Preparing for the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Jefferson City is truly a tradition passed down over the years. When the event started its current string in 1967, it was Jack Reilly who made sure the eggs were ready. Later his daughters Marg and Lois Reilly along with Rose Hagerty started coloring the eggs and buying small gifts and candy to distribute to the children from the one-room schoolhouse. Now, with the schoolhouse converted to the community center, the egg hunt continues thanks to those women and Donna Owens and Nancy Jones.
“It’s really a tribute to these women in how they have volunteered for decades in supporting the children of this community,” said Jefferson City Fire Chief Bud Siderits. Siderits and his fellow firefighters joined in the efforts in recent years, donating funds to purchase eggs, coloring eggs and purchasing candy and small gifts, said Siderits. More than 150 children, parents, grandparents and friends attended the event, where more than 800 eggs were gathered up in short order.
