Sheldon woman creates handmade quilts and donates them to veterans

Jim Overton shows the quilt that Marybelle Rice (right) made him recently and shared how much he appreciated the gift.

Photo by Sarah Haney | Daily Mail Editor

Marybelle Rice, of Sheldon, Mo., has been making quilts for a span of approximately eight years with the intention of donating them to area veterans. Rice noted that she recently attended the Vietnam Veterans Day luncheon at the Nevada Elks and gave one quilt to Jim Overton — a veteran who served as an E4 Specialist in Phuloi, Viet Nam, from February 1969 to August 1970.

Rice stated that she had always wanted to also give a quilt to a female veteran. She had never done so before. As luck would have it, they were able to locate Amanda Longhofer — a United States Army veteran who served from 1999-2008, including in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Rice had initially began quilting once she retired from teaching in 2010. She began with quilting for her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and great-grandchildren. She continued by making quilts for one or two veterans each year, but had always wanted to make one for a woman veteran.

Amanda Longhofer expressed how meaningful it is to receive a quilt made especially for her and in honor of her service, and thanked Rice.

Photo by Sarah Haney | Daily Mail Editor

Longhofer and Overton both expressed their appreciation for Rice's thoughtfulness. Longhofer noted that, although she is also a quilter, it means more when one is made especially for you.