I continued my education during this
time and successfully completed several appraisal courses, the FHLBB
Management Development Program, ethics courses and additional
examination related courses.
In February of 1983, I transferred to
Washington, DC with the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance
Corporations as a Case Manager for the Financial Assistance Division
(FAD). I received a promotion while in DC and became a 2nd level
Supervisor for FAD and then was transferred to Dallas in 1988, where
I was the Regional Director in charge of administering the program
known as the Southwest Plan. FSLIC closed 112 savings & loans in
Texas and Oklahoma under the "Southwest Plan." Those institutions
were administered through the Dallas office. In 1989, Congress
eliminated FSLIC and merged much of the operations with FDIC, and I
was appointed as a deputy ethic counselor in 1989 for FDIC. All of
the Assistance Agreement administration including the Southwest Plan
was in this merger with FDIC. At the conclusion of the agreement
administration in 1995, I accepted an early retirement.
I worked as a part time salesman for
DFW Honda and President of their motorcycle club from 1993 until
2000 when my wife and I moved to Montague, TX. We immediately became
involved in church and community activities. I served on the
Montague Cemetery Board for two years and on the Texoma Area
Paratransit System (TAPS) Board since 2001. My wife and I are also
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for the Montague court
wherein we are appointed guardians for children in the Child
Protective System. I was elected as Vice President for the CASA board
of directors in 2006. I am also an active member of the Red River
Emmaus Community and have worked four walks giving talks at three of
these walks. After becoming involved with Christ Community Church,
my wife and I assumed the ministry over Grace Place in late 2003.
Since that time, Grace Place has become incorporated as a 501 (c)
(3) tax exempt Texas Corporation, has completed its emergency
shelter, has become a Local Recipient Organization for FEMA, and has
grown in asset size to over $50,000 with gross receipts of $30,000
for 2006.
Gayle Weaver,
Case Manager
Born on June 6th, 1949 in Anadarko,
Oklahoma. I was the middle of 5 children. My family moved off the
farm to Lawton, Oklahoma when I was about 4. I had the advantage of
a good education, graduating from high school 3rd in a class of 276.
I was in a pre-med curriculum at OU, studied solid state physics at
the University of Houston and graduated cum laude in engineering at
the University of Utah.
I was a prideful youth, defined by
academics and believing that the other students could do as well as
I could if only they were not so lazy. In fact, my physical,
emotional and social education was all but ignored. It wasn't until
I was in my 30's that I finally realized that most people do the
best they can with what they have.
I married James, we survived Viet
Nam and had 2 beautiful and talented daughters, one reserved and
practical like her Dad and one outrageous and analytical like her
Mom. We became successful and we became indulgent. I say that I was
raised in Oklahoma, but grew up in Houston. It was the 70's, a time
of experimenting with everything we could now afford. We are forever
grateful that James was transferred to Salt Lake City before this
indulgent life style took us further down the path that many of our
Houston friends and his co-workers continued to travel.
We continued to be successful by the
world's standards. We moved to the Washington, D.C. area, did the
cocktail parties and receptions, even met Ted Kennedy. He was also
the product of the indulgence of the 80's. We brought our two girls
up to value nice houses, cool cars and successful friends.
My engineering career included 2
years as a physical scientist designing aluminum alloy for aerospace
applications and 5 years with the Navy applying that knowledge to
the design and maintenance of Naval aircraft and weapons systems.
After moving to the DFW MetroPlex in 1988, I was an engineer special
agent for the IRS for 5 years. My engineering training and career
developed my analytical and organizational skill and taught me the
values of factual development and verification, documentation and
confidentiality.
I believe that God brought us to
Montague County to discover the true values in life and to apply our
life experiences to help equip those in need to handle the
situations that life puts them in. In addition to Grace Place, I
also volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in
protective custody. This required 30 hours of classroom training as
a case worker.
Belinda
Hendrix, Board Chairperson
I have lived in Montague County for
over thirty years. During this time I have acquired skills that
enable me to fulfill my role as Board Chairperson of Grace Place. I
have also gained a passion to help those in need in our community.
As a business owner I made decisions
daily concerning purchasing, credit, collections and sales, as well
as performing basic bookkeeping details. I also assisted in writing
the computer program for our manufacturing company.
As co-pastor of Christ Community
Church, I encourage and maintain healthy relationships within our
community and work well with other people of all backgrounds.
Through this experience I have learned to make unbiased decisions
based on prayer, known facts and common sense.
I feel all of these attributes make
me capable of achieving the goals and purposes of Grace Place,
administering its programs and working with the guidelines set forth
by FEMA.
Gerri Paine, Director
I am currently serving as a board
member of
. I have been a resident of Montague
County for 28 years. During that time I have learned how much a
great many people of this county are in need of assistance.
I have owned and operated my own
beauty salon for the past 23 years. As a business owner, I am
knowledgeable in financial affairs as well as dealing with
co-workers and employees. My experience as a hairstylist has given
me the opportunity to hear personal stories of both spiritual and
physical needs.
I believe my strongest asset in
helping others is through my music ministry. I have performed many
concerts for benefits such as Project Graduation, Hurricane Katrina
Relief, Grace Place and the American Cancer Society. Recently I have
recorded two CD's as fund-raisers for Grace Place and the American
Cancer Society.
My husband David and I have been
married for 15 years and have 2 daughters, Lindsey and Allison. We
are member of Christ Community Church where I serve as Music
Minister. It is through my Church family that I have learned about
helping others.
Steve Skinner, Director
Steve was born in Nocona, Texas on
October 13, 1964. He lived in Nocona until the 7th grade and then
moved to Enid, Oklahoma where he graduated high school in 1983.
Steve moved back to Nocona in 1988
where he lived and worked in the community until May of 1998. Steve
married Tammy Mullins on May 29, 1993 and now has two sons, Brock,
age 12, and Brayden, age 9.
Steve now works in the oil industry
where he comes in contact with a diverse group of people. He treats
all people with respect.
Steve is a loving husband and active
father and shows interest in not only his family, but all people,
young, old, Christian or non-Christian. His compassion for the ones
that need a hand up whether they are medically challenged or
mentally challenged. He has a friendly non-aggressive manner that
people relate to.
Steve always looks for the best price
on all goods and services to help defray the cost of the project and
volunteers his labor in many cases.
Steve is not afraid to ask for others
help when ministering to the needy. He is willing to give 100% in
hope of seeing others follow his example. Steve does all tasks with
grace, sweetness and in the spirit of God without complaining.
Steve Skinner is an active and
valuable Grace Place board member who contributes greatly to the
goals and purposes of Grace Place.
