It’s quite rare to see stories come full circle, but when it happens it often makes us stop and think. Good deeds happen every day; probably most of them unseen by others. Louis Myers’ good deed went exactly as he had planned – and that’s a marvelous thing. 

Linda Bradshaw is a Center for Hospice Care CNA. When she came into work at the Raclin House one day, she was completely floored. She saw Louis in one of the rooms and she cried when she saw him. “Staff were looking at me,” Linda said. “You all just don’t know! This is Louis.” And she shared her story. 

A few years back, Linda had been a long-time employee at Burger King. Louis Myers was a regular customer, coming in almost daily. Linda would give him a free senior coffee, which he much appreciated. Throughout the years a friendship developed— – one that involved a free coffee, smiles and care. He knew providing for children is difficult for many parents and he helped Linda purchase winter coats for her kids one year. He loved coming to Burger King – as he is very social. Linda appreciated his kindness. When his wife passed away, Linda noticed how distraught he was and she gave him a hug. “After that,” Linda shared, “he came in every single day I was there.” 

One day, Linda came back to work after a day off. “My manager said someone left a check for $1,000 and said that he wanted me to take care of him when he got old,” Linda reminisced. Linda immediately refused the generous gift. The check was made out to the business that conducted CNA training. Linda had never considered becoming a CNA and never discussed this with Louis. According to Louis’ daughters Lois and Suzie, this is common for their father. “He’s an
unusual guy,” Suzie said. “Always has been.” Whatever caused him to act on this idea ended up changing the course of Linda’s life forever. “It was something I wasn’t expecting to do,” she said. “I had the time off and he wouldn’t take the money back, so I just did it. I’m happy he did it.”

She worked another year at Burger King, not truly trusting this new course in her life. However, she eventually went to St. Paul’s. She had lost contact with Louis because she left Burger King and she had never seen him outside of work. One day, at St. Paul’s she noticed Louis eating lunch in the dining room. His brother was a resident there and Louis came to visit him for lunch on occasion. “Then I started having lunch with him and his brother,” Linda shared.  

Linda eventually moved from St. Paul’s to Center for Hospice Care. Again, Linda assumed she wouldn’t see Louis again. Until, after four years, Linda came to work one morning at the Raclin House and Louis Myers was there. She was overcome with the beauty of that moment. In 2010, he had told her that he wanted her to take care of him, and in 2021 she fulfilled that promise. “When I come in the morning and do my rounds,” Linda said, “I take him his morning coffee.” 

This is exactly what he has done over the course of his life, according to his family. Lois and Suzie shared his quirky characteristics, but one endearing trait was his generous heart. “If he thought he could help someone, he would,” Lois said. And that random act of kindness was not lost on Linda. “If it wasn’t for him,” she said. “Who knows where I would be or what I would be doing?… I wouldn’t be here.”