Like many other retirees, Mary Kay was lured to the Gulf Coast area of SE Texas when she and her husband chose to retire around 2004, even though there were other residential opportunities to consider. Because her husband, Ralph Belter, had recently inherited his parents’ former home in Seadrift, it didn’t take too many moments for them to choose Texas over their other option of staying in Virginia near Washington, D.C., where they had lived for many years, raised their family and Ralph had worked as an Army Judge Advocate General (JAG).
Mary Kay does not intentionally draw attention to herself. Her demeanor is unassuming, and she even volunteered to me when displaying some of her artistry, “I feel like I’m showing off.” Of course, I felt differently, as she is an artist whose art deserves to be shared. Getting to know Mary Kay is a process much like walking through a lovely building. The entrance to her home affords a view of the inspiring San Antonio Bay which can be viewed from a comfortable chair positioned toward her embroidery loom project of Texas Bluebells. She tells me that this is a comfortable place that pulls her in at the end of the day.
A second room nearby holds a large table which in turn holds a heddle or loom, a device she uses to create bead weaving work. This room is where some of her design and art work are done and is adjacent to her kitchen where she shows me two large mosaic tile trivets she created. Getting to know Mary Kay is like looking at one of her mosaics, which are pieces of art made up of colorful chips from many sources. As with the experience of viewing mosaics, many of Mary Kay’s talents carefully unfold one after another as time is spent in her presence.
When explaining her most recent creative production of bead weaving, she outlined the way a project might evolve. The first step would be designing a pattern on graph paper for a wall banner or a tile mosaic, or a leather work. The second step can be explained by using her bead weaving experience as an adult leader or scouter with Boy Scout troop # 106 in Calhoun County (Council of South Texas). Arranged on her work table would be the tools needed by a beader or weaver: the heddle or loom, bags of colorful small beads (size 11), a needle, nylon thread, a pair of forceps or scissors, and tape.
Mary Kay took on a project with scout member Daniel Cullison who belongs to the Order of Arrow, which is an Honor Society for Boy Scouts. Daniel’s American Indian dance presentation required that he have a special uniform specific to the Plains Indian tribe of Kiowa. As a designer and seamstress, Mary Kay was able to transfer his proposed regalia costume bead weaving design from the visual drafting paper specifications by collecting the appropriate color and number of beads onto her needle and thread and then placing them in rows on her heddle. Working steadily, she has neared completion of a beaded belt, a pair of suspenders and a pair of shirt cuffs for Daniel.
Mary Kay’s rainbow design incorporated a spectrum of dark orange, light orange, yellow, dark red, sea foam green and black beads on a surrounding white beaded background. When the belt, suspenders, and cuffs are completed on this 3-month project, they will be handed over to Daniel who will add his other clothing items which will include a leather neck strap, sweet grass or yarn, bells, etc.
When an incredibly-talented person is observed in one line of work, it is not beyond expectation to imagine her possessing other gifts. For Mary Kay it follows that she is multi-talented in many other areas. With her musical abilities she lends her voice as part of the Seadrift Community choir and the Seadrift Methodist Church choir along with her musical instrument, the flute, which she learned through her west Texas school band beginning in 7th grade. Seasonally, she plays the recorder as part of the church chimes.
Knitting, quilting and embroidery projects are a constant in her life and are a credit to her eye for design and form and her persistence and constancy as a way of life. When she wants to just relax at the end of a day, she picks up some knitting or a piece of embroidery.
Her own physical fitness holds her attention daily, and in an effort to teach its importance to others she leads a walking group at 8:30 each Monday and Friday morning that includes stretching. She also incorporates Tai Chi and running into her personal routine.
Another example of her talent in working with others is a banner project she and Genevieve Bundy designed to be used in the 100-year anniversary in 2012 of the Seadrift First United Methodist Church. Using the symbols of the church’s ministry, she and Genevieve incorporated the needlework forms of appliqué and embroidery, piecing and quilting to portray music, Bible study, Hebrew and Greek lettering, a fish (symbol of Christianity), a chalice and bread (communion), and a sheep (Feed My Sheep food program). She gives credit to Genevieve for doing most of the work involved with the banner’s completion. The banner will be placed inside the church before the 100-year event in the fall of 2012.
Both Mary Kay and Ralph seem to think of themselves as true Texans. Though she was born in Hobart, OK, she was brought to Texas at the age of six months. While at college she met Ralph, they married, and they became parents of a son and a daughter, both of whom continue to live on the east coast where Ralph’s career had taken them. Ralph is also active in Boy Scouting and in many aspects of the church. He has frequently participated as an army veteran at funeral services as the gunner, as an honor guard, a flag presenter, a bugler, and a speaker.
