KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffFormer MO First Lady dishes history, recipes in new cookbook

Former MO First Lady dishes history, recipes in new cookbook

By Kathy Sweeney - bio | email

CHARLESTON, MO (KFVS) - Betty Cooper Hearnes doesn't typically hold back.

"I'm not really a great cook, to tell you the truth," Hearnes said as we sat in the Charleston museum honoring her husband and Missouri's 46th Governor, Warren Eastman Hearnes.

But, Mrs. Hearnes is a great story teller and as one can see by her new cookbook, she has great connections.

The book, titled "Missouri 1821-1971 Sesquecentennial Cookbook" is an updated version of the book she put out in honor of the Show-Me State's 150th anniversary.  To fill the recipe book, she reached out to her circle of lady friends, who happened to be the first ladies of all 50 states at the time.

"Warren was chairman of the Governor's then, so I had occasion to work with all of them," Mrs. Hearnes explained.

She also requested, and received, recipes from all the living President's wives. 

She included one of her personal favorites, her mother's prune whip.

"I always loved it and you know, I've never seen a recipe for it.  Never seen it anywhere but on my mother's kitchen table."

Mrs. Hearnes' revised cookbook also has a new ingredient: a detailed history of her eight year effort to restore the Missouri Governor's mansion.

I asked, did it take the full eight years to get the work done?

"Every minute of it," Hearnes said. "until November of the last term.  I told Warren there's some things I want to finish, but I'm through.  I'm cleaning the house, putting up the Christmas decorations, and we're having one Christmas together.  And that's what we did."

Mrs. Hearnes is currently out promoting her book, along with directing the music at her church and working to better her hometown of Charleston.  But, as she builds new memories, thoughts of her late husband remain her solid foundation.

"I would not say to you that I'm not lonely because I am because he was my confidante and advisor.  And that's the way it was.  But, he also wouldn't want me to sit around and grieve for him.  He'd want me to get up and get the work done."

You can find out more about ordering Mrs. Hearnes book by contacting the Hearnes Book Fund at 573-683-6011.  It's $25 plus $5 for shipping and handling. The address is P.O. Box 509, Charleston MO 63834.

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