Local couple Sharon and Ed married in January of 1983. Forty-three years later, the partnership they’ve built plays out daily inside The Cottage at Arabella of Longview. Any team member will happily share that Ed visits nearly every day and Sharon still sings melodies that come to her as naturally as they always have. Their shared history did not start at the altar, of course. Both graduated from Gregory-Portland High School in Portland, Texas, in 1978. They moved in separate directions for college, but reconnected in 1980. Marriage followed only three years later.
The life they’ve built together has been shaped by familial roots in the oilfield and careers that took them across Texas and out to California! Sharon advanced through nursing school quickly, completing her RN training and later earning a master’s degree in nursing while living in Kingsville, Texas. She went on to work as a Nurse Practitioner and eventually retired from the Longview clinic of Texas Spine and Joint Hospital. Shortly after her retirement, she and Ed welcomed their first grandson.
A New Chapter Begins
Between the births of their first and second grandsons, Sharon’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis emerged. The family tried in-home care for several months before Ed, their sons, and daughter-in-law began researching memory care options in their hometown of Longview, Texas. After reviewing options and visiting, they chose our community, Arabella of Longview. Sharon joined us at The Cottage in August of 2022.
The Cottage is a dedicated section of our community designed for residents receiving memory care, with daily activities built around social interaction and supporting quality of life. Within that setting, one thing about Sharon stands out to nearly everyone lucky enough to spend time with her. She is a gifted vocalist, and she still sings. While speech now comes differently, music does not. Melodies move through the halls regularly, drawing quiet attention from residents and team members alike.
That same consistency carries into Ed’s visits now. He comes through the door of The Cottage nearly every day, and team members have taken note of how Sharon responds when he is nearby. The trust she shows is unmistakable, a reflection of a marriage that has remained strong across every stage of their lives.
“Sharon and Ed have a long history together, and that history still shows up every time he walks through the door,” said Jadia Veronese, Activities Director at Arabella of Longview. “Ed brings consistency and kindness with him, and Sharon responds in ways that feel familiar to anyone who knows the pair. Their interactions tell a story without needing many words. It’s something our team appreciates every day.”
At Arabella of Longview, Families Remain at the Center of Memory Care
Ed’s daily presence inside The Cottage reflects what family-centered memory care looks like in practice. The team at Arabella of Longview welcomes that involvement and designs community programming around the relationships and routines that matter most to each resident.
Serving Longview, Texas, and the surrounding area, Arabella of Longview offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care with personalized support, attentive teams, and a community where residents and their families are treated with genuine care. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about life at our senior living community.
