Marion County Senior Citizens Inc. will recognize six local artists during the group’s annual meeting Oct. 17 at Marion Senior Center. In addition to the artist recognition, there will be a musical performance by the Marion High School Singers, and Pat Wick will speak.

Twilla Baker

Twilla Baker of Lincolnville took up painting after retiring from nursing and recovering from surgery. She was looking for something to do while wheelchair-bound, and someone suggested she try painting.

She took three or four lessons and went from there. Her favorite subject to paint is scenery. She hasn’t entered any contests, but her paintings are in several U.S. states as well as Canada and Australia.

Rubena Bartel

Rubena Bartel, formerly of Hillsboro and now living in Goessel, took art classes in 1939 and 1940 at Tabor Academy. She took an acrylic and oils class and fell in love with painting.

Throughout her travels, she would take pictures of different scenes. Once home, she would paint the pictures. She received third place in the “Art of the Ageless” contest.

Beverly Dillon

Beverly Dillon of Peabody saw an ad in the newspaper for art lessons, and a little more than a year ago she took a class from Jan Davis at Gallery 101 in Marion. She enjoys painting scenery and animals.

Letty Ens

Louetta “Letty” Ens of Hillsboro has been a painter for as long as she can remember. She could draw a word before she could spell it in grade school.

She took art classes and later taught art at Brudertal School. She has judged the 4-H art project at Marion County Fair, and she became a professional artist in 1994. For the past 19 years she has been teaching an art class at Trinity church from October through June.

She is a realistic painter and enjoys doing portraits of her children and grandchildren. She has twice been awarded “best in show” at the Kansas State Fair.

Mary Jean Rogers

Mary Jean Rogers of Marion has been painting all her life. She had three teachers who encouraged her and taught her the basics. She attended Washburn University on scholarship.

One of the reasons she chose to move to Marion from Wichita was because of the picturesque houses, public buildings, and landscapes in the county. She recently did birds in pastels and a colorful Kansas sunset.

While she lived in Wichita, she was a member of Riverside Watercolor Society. She is a member of the Bluestem Art Guild.

Ralph Sagerty

Ralph Sagerty of Marion took up whittling about 10 years ago after retiring as a master plumber. He progressed to woodcarving, including relief and three-dimensional characters.

About five years ago he added acrylic paint to enhance his projects. His primary subject are animals, fish, and individual characters.

He was awarded “best in show” for his Indian Bust at the Texas Woodcarvers Association regional show.