New mother/daughter duo to take over at Snapdragon Floral and Gifts

Paige's Floral and Gifts to open the end of Sept.

DAYTON-"Who can go into business with their daughter? How often does that happen?" asked Laura Auckerman, who took time out from learning the business at SnapDragon Floral and Gifts for an interview last Friday.

Laura Auckerman and her daughter, Paige Auckerman, will be taking the business over from mother/daughter dynamic duo Vicky Beckmeyer and Cara Watts at the end of September.

The Auckermans have to jump-in the same way Watts and Beckmeyer had to do when they bought the business fourteen years ago.

At the end of last week, the current owners were busy helping the Auckermans familiarize themselves with all aspects of the business. They helped fill orders for five funerals and waited on customers who were there for the 30-percent-off-everything-in-the-store sale.

The previous day they got to go on the flower delivery truck and be a part of all the business "chaos," Beckmeyer said with a smile.

Beckmeyer is happy to report the new owners will continue carrying the same line of products, including her revered funeral urns.

"I'm very excited. We couldn't turn it over to anybody better. I hope the community, which has been absolutely fabulous to Cara and me, will treat them the same way."

Laura Auckerman said she and her family have always liked Dayton, often visiting for family reunions with Uncle Jack and Aunt Jeanie Rushton, and for the opportunity to go fishing and camping.

For thirty years, Auckerman worked in the commercial power and nuclear industry as a health physicist and radiologic engineer.

"I didn't like being on the road anymore, so we moved here," she said.

Husband Bill is a butcher at Dayton Mercantile, and two other daughters have made the move to Dayton with their families.

"We moved here and just loved it. It's a neat little town and the idea of contributing something is pretty spectacular," Auckerman said. "I just hope we can do the same thing and live up to what Vicky and Cara have done."

What does the future hold for Beckmeyer and Watts?

They will finally get some much-needed rest. They are also going to care for a couple of grandchildren and enjoy the holidays for themselves this year.