Monette Manor resident receives special float for 80th birthday

Bertha Ray of Monette has been creating floats that ooh and ahh parade watchers throughout the area for well over 20 years.

This year her Christmas float, The Northern Star Express, is more than just another float. The train float was made in honor of Ray Presley's 80th birthday on Dec. 27.

A native of Caraway, Mr. Presley resides at Monette Manor and he and his fellow residents enjoyed a visit from The Northern Star Express on Thursday evening.

The float was first designed by Mr. Presley 21 years ago and made by Bertha to be used in the Monette Centennial celebration/parade. Helping Bertha bring back the float this year were her husband, Tommy Ray, and Mr. Presley's son Gregg Presley. Also participating in the Thursday night event was Mr. Presley's grandson, Kennedy Presley.

Mr. Presley is Bertha's uncle and in 2000 she went to him with a drawing she had made of a train float for the Centennial.

"Uncle Ray was a brick-layer and has always been very talented," Bertha said. "He created the blueprint from my drawing and the train float was one of my all time favorites."

Bertha has kept Mr. Presley's plans for over two decades and the family members decided it was a good time to bring them out to help celebrate his 80th birthday.

The float took first place in the Leachville Christmas Parade this year held on Monday, Nov. 29, and the Lake City parade held on Saturday, Dec. 4. Bertha plans to take The Northern Star Express to one more parade this holiday season.

It takes a lot of work to build a float, not to mention the cost of materials that go into the finished float. Bertha has worked in the cold and heat but has enjoyed every minute of watching the floats go from an empty flat-bed trailer to a work of art.

She begins building the Christmas floats in late September or early October to ensure each one is ready for the holiday season of parades.

Before the hands-on work begins, she spends a lot of time deciding on a theme, sketching out what she wants to create, finding the appropriate character costumes, and always keeping a close watch on the electrical side of the floats. It takes a lot of lights for a successful float.

Drawing has always been something Bertha has enjoyed and it has been very helpful in her float designs.

Many of her floats have served as a ride for Santa as he travels down main street waving to the children in Monette.

She has quite a collection of trophies she has brought home through the years. This float has been very special to her as it was for her Uncle Ray's birthday.

"When I went to him 21 years ago, I knew what I wanted to do but was not sure if I could," Bertha said. "He prepared the blueprint and encouraged me giving me the confidence and tools I needed to get the job done."

Bertha has a lot of good memories from floats past and she really wanted this float to also be a tribute to the memory of her brother, Billy Brasfield. Billy passed away in June but through the years he has been many characters on Bertha's floats including Goofy.

"One year I needed a Snow White and Billy really did not want to but said he would do it for me," Bertha said. "He would have liked being part of this year's float."