Friday, May 11, 2001 | 5:34 a.m.
Ten women were honored as Clark County Mothers of the Year in a variety of categories during the 31st annual awards presentation Sunday at the Gold Coast.
Mayor Oscar Goodman presented the awards. Paula Francis, news anchor at KLAS Channel 8, read the letters of nomination.
The Clark County Mother of the Year Awards Committee has honored more than 310 women since its inception in 1970. Sandy Thompson, vice president/associate editor of the Las Vegas Sun, is committee chairwoman.
Following are the winners and excerpts from the letters of nomination:
Freddie Bevill
Education Mother of the Year
Education Mother of the Year Freddie Bevill has been married for 55 years and raised four children, impressing upon them the importance to achieve to the best of their abilities.
Daughter Angela is the state director of parent resources. Son Carlton is technical adviser to Ocean Spray Co. Son David is operations manager for Ethel M. Son Bob is a lawyer and securities examiner for the state of Nevada.
Freddie also has a niece who is like one of her own children. She is the proud grandmother of nine and has a great-nephew and niece.
Freddie, who has a master's degree in early childhood and special education, taught school for 25 years.
Her family and friends say they admire her unassuming nature and her relentless efforts to provide for the well-being of others. Her children say she nurtures their spirits and challenges their minds.
Her children say Freddie gives them excellent counsel through her keen sense of fairness and highly developed intuit.
Freddie is active in Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary teachers sorority. She is a member of the Southern Nevada Retired Teachers Association and serves as scholarship chairwoman. She is very active in the Community Baptist Church, where she also serves on the Scholarship Board.
Freddie is described as a champion for all children. As an educator she believes there is no such thing as a bad child, a child who cannot learn or a child without goodness.
Pamela Petrasek
Encouraging Mother of the Year
Charlene Melton says her mother, Pamela Petrasek, is an inspiration to her three children. "I have come to the realization that she touches many lives in a way that makes those people comfortable in calling her Mom also," Charlene says. "Hearing people I have never met come up to her in the mall, in a restaurant or at work functions and say 'Hi Mom' as they give her a hug used to give me an uneasy feeling until I understood how proud these people were just to know her."
When Charlene was a teenager, she thought she knew more than her parents. She also thought she was immortal. That changed when Charlene was 16 and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Charlene says her relationship with her mother changed when the doctor told her.
Charlene says she didn't want anyone but her mother to be around her then. Her mother slept in Charlene's hospital room every day of every treatment over the next 10 months. Charlene says the only reason she is alive is because of the persistence and strength of her mother as a parent. Charlene is a school nurse serving two at-risk schools and enlists her mother to help with vision and hearing screenings. Charlene says Pamela touches many lives each day and continues to be an inspiration to all.
Jeani Vidal
Nurturing Mother of the Year
Her daughter, Megann, describes Jeani Vidal as the "most wonderful, smart and most beautiful person" she knows.
A single mother, Jeani works as a teacher and waitress to support Megann, 12, and her 16-year-old brother.
Megann says she can tell her mother anything. "She is someone I can run to for advice. She is my conscience, my guide, my everything.
"Everything your mother teaches you determines what you'll be in the future," Megann says. "And I'm happy it was my mom who taught me."
Sometimes Megann imagines what her life would be without her mom, and she cries. "My mother never had a big event that revolves around her," Megann says. "She deserves so much more than she has."
Sheryl Grabo
Humanitarian Mother of the Year
Elizabeth Grabo says her mother-in-law, Sheryl, is a perfect example of what all moms aspire to be. This includes grace under pressure, love with reassurance and a consistent strength given straight from the soul.
Twelve years ago Elizabeth was working at a veterinary hospital when she met Sheryl. Elizabeth commented that Sheryl must have had a nice husband who would allow her to spend so much money on her dog. Sheryl replied that she indeed had a special man and that the dog was a member of the family, so cost was not an issue.
Elizabeth was touched. So she jokingly asked her whether she had a son. Sheryl indeed had a son, named Scott, and no -- he wasn't married. She told Elizabeth that she and her son would make a cute couple. To arrange their meeting, Sheryl sent her son to buy dog shampoo. Elizabeth and Scott have been together since. Elizabeth says Scott has all the special qualities she saw in his mother.
Sheryl has taken care of several members of her family during serious illnesses, including her father and mother-in-law who both died in 1998. For the last several years she has been caring for her mother who has diabetes, congestive hear failure and seizures.
Elizabeth says the love and devotion her mother-in-law shows for the entire family is unending. Sheryl, she says, wants nothing for herself.
Louise Fortier
Motivational Mother of the year
Louise Fortier is the mother of six, grandmother of 16 and great-grandmother of one. Her daughter, Kathleen Frosini, says she and her brothers and sisters grew up surrounded by the reassuring love of their mother. Kathleen calls her mother her best friend.
Louise made her children's clothing, delighting in the dresses she made for the girls for church on Sunday. Sundays were reserved for church and school.
Kathleen says her mother has a passion for life. She makes friends easily, strikes up conver- sations with strangers, and has an infectious smile. When Louise walks into a room, she says, people naturally feel better. She laughs and exudes a kind of happiness that is contagious. For the last 16 years Louise has battled an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer.
Louise instilled a love of learning in her children. Although she never finished college, she has thirsted for knowledge. She was always reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle. She also in- stilled in her children a love of the outdoors.
Louise has volunteered at the YMCA and worked countless hours with the Camp Fire Girls.
She volunteered as the camp nurse for the YMCA Camp and as camp director for the Camp Fire Girls. She serves as junior warden of her church, where she is the historian and archivist. Kathleen says her mother exudes love and compassion for the family, always striving to create harmony. Kathleen says she admires her mother's tolerance, patience and steadfast love of God.
Joanne Evans
Inspirational Mother of the Year
Joanne Evans' seven children say they are amazed at the "incredible patience" their mother had as they were growing up. Her daughter, Marianne, remembers the neighborhood water fights in the summer. She and her siblings sometimes brought people into the house to throw them into the shower, which definitely meant they were the winners.
Marianne says her mother never got angry. She would stand there with a big smile on her face, knowing that the children were having a great time. As if seven children weren't enough to care for, Joanne opened her home to her children's friends. One boy stayed for a year and a half.
Her children say Joanne made sure they had the opportunity to be kids in every sense of the word. They were involved in sports and other activities. Joanne never missed a game or performance. She also was known as the great chauffeur. Marianne says her mother taught her many values and principles, particularly the importance of unconditional love. Daughter Carolyn says Joanne is the best example of honesty and loyalty. She says her parents' mutual love and respect made them a great team. They were married for nearly 40 years.
The death of Joanne's husband two years ago changed her life. Although she misses her husband tremendously, Joanne did not lie in bed and pull the covers over her head, Carolyn says. She stays involved in church and community activities. She volunteers to help many causes, including the Festival of Trees and the Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation. Joanne helps at her church, which includes visiting the sick, taking food to those in need or just lending a comforting ear. Her children say she always thinks of others before herself. She also cared for her ailing mother and mother-in-law until their deaths.
Joanne is not only a major part of her children's lives, but her 17 grandchildren as well, making sure she regularly visits all of them.
Debra Conry
Social Service Mother of the Year
Michelle Wright describes her mother, Debra Conry, as a vibrant, giving and special person. But mere words, she says, cannot begin to touch the inner strength and beauty of her mother.
When she was 6 years old, Michelle was diagnosed with diabetes. Now at age 30, she has developed all the major complications of diabetes, including blindness, kidney failure and circulatory problems.
From the outset, Michelle says, her mother was there for her. If Michelle's ordeals weren't enough, Debra also took care of two other daughters and broke free of an abusive relationship to make a better life for her children.
After Michelle lost her sight, she and her mother attended UNLV together. Michelle says Debra was her note-taker, study partner and motivator. They graduated from UNLV in 1997 with bachelor degrees in social work. Ten days later Debra gave Michelle her kidney.
Michelle is the first blind person in at least 10 years to receive a master's degree in social work. Michelle says she accomplished this only because of the amazing support and trust of her mother.
Debra also has volunteered at Shade Tree women's shelter and at a counseling center.
Rene O'Reilly
Civic Service Mother of the Year
Rene O'Reilly's four children say she has overcome many obstacles in achieving many accomplishments serving her family and the Las Vegas community.
Rene stressed the importance of education, supporting each of her children as they earned their bachelor's degrees. They say she inspired them to strive for higher education achievements.
Her children say they were raised with love and understanding, and without judgment. Rene opened her doors and arms to her children's friends who needed a bed to sleep in or someone to listen.
She has been active in the Attorneys Wives and Assistance League, where she helps with Operation School Bell, which provides clothing to needy students. She has volunteered in the neonatal unit at University Medical Center, with the Nevada State Museum and historical society, and with WE CAN, an organization to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Rene has battled breast cancer three times. Her children say she never asks, "Why me?"
Denise Cashman
Exemplary Mother of the Year
Timothy Cashman says his wife, Denise, dedicates unlimited time to their two daughters, helping with school work, book reports, science fair projects and various sports activities. She has contributed vast amounts of her time to organizing girls basketball teams for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas for the past two years and to motivating friends and neighbors to involve their children as well. Denise gives emotional support to families going through separation and divorce, encouraging them to become more involved with their children in the various activities she spearheads. Whenever there is a need for a team leader, an organizer or a driver, she is the first to volunteer her time, efforts and resources. Denise also cares for her aging parents. She is a member of the UNR Foundation, is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Las Vegas and is the 2001 chairwoman for Nevada Dance Theatre's fund-raiser. Friends describe Denise as a camp counselor, always willing to listen to others. They say she is sensitive to children in ways that lift their spirits and self-esteem.
Her two daughters say Denise is their best friend.
Robin Campbell
Supportive Mother of the Year
Robin Campbell has six children ages 4 to 15, four of whom are adopted.
Through the years, she and her husband have been foster parents, caring for many babies born to drug- or alcohol-addicted mothers. It didn't matter what their race, religion or problems at birth were.
Robin also took her youngest brother into her home and cared for him. Two years ago she cared for her mother when she had breast cancer. Her aunt, Verleen Zevenbergen, says Robin made her mother feel at peace with loving hands and soft-spoken words. Robin was at her mother's side constantly in the last few days of her life.
When Verleen's only son got married last year, she was not able to attend to the details of the reception. Robin stepped in and took care of it all, including baking the wedding cake.
Verleen says Robin is constantly doing something for her family and friends. Robin has a full plate, but never complains.
She also is very involved in her children's school and church activities.
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