well as the heart and lung unit. She also spent time with patients at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation hospital, Nurses Registry and home health care, all in Lexington. Her most rewarding position, however, was working with Hospice of the Bluegrass. Her loving, compassionate nature and ability to have unconditional positive regard for all whom she served was a perfect fit for her in hospice. She provided much comfort and love for those transitioning as well as the families of those sacred souls. Her care for the sick and transitioning was also a gift to her family as she was able to comfort several family members, including her own parents, in their time of passing.
In 2007, Paula then made the decision to go to massage school. She decided to attend The Lexington Healing Arts Academy and this is when I had the pleasure to meet her. She was one of my students and a delight from day one. She was always inquisitive, kind and gentle. Qualities many of us could certainly cultivate more of, including myself. I had the honor of knowing Paula on a few different levels. Not only was she my student, she also became my colleague practicing in the same building for the last several years. Many times we’d both be walking the halls, waiting on our clients, and stop to chat, give each other a hug and check in as to how the other was doing. She always had such a calm, peaceful energy about her and I always felt better for coming in contact with her.
I also knew her on a social level as she also happened to be the upstairs neighbor of my mother and stepfather when they lived in Lexington. When they first moved to Lexington, as Paula was getting out of her car one day in the complex where they lived, my stepfather happened to be outside and introduced himself. She mentioned that she had just come from massage school and my stepfather said, “my stepdaughter teaches at a massage school here”. Paula asked him what my name was and when he said, “Ann Boone”, she smiled and said, “I just came from her class!” They became fast friends and my mother kept in touch with Paula even after she moved to California several years ago. My stepfather died in February and Paula was kind enough to call my mom with words of comfort and healing. We had the good fortune to have lunch with her and another friend when my mom visited this past March. For that, my mother and I will be forever grateful.
There was so much more to Paula Rene Kress Bishop than I can convey in this dedication. Her family had a wonderful Celebration of Life for her Sunday, June 5. Family and friends were able to share special memories of Paula. She was loved by many and will be missed by many more. Her granddaughter, Ava, summed it up better than I can. She said, “love each other like my grandma loved me”. Out of the mouths of babes. Paula will always be remembered as an Ageless Spirit and an inspiration to all who came in contact with her.
By: Ann Boone

Collette Wilson, a member of our AMTA-KY Chapter, has suffered this weekend the tragic loss of her 15yr old son Johnathan, in a moped accident. Collette has given thousands of hours of volunteer time to our state AMTA-KY Chapter, serving as a past president, vp, national delegate and in a hundred other ways. Her passionate support for the Massage Therapy Research Foundation has led her to challenge the rest of us to give to this important work of our profession. If you attended the AMTA-KY Spring Conference, you may have enjoyed the delicious homemade Ky Bourbon Balls that Collette prepared in exchange for donations to the Massage Therapy Research Foundation. On facebook, Collette has shared in her own “Erma Bombeckian way”, the joys and challenges of parenting two boys. As colleague and friend, many of us feel as if we have watched Johnathan and his 12 yr old brother Daniel grow up on facebook. Now, instead of getting to share in her pride at the completion of Johnathan’s steps toward becoming an Eagle Scout, we can only imagine the depth of pain that Collette, her husband John, and son Daniel are experiencing. Please hold Collette and her family close in your hearts… Peace and Namaste

By: Karen Miller