Mel and Jan Hargis with grandchildren, Malachi and Mathia, and, of course, Magic.
Mel and Jan Hargis come full circle back to New Market
|
Mel and Jan Hargis with grandchildren, Malachi and Mathia, and, of course, Magic. |
|
| Mel works with Chief. |
For Mel and Jan Hargis, life comes full circle. Both born and raised in the New Market area, the two graduated in 1962, married, moved away and raised a family. Now, nearly five decades later, they’re back in New Market, retired, happy, and enjoying life.
“I was born about 100 yards up the road,” Mel says, as he points out the window.
“He was a town kid,” Jan chimes in. “I had to teach him all about the country.”
“It was a hard education,” Mel laughs.
The good-natured banter between this quiet, unassuming couple illustrates their long-standing commitment to each other. They also are quick to point out that that they are just common, everyday people—nothing special. They enjoy the life God has given them and quietly share those gifts.
High school sweethearts, Mel and Jan graduated from New Market in 1962. They married and Mel joined the Navy, serving 10 years in active service and 13 years in the reserve. During that time, they traveled the world, or as Jan puts it: “He saw the world. I saw naval bases.”
That lack of contact was the reason Mel left active duty. He enjoyed the Navy, but the long periods on tour didn’t fit with his idea of raising a family.
“When I got into the Navy, it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis,” he explains. “I’ve been around the world twice, spent 32 months in Vietnam. My children didn’t know who I was. It was a career for me and I enjoyed it, but it was not the way to go. You don’t raise your children. Your wife does.”
After leaving the Navy, Mel and Jan came back to southwest Iowa and Mel began working at Eaton Corporation in Shenandoah. They looked for an acreage which would allow Jan to indulge her love of animals.
“All our married life I had promised her that I would get her back to the farm where she could have her horses,” Mel explains.
 |
Mel shuns the spotlight, but his colorful, and often humorous wood carvings illustrate a unique talent. |
Originally, the couple came back to the New Market area to help care for Jan’s ailing father, and then ended up living on an acreage near Shenandoah, followed by a larger home in Coin. Mel continued working at Eaton’s while Jan worked for the Clarinda School District and then the Head Start program. She retired after 18 years of service.
One day, by chance, the couple learned that Jan’s grandparents’ home in New Market was for sale.
“At first, he said there was no way he was going to move back to New Market,” Jan recalls. “But then this place became available.”
The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Today, nearly a decade later, the couple enjoys life on their small-town acreage. Their home’s décor sports a variety of antiques, some family pieces, some collected along the years. They maintain a small menagerie of horses and Jan indulges her passions.
“I’m not an animal person,” Mel begins. “Until I met her, animals were strange things.”
“I love to train horses. This has always been my dream,” Jan interjects.
Jan’s dream, as she tells it, is to share her love of animals with others who do not enjoy the same opportunities. She and Mel have two miniature horses which Jan has trained for use as therapy animals at nursing homes. Magic and Chief enjoy being petted, giving kisses, and showing off their tricks for care center residents. Mel and Jan open their home to area school children who do not enjoy the country life on a daily basis. One son-in-law is a youth minister in Omaha and he helps arrange day trips for “city” youngsters.
 |
Granddaughter Mathia works with Magic. |
“We have a B-horse, that’s just under a Shetland, and the kids can get on him and you can let him loose, out here in our corral, and I don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt. He’s so good with those kids,” Jan explains.
Quiet and unassuming, the couple spread their faith through simple gestures such as these.
“Our big horses give kisses, too,” Jan points out. “That’s the first thing I teach them.”
The Hargis menagerie includes the two miniature horses: Magic and Chief; the B-horse, Bridger or Big Dog; one paint, one quarter horse, and one senior horse, named Old Jed.
“Old Jed is just a horse,” Mel explains. “He’s probably 40 years old and he’s just living out his life here. The kids used to ride him, but not anymore. He’s too old for that. We’re just letting him retire.”
There’s also a rooster (rescued from a fox) which crows at all hours, a black lab, one house and one barn cat. Today. Tomorrow, there might be more because Jan has a habit of rescuing strays then finding homes for them.
Because their house is small, Mel and Jan built a 16’x28’ cabin on the property. It houses family gatherings and is available for church and school groups. A fire pit provides the opportunity for small group meetings and devotionals.
“When I retired, I wanted to minister this way,” Jan begins.
“God’s using us,” Mel interjects. “That’s what we want.”
Mel and Jan have three children: Daughters Cathy Jager lives in Council Bluffs and Kim Haizlip lives in Beaver Lake. Son Chad died in a car accident when he was 17. They have 10 grandchildren (counting two grandchildren-in-law) and one great-granddaughter.
While Jan is working with her horses or saving other stray animals, Mel enjoys wood carving and has adapted well to his part of the animal chores.
“I carry manure,” he laughs. “I carve and I carry manure.”
If you are interested in Mel and Jan’s ministry, would like to bring a church or youth group to visit or would like them to bring Magic or Chief to your gathering or an area care center, you can reach them at their New Market home, 712-585-3823.