Woman's legacy lives on in cookbook

“Great Recipes Live On,” a cookbook by friends, family and staff of Fairway Pediatrics, is not another Louisiana cookbook. It contains habitual favorites, such as jambalaya, crawfish pie and bread pudding. And the recipes are delicious and good enough to eat. But it’s far more than just a cookbook.

Covington native Gretchen Clifton worked at Fairway Pediatrics for 17 years. She was head nurse, medical assistant and a trusted friend for many of her co-workers, patients and her young patients’ parents. Her closest friends and co-workers described her as a thoughtful, giving person who always had a kind word and a gentle heart for her patients and their families as well as everyone she knew.

She loved to cook. She cooked for the office and even catered small events for her friends, such as at-home weddings and wedding showers. After exchanging recipes at a potluck for the office, she and the staff thought of writing a cookbook to share recipes and maybe make money for a worthy cause. Little did she know the worthy cause they would eventually choose would be her.

A non-smoker, Clifton was diagnosed in February with a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer. Unusual for someone her age, 39, this particular cancer usually struck the elderly. She immediately sought treatment at M.D. Anderson.

Although she was losing the battle, she was always cheerful and optimistic. Her pediatric patients made cards for her and sent her treats and gifts. One young patient made a gift basket for her drive to Houston, including treats and things to keep her busy on her trip, such as a coloring book and crayons.

Her friends were inspired by her continuous faith. When it finally looked like Clifton would not recover, she told her friends, “I know God will take care of me. I feel sorry for those I’m leaving behind. I’ll be fine.”

Clifton passed away in August, never seeing her cookbook dream become a reality. However, the cookbook committee of Dr. Nancy Mula, Pat Greenwalt, Jennifer Roe and Bonnie Vincent completed the task, providing a legacy for Clifton and collecting over 400 recipes from 100 people, including 30 of Clifton’s own favorites.

The book is a tribute not only to Clifton herself, but of the friendships she had and the lives she touched. The cookbook committee said the book was completed as a reminder to “Cherish your times in the kitchen with loved ones.”

Greenwalt said this thought lived on last week when she waited for family to arrive before finishing the final preparations for dinner. Instead, she chose to let everyone help.

Mula said the group decided to continue with the cookbook and donate the profits to the Gretchen Clifton Benefit Fund to help pay for her medical expenses. They also conducted many other fundraisers for their friend, including a lollipop tree at the office, a garage sale and a raffle.

The first edition of 500 books sold out in three weeks. More books have been ordered, and the delivery will be just in time for Christmas. Cost is $20 per book. To pre-order, call 871-7337. Books can be purchased at Fairway Pediatrics office, 7020 U. S. Highway 190 W. Service Road or online at www.fairwaypediatrics.com.