Editor’s Note: This is the seventh story in a series of articles part of a special print edition highlighting senior citizens in the community. Visit local businesses to pick up your copy or reach out to [email protected].

Carol Hagan dedicates much of her week to spending time with her Bible and teaching Bible studies in town.

For over 30 years, Hagan has committed herself to religious work. She taught for about 25 years when she lived in De Soto and attended a church in Olathe before she started sharing the gospel in Eudora.

Bible studies provide Hagan a strong sense of peace, she said. Hagan has an eternal perspective on her religion, she said. She enjoys getting to spread her knowledge to others in the community and Bible study does just that.

“I want to hear, ‘Well done, my good and faithful child,’ when I go there,” Hagan said.

Hagan was brought to the area by her son before her husband, George, died in 2007. She used to work part time at the quilt store, which introduced her back into the hobby.

One of her co-workers was teaching Bible studies, including one for area quilters. Working at the quilt store got Hagan invested in the community and showed her how special Eudora is. That’s when Hagan started teaching her own Bible studies.

“I’ve always said that the quilt store was what made me feel like Eudora was home,” Hagan said.

Hagan goes to the Medicalodges once a month to teach Bible study to seniors living in the nursing home. She leads about 10 seniors in the class. Her friend approached her about starting a study at Pine Crest several years ago. She no longer leads the group but about 10 ladies, including Hagan, attend.

Eudora is now a place she is deeply connected to, especially since she knows a lot of seniors through the Baptist church and because her grandson goes to high school.

She also has read the entire Bible each year for the last 20 years, she said. Each day she has a set amount of pages she must read to meet her goal, another way to just practice peace each day, she said.

“It’s very important to me,” she said.

Hagan also helped start the food and monetary donations at Gene’s Heartland Foods during the holidays. Getting to spend time playing cards with her neighbor and youngest grandson, George Hagan, also helps keep her busy. He keeps meticulous records of each game’s score, and he takes a picture of Hagan after each game. She also has other grandkids and great-grandkids who are special to her.

Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]