When you visit our campus and talk to residents, you’ll find they come from diverse backgrounds and possess a wide array of talents. Each person’s unique gifts and life experiences contribute to making Springmoor an exceptional senior living community unlike any other in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Founded by Jud Ammons in 1984, Springmoor was the first full-service retirement community to open in Raleigh. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming thousands of wonderful new residents to our campus, and we’d like to introduce you to two couples who moved in this past fall. The Smiths and the Bosts joined our community in October 2020, just eight days apart.
Meet David “Dave” Albert Smith and Barbara Baxley Brown Smith
It was inevitable that Dave and Barbara chose Springmoor as their retirement residence. Barbara’s parents were Springmoor residents. Unfortunately, her father, C. G. Baxley, died six months after he came to Springmoor, but her mother, Vergie Baxley, lived at Springmoor for 21 years. Barbara was a frequent visitor.
Dave is a North Carolina State University graduate with a degree in agriculture. He was a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity, and two of his fraternity brothers and best friends were Bert Brown, Barbara’s first husband, and Jud Ammons, who built Springmoor. The friendships continued over their lifetimes.
Dave was born in Lexington, North Carolina, and lived about eight miles away in Linwood on a family dairy farm, but social life and shopping were mostly in Lexington. After college he returned to Linwood, cared for his cows, and farmed the land that feeds them until coming to Springmoor. There are 1,000 cows on the farm.
For 55 years, Dave served as District Supervisor for Davidson (County) Soil and Water Conservation. Also, for 15 years, he served in the North Carolina National Guard, retiring with the rank of captain.
Dave has two daughters and one son who has taken over the farm. Dave also has six grandchildren.
Barbara was born in Raleigh and lived here until she and Dave were married in 2005. She graduated from Broughton High School and was married shortly afterward to Bert Brown. Barbara and Bert were married for 45 years before his death. They have three daughters and one son, twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Barbara took courses in accounting and other business courses. For 25 years she worked in tax preparation and bookkeeping.
Dave is Baptist and has gone to a church near his farm all of his life. He was a deacon there. The church was built in 1755. Barbara, a Presbyterian, was very active in her church, both as a Stephen Minister and as an Elder. Happily, belonging to different denominations causes no problems.
Both Barbara and Dave sang in the Lexington Coral Society. Dave is a tenor, and Barbara sings soprano. Barbara was a member of the Lexington Woman’s Club.
Meet Robert and Katherine “Kay” Bost
Robert, born in the eastern New Mexico town of Elida, grew up and attended high school in Georgetown, Texas. After three years at Southwestern University in Georgetown, he transferred to the University of Texas (just 30 miles south in Austin) where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. He then enrolled in the University of Houston where he earned a Ph.D., also in chemistry.
Over the years, Robert served in several positions, including the University of New Orleans and Tulane Medical School (both in New Orleans), Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office and the Case Western Reserve Medical School (both in Cleveland, Ohio), the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences and the University of Texas Medical School (both in Dallas, Texas), and the University of Central Oklahoma (in Edmond, Oklahoma).
Kay, born in Port Arthur, Texas, grew up in the coastal communities of Brownsville and Groves (a suburb of Port Arthur). After high school, she enrolled at the University of Texas where she and Robert met and married.
In Houston she worked in the university library, which ended a short teaching career, and she acquired an interest in libraries. Then, while in Cleveland, she earned a master’s in library science from Case Western Reserve University. In Dallas she became a department head in the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University.
Robert and Kay enjoyed their house in Edmond, Oklahoma, until their two children, Laura and Bryan, decided they needed to prepare for increased attention and care. Laura is a Raleigh resident, so Springmoor was a logical choice.
Robert and Kay have enjoyed a wide variety of interests over the years, including singing in church choirs and country and western square dance. In Dallas, Texas, they joined The Dixie Chainers and, soon they got their children involved. Then, in Edmond, Oklahoma, they joined the Teacup Chains Square Dance Club. They danced until it was physically difficult, then continued attending the dances for friendship. Both clubs honored them with Lifetime Member awards.
Thank you to Springmoor resident Suggie Styres for interviewing both the Smiths and the Bosts and providing this information so we can get to know them better!
Are you interested in active senior living communities located in Raleigh, North Carolina? You can request a free information packet about Springmoor online or call us at 919-848-7080 for more information. We provide COVID-safe, personalized tours by appointment.
As of June 2021, we’re once again able to welcome those on our waitlist to our campus to enjoy a fitness class in our Pathways Wellness Center or join one of our card groups for a game of bridge. Most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. For everyone’s safety, we ask that anyone not fully vaccinated wear a mask.
