Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Crooked Creek Ambassadors couldn’t imagine anywhere else as Home
Sisters Barb Long and Evelyn Davis will serve as this year’s ambassadors
WINFIELD — Many have seen Barb Long and Evelyn Davis driving around Winfield in a golf cart passing time and simply enjoying the town they’ve called home for well over 60 years. This weekend even more are bound to see the dynamic duo cruise through town as they take their place as this year’s Crooked Creek Days Ambassadors.
Long recalls her and Davis’s parents moved them to Winfield when she was in sixth grade and from the beginning, she knew it was home. After they moved to Winfield their dad, owner of Bunker Welding, wanted to move closer to work in Burlington.
“Us girls said, ‘No, you promised we would be here,’” Long said. “So, this is where we made our home. He drove and we stayed here.”
“This is where we wanted to make our home, and we did,” she said. “And we’ve been here ever since.”
Davis and Long finished school in Winfield and went on to marry and have children which they then raised in the town they loved.
Long married Gary and they had three children: Susan Long, Jacki Long Harris, and Jana Long Leeney.
Davis married Ronnie Davis and they also had three children: Tim Davis, Kara Davis, and Karla Davis Beasley.
All their children attended Winfield-Mt. Union. Both sisters kept busy raising their families and stepping up whenever they’re asked.
For the last several years Long has served as a board member of the Winfield Historical Society and Museum. While she says she doesn’t know nearly as many people in Winfield as she once did, she does know quite a few and her wealth of first-hand knowledge certainly helps keep Winfield history alive.
Davis never shys away from lending a helping hand either. While she not a board member like her sister, she does help Long whenever she asks. Davis has also happily served meals at the VFW and answered the call to help anyway she can.
When the two are not helping in a volunteer sense, they can be seen riding their golf cart around town, although neither one of them actually play golf.
“My sister and I ride around town on this golf cart, and we see people,” Long said. “We stop and talk to them and we have a lot of fun that way. I mean, that’s our entertainment in Winfield.”
Unfortunately, Davis has not been available for their golf cart rides lately as she broke her hip and was at the University of Iowa Hospital. Thankfully, she is now at Sunrise Terrace in their “get well and go home,” program and Long visits her twice a day.
Long hopes Davis will make it out in time to ride in the Crooked Creek Days parade with her this weekend. They will have the best view for seeing everyone as their sons, who are only six months apart, drive them along the parade route this Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11 a.m.
Either way, the sisters look forward to Crooked Creek Days this year as they do every year because this is when everyone comes home. As avid people-watchers on their golf cart throughout the year, having their family and friends all come home to Winfield is an extra special time for Davis and Long.
“It seems like my family always comes home for it,” Long said. “A lot of people come home then, so, they all see their classmates and such and its such a fun time.”
Long and Davis look forward to their children and grandchildren coming home for Crooked Creek Days and are excited to represent their home as this year’s ambassadors.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
