Milly Gates and her niece Karla Dean wanted to bring some outside light into the dining room of the Heather Pines Nursing Home. Knowing a window was not a feasible idea, they decide to paint a mural.
The mural, painted on a wall next to the dining tables, is an elaborate design imitating an outdoor scene. Framed like a window, thepiece pictures birds along with trees and a variety of other outdoor things.
The project was done free of charge, said Dean. She explained that the pair wanted residents to be able to see outside, but since there were no windows, they created the next best thing.
‘At first Milly offered to help pay for paint and things, and I said ‘No way, you are helping paint.? She is very good at painting birds,? said Dean.
‘I wanted to do it for my aunt, Tommi Lee who was a resident here before she died,? Dean added.
‘Tommi always brought out the good in everyone. She always knew how to make people happy,? said Gates.
Lee is remembered in the picture by the coffee cup featured at the bottom.
‘She always drank with a spoon in her cup. She thought it tasted better that way,? Dean said.
The painting also features a quote: ‘Anywhere is nice to be if you have nice company.?
‘We got it from a Betsy Clark card,? Gates said.
The mural took a month to complete. Gates and Dean came in between breakfast and dinner so as not to interfere with the residents schedule.
They started by painting the background, and then added the colorful birds.
‘She is the artist,? said Gates, referring to her niece.
Dean said she has been doing this for as long as she can remember.
‘It is a hobby of mine,? explained Dean ‘We are always picking up old furniture at garage sales and painting it, to either resale or donate.?
‘We rescue and recover furniture,? added Gates.
Gates’s son, Joe, owns Alpine Carpet Cleaning, and does the carpets at Heather Pines Nursing Home.
‘It’s incredible. She’s always been a selfless, giving person,? said Joe. ‘She did this out of the kindness of her heart. I hope she could do this for more places.
‘She’s been in Clarkston since 1961 and always helped everyone.?
Dean and Gates have done much more than this one mural. Dean also donated her time to paint a music studio in Ortonville, and Gates put a chair and table she painted last year up for auction.
‘I didn’t realize it was going to go for so much money. It got up $95 for the Leukemia Foundation,? Gates said.
Gates has decorated another table an auction this years for Glitz Salon, where her son’s girlfriend, Vicki Mick, works.
‘She is like a saint, like an angel. She is just the most wonderful person. She is an incredible artist, and she is always giving. She gives to everyone all the time. I can’t say enough good things about her? said Mick.
Dean lives in Ortonville with her husband and three sons. She says her house is filled with paintings.
Gates says her home is as well. She and her husband still live in Clarkston, where they raised their children.
Dean says she visits the nursing home, even though her aunt Tommi is no longer there.
‘My cousin has a band, The Ski Brothers, that plays here once a month, so I come and see them and talk to the residents.?
The mural works to brighten up the wall in the nursing home, as well as brighten the day of those who are there.