Robert and Virginia Fortney of Curryville

The whole Curryville Village raised me, but my parents, Robert and Virginia, were the most influential. I never heard anything negative directed to me. There were no put downs or belittling. Before I left the house they would tell me how nice I looked. They praised things I did in church or wherever. If I didn’t hear it, I knew I should do better. I truly was raised on praise.

We matured fast because dad would let us know we were responsible—we were in charge. He told us we could play ball in the front yard after the fence was taken down, but “What do you think will happen if the ball goes on...