Crocuses and daffodils have given way to cherry and magnolia blossoms in the Pacific Northwest. Spring arrives gloriously here, where signs of renewal arrive in the form of familiar birdsong and the unfurling of Japanese maple leaves. For new residents Jeff Smith and Betty Means, spring is blossoming in the form of their new life at Wesley at Tehaleh retirement community.
Where it started
Betty and Jeff first met over 40 years ago while working in politics. Though she studied education in college, Betty professionally managed local, congressional, and state-wide presidential campaigns. She’s worked with U.S. senators and congress people and for a national party. Jeff also assisted candidates running for various local, state and national offices.
“[Working in politics] was great work with lots of ups and downs, but very fun and rewarding,” says Jeff. “I loved every minute of it, including the domestic and international travel and visiting every county in Washington State.”
Why Wesley?
Betty was born and raised in San Antonio. Jeff grew up on Vashon Island. The couple married 15 years ago. True to their detail-oriented careers, they spent several years researching senior living communities from Olympia to North Seattle.
“One of our motivators for Wesley was coming to see the community in the first place,” says Betty. She first learned about Wesley from a friend who lives at Wesley Lea Hill. “Another big factor was walking around the community with Lisa, our community relations director, and observing her interactions with the residents and other staff. The warmth and friendliness of people enjoying themselves was evident at every turn. There was a buzz here; the place was active with many things happening.”
For Jeff, the airy campus matched the light-filled nature of the community.
“What clinched it for me, for both of us, really, was how much daylight each apartment has. And there was so much living space! All the rooms we toured had 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Nothing is more desirable here in the Pacific Northwest than architectural design with plenty of daylight!”
Betty’s children were initially concerned whether she and Jeff would be comfortable in a senior living community. The couple is still very active.
“The truth is all of our children were nervous about the move and what we would expect,” Betty says. “But most of them have been here, and they’ve all expressed how beautiful it is. My daughter-in-law called the move ‘brilliant’.”
Jeff adds that his and Betty’s children, in their 60s and 50s, respectively, see that Wesley offers the physical, social, and emotional support he and Betty will need as they age.
“They’re all pleased for us and are relieved that our future is secure, and it doesn’t fall totally on their shoulders,” he says. “The way they acted on their first visits, you’d think Wesley was a new home for them!”
Blooming in spring
Having moved to Wesley at Tehaleh in late winter, Jeff now looks forward to working a small garden plot in the pea patch this spring. He and Betty have also begun taking longer walks on the surrounding trails on warmer days. They regularly attend films and documentaries in the theater and are excited about educational offerings, too.
“We’ve signed up for some lifelong learning classes with Wesley U,” says Betty. “And I enjoy the exercise and dance classes.”
Not surprisingly, networking has never been a challenge for the two former political operatives.
“We attended a musical performance at the local high school,” Jeff says. “One of the restaurant servers had invited us to see him perform. An unexpected pleasure has been getting to know some of the young people in food service and learning about their post-high school plans.”
It isn’t only the cultural and intellectual offerings that have impressed the community-focused couple. Betty says she was moved by what Wesley President / CEO Ken Anderson said when presenting his summation of 2024 to Wesley at Tehaleh residents.
“What struck me the deepest,” she says, “was hearing him say that what is most important to the success of their business model is the value and respect they have, not just for the residents, but also for their employees, that we are a community in a symbiotic relationship. Mutual respect leads to a deeper caring and a sense of family that makes Wesley at Tehaleh so special.”
The symbolism of mutual growth nourished by warmth, understanding, and light isn’t lost on the lifelong political advocate.
“Jeff is fond of saying, ‘No matter what happens, there’s always another spring,’ notes Betty. “We’ve been friends for forty years. We began a new adventure together one spring 15 years ago when we got married. I was 65; Jeff was 72. Now it’s spring again, and here we are at Tehaleh, embarking on a new adventure. We couldn’t be happier.”
Jeff and Betty’s new life at Wesley at Tehaleh, like blossoms, is blooming brightly this spring.