Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly has had a special place in (mine and husband Jeff’s, a.k.a. Santa Claus) our hearts since the 1970s.

We have had many friends and relatives who have spent the winter of their lives there where they received very good care. We just lost one of our favorite people in October. She was getting close to 100 years old.

Jeff’s cousin, Mae Melton, enjoyed several years there, first in Laurel Village Assisted Living Facility and then in Shepherd’s Cove at the nursing facility. She enjoyed all the activities and the dedicated visitors who made her life interesting.

Santa Claus and his junior Optimist Club, along with sponsor/teacher David Hurley, designed ways to make money so that the youngsters could adopt “grandparents” and provide Christmas for those who have no families. They delivered them each December but will not be allowed to do it this year because of the H1N1 flu virus. But the children will have them sent to the residents by Santa.

In spite of the bad press that some nursing homes have gotten of late, our family only has good things to say about Laurel Heights.

As I have said before, Laurel Countians are blessed to have a haven of rest like Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly, Laurel Village, and Village Heights, assisted living facilities, where the staff is caring and friendly and where the food is delicious.

I couldn’t think of a better place to spend my last years if I could no longer take care of myself.

The three facilities are beautifully decorated and the local community makes their presence known day after day — a place where families congregate.

Jeff and I visit there often and enjoy the residents and the caring staff.

For the past 40 years we have had the pleasure of visiting friends and relatives there. For years we have visited a sister-in-law and a cousin living there where my husband and I joined them for Halloween parties, Christmas parties, July 4th cookouts and just for lunch on any given day. But they are both gone now to a peaceful place in the universe.

Yes, Mae Caudill Melton was laid to rest on a balmy, autumn day on a mountaintop near her old home place near Hyden, Ky. ... overlooking a peaceful valley.

It was one of October’s bright blue days with the sun setting through the tall oak and maple trees that were turning colors of burnt-orange burnished gold, and lemon yellow, interspersed with deep red sumac bushes.

There was a gentle breeze rustling through the fallen leaves ... a bird singing its sweet song on the highest limb of an old oak tree. A bright monarch butterfly was sailing softly through the trees as Mae’s children and grandchildren hugged one another with tears in their eyes — talking about the good times and the olden days with their dear mother and grandmother there in the tall mountains.

Ms. Mae planned her own funeral down to the last flower. Her pall was lovely American Beauty roses and white carnations amongst ornate greenery.

Her lovely dress was one she wore to her grandson’s wedding, a pink, long-sleeved beauty that set off her soft, white, thick hair.

She looked peacefully asleep and I thought to myself, “She is not gone forever; she is just away for a little while.”

Someday we hope to see her again somewhere beyond the bright blue sky.

Mae already had her picture on her tombstone next to the father of her children in a place of her own choice.

The songs were beautifully done and the speaker did a good job. The funeral was nice, and when we all went our separate ways we felt that Mae was at rest in her beloved homeland beneath the tall trees on the mountainside ... and several people said, “What a view!” Her old Kentucky home....

We are all appreciative of the staff at Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly and their kindness to our family members. And thanks to Kathey Young, the administrator.

Mae came here to this nursing home because we told her daughter, Vonnie, that this was the finest nursing homes anywhere. That is our story and we are sticking to it — in spite of tales elsewhere.

Shirley Caudill of London is a former newspaper editor/publisher and longtime freelance columnist. She is a Nashville native who has lived in Kentucky 40 years. She has six children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and is married to a retired Army First Sergeant. She can be reached at gunnstar4912@gmail.com