Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 29

Grandma Bugard's arms open wide RvRONAin I Dire JL By RONALD J. RICE m. m. 1 i XH i tilt 1 4: yoictx Tribune Staff Writer A small child at play runs, stumbles and falls. Large tears well up and spill from the eyes of the youngster who turns and rushes into the outstretched arms of Grandma who can provide the love and comfort to make everything well again.

The scene is the Great Falls Mercy Home, a shelter for battered and endangered women and their children. Founded in May 1977, it is the oldest and largest shelter for battered women in Montana, according to Jane Basta, administrator. Grandma is a Foster Grandparent Clara Dugard. She comes to Mercy Home Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

and the one special thing she brings with her is her love for children. She raised her own two children and now has grandchildren but she still has plenty of love left for her tiny friends at Mercy Home. Her voice has the softness of a mountain mist from her native Kentucky and her gentleness is obvious, even to a casual observer, as the children climb on her lap and give her hugs in return for small favors. She came to Montana 35 years ago from a small town in Kentucky's Ohio County and has spent the past 20 years in the Cascade County area. She worked on ranches as a cook in the Cascade area.

That is where her son Glenn, who died in 1987, is buried. Her daughter, Wanda Enger, lives in Helena where she is manager of the Receiving Home. She has a grandson living in Billings and a granddaughter who graduated from college this spring. It was in September 1986 that "Grandma" Dugard joined the Foster Grandparents. She was assigned to Mercy Home and has been there ever since.

"The number of children varies," she said. "Once we had 18 but that was the most we ever had at one time. Sometimes it drops down to only one child but usually we have more than that. I enjoy the work because I love the children. "Mostly, I play with them or entertain them.

Sometimes I care for the babies when mothers are busy. I also read to the children and I comfort them if they hurt themselves. I give them lots of love that's the main thing." She said she enjoys being a member of the Mercy Home staff and likes all of the people with whom she works. She learned early in life how to get along with people. Her father was a carpenter so the family moved around quite a bit.

She was one of 10 children six boys, four girls. Five are still living. She has a brother, Odra Mathis, living in Libby, a brother in Georgia, a sister in Missouri, and a sister in Kentucky. Basta said Dugard is extremelv effective "in her gentle way. Nothing seems to ruffle ner.

iir.jn',, rl Trllwnf Photo by Ronald J. Rict Grandma Clara Dugard comforts a youngster at the Great Falls Mercy Home with a storybook..