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NEWPORT — Very few things age with such importance and vitality as friendship.
Bill Exworthy, also known as “Mr. Bill,” is a face recognizable to many in the Pend Oreille River Valley community. As a resident for over 50 years, he is known for musical skills on the piano and accordion. Many grownups with children and grandchildren of their own remember “Mr. Bill” playing his accordion as the school buses rolled in and out each day as well as hearing him play as he walked the halls of the schools.
Exworthy celebrated his 93rd birthday in February, shortly after he became a resident at River Mountain Assisted Living Facility in Newport.
A year prior to his move to River Mountain, Exworthy’s good friend Dale Johnson came to his house every Monday morning, and the two would shop for weekly groceries. Johnson was his assistant/ helper, but more importantly, they formed a very strong friendship. Johnson’s wife, Shirley, also joined in the fun, and each Monday she would send over ready-cooked meals for three days. When Exworthy’s microwave finally broke down, the couple took him to Home Depot in Sandpoint so he could pick out a new microwave to his liking. As their attachment grew, they became “on-call” for any help or assistance Exworthy needed.
When Exworthy moved into the assisted living facility, it left the Johnsons with a huge void. So, they decided to continue with the Monday visits to visit Exworthy and let him know how much he is missed.
“Mr. Bill is like family to us,” Shirley says. “We love spending time chatting with him and we look forward to the Monday visit each week, and Mr. Bill looks forward to the visits as well. He is a great inspiration to us, and he has such a great attitude, so that we aspire to have that kind of attitude for the keeping of our own good health.”
Before Exworthy made the decision to move to River Mountain Assisted Living, he was on his own and driving daily to Hospitality House for his morning cup of coffee and donut before heading out to do his other errands. He would return to the Hospitality House to play the piano during the Saturday morning breakfasts. Now, Exworthy gets to play the piano every day at River Mountain as they have five pianos in different dining rooms. He likes to play them all, “Except the one with the sticky keys” he says.
“If there is a senior in your life, treasure them,” Shirley says. “Let their wisdom and, yes, their age bless you.”
