Hometown Boy by Duane Dailey

September 30 2015 The Mirror

"These people see the world through a different lens." A woman was overheard saying as she left the photo show. She'd seen 425 color enlargements made last week, stories of people in Perryville, Mo.

When 41 photographers come to town things happen to photographers and the town's people. Photographers discover openness and learn documentary photography. People learn it's OK to have a photo made without looking at the camera to say "Cheese."

A young man from Brooklyn pondered the open welcome. An old man from Columbia, likewise. Locals accept us with open doors, strangers in their midst.

The annual event ran the 67th time in the 47th town visited. MPW sometimes returns to a town. As towns grow, adding motels, the workshop visits new towns.

The Missouri Photo Workshop stands as the oldest continuous workshop extending ideas from the University of Missouri. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The reach isn't just to rural Missouri as the impact spreads worldwide. This years photographers came from seven counties, showing our global reach.

Even rural Missouri towns have that outreach. This month Missouri opened a trade office in Cuba, a market ready for our farm products and more.

One of our faculty, a photojournalist from the Washington Post, showed her work from Cuba. I was astounded by the vibrant culture. Also, I glimpsed the world's largest collection of working antique cars. An opening shot reminded me that I once knew Studebakers.

I'd promoted Perryville as a photo subject for a while. It's in a strong agricultural county., Early, manufacturing plants came to town, adding jobs. A 7,000 foot runway was built next to a plant that for a long time held large contracts for defense.

The mayor said U.S. fighter jets came to the airport near the plant which makes parts for planes. People working in the plants like rural life.

The workshop directors know two things make a great workshop: Support of the mayor and local businesses, plus a vibrant local newpaper. Perryville has these.

At the opening picnic, hosted by locals, Mayor Ken Baer did the homework for visiting photographers. He spelled out the attributes of his town. It thrives, cares, and shares, he said.

He gave the broad qualitites; then he told specific examples of those traits.

Local culture still shows influence of early German settlers along the Mississippi River south of St. Louis.

Long ago, in the early '60s, MPW documented nearby Cape Girardeau. That's where I attended as a neophyte workshop photographer. I would never have guessed from that start, I would later be co-director of the workshop. Bill Kuykendall, thenhead of MU photojournalism, and I, MU Extension photojournalist, headed the workshop for 14 years. Now MPW is led, or herded by, David Rees, MU photojournalism professor, and Jim Curley, former MU Extension photojournalist.

To my pleasure, they invited me back to write for a daily newsletter run by journalism students led by Randy Cox, former Missouri boy now from Oregon. He teaches editing and design.

Prof. Cliff Edom started the workshop to teach career photographers and also help MU students learn from professionals. Now we call it networking. Students don't earn college credit for working thousands of photographs for evening slide shows. And, they make the end-of-week photo exhibit. They gain a semester of learning in one week.

I continue to learn as documentary photography changes. Edom's motto holds: "Show the truth with a camera."

I think I've spent 35 years of my life in annual workshops. First, I was a student then a teacher before the promotion. Retired, I observe and comment.

Being co-director is more than an honor. Sure enough, Rees was late for a faculty meeting. He was plunging a clogged toilet in the American Legion Quonset Hut, our classroom for the week.

The mayor said when leaving the exhibit: "This shows we care."

Duane Dailey is my husbands uncle, oldest son of Howard & Marie Dailey.

posted on facebook October 8, 1985 before I went to work....

30 years ago at 8:30 a.m. in an Iowa hospital, the world became a better place because you were here. heart emoticon you sooooo much. You made us Mom & Dad and we've never looked back. Happy Birthday, Koren Wills!

looked forever for a picture, since my family memories are scattered about the house. and had to cry a bit...

so, sometimes I'm watching tv and my tv friends will say something that is so very appropriate to my own life that I have to pause the dvr and head to the computer to blog it....

and Kody Brown from Sister Wives did it this morning. he is of course talking about being a polygamist father living in 4 houses and not seeing all his children everyday. but it applies to me as a mother of 2 grown children who have moved out and a teenage daughter it seems like I never see. and a husband who works opposite shifts. this is exactly how I feel about our family cabin vacations. just being together like we were in the old days. seeing them in their jammies and with wet hair after they shower. listening to them bicker. watching them eat.

"So, it's more about not just doing something together, but actually having the experience where we're rubbing shoulders all the time....I'm not always around them every morning. This will be several days when I'm just with them, all of them."

Richard Kent Doze

Vicki facebook post: My husband Kent Doze passed away just after midnight today, Oct. 6. I will have more details posted later about his memorial service. Thank you for all the prayers everyone.

The following is an unofficial obituary, but wanted to get the word out for when and where the services will be. Thank you all so much for your prayers and condolences.

RICHARD KENT DOZE

Richard Kent Doze passed away Oct. 6, 2015 at his home in Emporia, KS with his family in attendance. Kent was born July 4, 1937 in Norwich, Kansas to Richard "Dick" C. Doze and Naomi Belle Ravenstien.

He attended kindergarten in Joplin, MO and the next twelve years in Conway Springs, KS, graduating from high school in 1955. He loved participating in basketball, football, track and baseball. He and three of his classmates formed a quartet and sang together in school and even sang for funerals. After he was married, he loved to entertain his wife by singing many of his favorite songs.

Kent received his Associates Degree from Arkansas City Junior College, Arkansas City, KS in 1957. He attended one semester with his friend, Jim Brown, at Emporia State University and was graduated from Pittsburg State Teachers' College (now Pittsburg State University), Pittsburg, KS in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Kent taught 8th grade classes and coached all sports at Gueda Springs, Cowley Co, KS, for two years. He then taught 8th grade classes and coached for six years; serving as acting principal four of those years for Carbondale Rural Grade School, Carbondale, Osage Co, KS.

Kent loved working with his Grandpa Cub Doze and his father in home repair and remodeling from the time he could hold a hammer. He built three homes in Colby, Thomas Co., KS and through the years built countless room additions and remodeled many homes. He shared a passion of hunting and fishing with his grandfather and dad and later with his five sons and several friends. He also had a passion for playing baseball, softball and slow pitch. He loved coaching boys' teams and coached in Del City, OK; in Colby and Brewster, KS. In his later years he loved watching his sons and grandsons participate in sports.

Kent worked twenty years for Ace Services/Golden Plains Ag Tech in Colby, KS.

Kent was baptized in the Christian Church of Conway Springs, Sumner Co., KS and in 1977 was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Midwest City, OK. In later years he attended the Methodist Church in Brewster, KS; the United Churches of Christ (Congregational) in Carbondale, KS; and Grace United Methodist Church in Emporia, KS.

Kent met the girl who became his wife in Carbondale, KS. He and Vicki Lynn Bever were married in the Carbondale Congregational Church (now United Churches of Christ) on Aug. 1, 1965. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Kent is survived by his wife Vicki; five sons: Richard Cub Doze and wife Saowalux, Nanjing, China; Mel Dustin Doze and wife Karen, Syracuse, KS; Jared Royce Doze of the home; David Colby Christian Doze, Topeka, KS; and Jesse Cary Curtis Doze, Howard/Apple Valley Lake, Oh. Three grandsons: Brett Dylan Doze, Lawrence, KS; Cody Lane Doze, Syracuse, KS; and Curtis Austin Doze, Howard/Apple Valley Lake, OH. One sister: Barbara Doze Jenkins of Arkansas City, KS; one niece, Tammy Jenkins Bain (David), two nephews Donnie Jenkins (Rita) and Chad Jenkins, all of Arkansas City, KS; seven grand nieces and nephews and nine great grand nieces and nephews. His parents, one niece and one grand niece preceded him in death.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at the United Church of Christ in Carbondale, KS, on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2:00 p.m. with visitation in the Church Fellowship Hall directly following the services.

A private family burial service will be held in the Carbondale Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome, however memorial funds have been established and may be left during the services or sent to Kent Doze Memorial Fund in care of Feltner Funeral Home 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451

Lisa on a hayride with a little friend....

Vicki's facebook updates on Kent...

Kent is not doing well at all. He had two surprise visits this weekend: my cousin Dustin Stambaugh and son Vince; and today Denise Livingston Yonts who brought goodies to eat and as she said, "she never got spanked" by Kent when he was her school principal! Also, Kent's sis and niece Tammy Jenkins Bain who brought us our lunch! Dustin Doze and our grandson Brett Doze. Dustin has fixed supper last two nights. Pastor Susan Daniel-Brey also visited and sang "In The Garden" to Kent. We've had a blessed weekend.

Seeing some new changes in Kent last night and all day today as he prepares for his journey. I hope I can handle what is coming. I know all your prayers will help.

To let you know, Kent's condition has basically been unchanged for the past few days. He asks for water to drink, but hasn't had any food for over two weeks. I'm so thankful for our sons, other family members and friends, as well as Hospice. Update on my foot and ankle. Niece Tammy took me to the doctor who ordered xrays to see if any broken bones and a Sonogram to see of there were any blood clots. Finally decided that I had soft tissue sprain going on. I think I have somehow bruised my foot really badly. The swelling is gone but I can barely walk. I'm praying whatever it is that heals soon so I can take better care of Kent. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and for thinking about us.

My left foot and ankle are so swollen that it hurts to put my foot up and it hurts to put my foot down. I feel I should have no right to complain about how I feel when my husband is dying. I just need to not be in so much pain so I can take better care of him.

Doris Sparks, OB icon, is retiring today! Thank you for teaching me. And thank you for the wisdom that "Every mother remembers her baby's birthday!" So it's our job to make it special.