For many years, Kelly Flake worked at Ole Town Bar and Grill in Jonesburg and built many relationships with people in the Montgomery County community.

On Sept. 21, Ole Town became a place where many of those people stopped by to give their love and support to Flake, who has been battling cancer for three years.

Ole Town held a benefit to help raise money for the Flake family. It had a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and live music from Mickey and Michael Scott. Also, a volleyball tournament was held across the street at Lions Park.

“All of this is going to help the kids get to where we need to be and to be OK because I’m not going to sleep well until I know they’re OK,” Flake said.

Flake was diagnosed with cancer in her uterus and cervix in July 2021 and was later spread to her colon, lymph nodes and iliac bone.

“I’m going to say this has been the hardest and best three years of my life, really, with my kids and the way I see things and the way I view life and people,” Flake said. “That’s what’s important. It’s very humbling when it happens to you, but it’s also surreal like it doesn’t happen to you.”

During a recent visit to the doctors, Flake found out that the disease had metastasized to many places in her body and she will be doing chemotherapy for the rest of her life.

“We are in chemo every other Monday,” Flake said. “I go Monday through Wednesday. Then, I get fluids all through the week, so I’m constantly going back to St. Peters and here and St. Louis because I go down to Center for Advanced Medicine, too. We’re doing it as long as I can take it.”

Flake is no longer able to work at Ole Town Bar and Grill, which reopened in March 2023 with new owners.

“It made me sad,” Flake said. “I miss it the most.”

Flake got to see many of her friends, family members and her customers during the benefit, which began at 4 p.m. and ended late.

“I know I’ve been the face here and loved my job for 10 years,” Flake said. “I’ve seen so many people and I loved their stories and I met so many people. They were all here. They were all coming in and they were all supporting me.”

Flake’s best friend, Julie Fischer, was one of the organizers of the event. They have been friends for 15 years.

“She is my biggest supporter and my biggest fan besides my family,” Flake said.

Fischer came up with the idea of having a benefit after having a discussion with Ole Town owners Mike and Adrienne Axton and Shelly and Mark Elliott.

“I said let’s do it for her, so we got it together,” Fischer said.

Many baskets were donated to the benefit. They included items such as crock pots and St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues merchandise.

“The town did all of the hard work,” Fischer said. “They did all of the baskets. I just got them and collected them.”

Fischer said her friend was energetic despite her illness. The two teamed up to set up tables and arrange the baskets for several days before the benefit.

“She’s the strongest woman I know,” Fischer said.