Jerold Elliot figures there’ll be some drive-by viewings of his well-kept lawn at 622 S. Jefferson this week. ELLIOT, 55, spent the first 44 years of his life in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Utah before moving to Iola, to be closer to family.
Now that the word is out, Elliot anticipates people will want to see the pink ribbon on the corner of his lawn, similar to those many people wear on their lapels to promote breast cancer awareness.
The difference is, his and wife Barbara’s ribbon is a much more visible than most, as in about 20 feet long, painted on their lawn and wrapped around a tree where it can be seen easily, no matter from which direction a vehicle approaches.
The ribbon is in honor of several of his relatives.
Elliott said his father died of cancer; cousin Vicky Lou Stout, 50, an Iolan, died July 29 after a battle with cancer that spanned 26 years; and his brother, John, has cancer, as does sister-in-law Shannon Lower.
“I wanted to make people aware” of cancer and the effect it has on families, as well as encourage all to contribute to the fight against the disease, he said.
Elliott has an affinity for a well-kept yard, and it shows. The Elliots’ front lawn has showcase qualities, and one day while tending it, he thought why not add the pink ribbon symbol.
“I first cut it out with my lawn mower,” Elliott said, and added ground kill to stunt the growth of grass within the ribbon.
“I then painted it pink after Vicky died,” Elliott said.
While the front lawn has the ribbon and other appealing features, behind the Elliots’ home, in a wood-fenced area, they have created a refuge from work-a-day rigors, complete with wood plank patio, a small pond, with obligatory gurgling water, and other amenities, including a barbecue grill.
“It’s a place to sit and relax,” Elliot said.
He worked in aircraft field systems elsewhere and since coming to Iola has worked at Russell Stover Candies, and nowadays does independent contracting, including work in Iola and a few days each week in Wichita.
His first home here was on South Street, which was damaged beyond reclamation by the 2007 flood.
That prompted him to buy the house at 622 S. Jefferson, about a month after the flood, which had about a foot of water in it. He replaced flooring, tore out of some walls to open up the house and now has it “a nice place to live.”
As for the lawn and its upscale appearance, Elliot said, “I just like to take care of it and have it look nice.”
The big pink ribbon is the icing on the landscaping cake.
Pretty in Pink Iolan shows support in a big way
