MAIL CALL
none received

BOOGIE KINGS
The Boogie Kings played a 3+ hour set at the Honky Tonk in Silsbee on February 15, 2020. Seventeen of our ’68 classmates hung out together and listened, sang and danced to the music. Florence “Sissie” Woods was gracious enough to take names for a few weeks and was in charge of reserving a large section so that we could get together and visit for the night. Most of us, along with spouses and guests, arrived a couple of hours early to have time to reminisce and just catch up with each other. Fun times were had by all. Those classmates attending were Lana Oliver (in from Tulsa), Sheridan Jones, Carla Castro, Ernie Bullion, Jonnye Dee Doering, Mary Wells, Laura Meece, Linda Gothia, Paula Daigle, Linda DeCuir, Cecelia Trevino, Bobby Williamson, Darlene Turner, Jack Atkins, Florence “Sissie” Woods, Bart Darby and Marilyn Jackson.

SPRING FORWARD
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead on Sunday, March 8.

CORONAVIRUS
Unless you live under a rock then you know this is big news! We had a big road trip planned to head straight up to North Dakota and then to Washington and down through Oregon and follow down and back to Texas. Don’t believe we will at this time. We would be staying in hotels and then lots of restaurants, etc. We were going to leave April 5th. I’m not quite sure we will all be out of the woods by then.

Talking SOUTHERN
Ya’ll’d’ve
(verb)
Meaning: Ya’ll all would have
Example:
We could have met ya’ll there if ya’ll’d’ve just waited.
(sent in by Jan Russell)

FATSTOCK RODEO

The event started in 1931 and has been in a handful of venues including Sam Houston Coliseum, the Astrodome and NRG Stadium. The dates this year are from March 3-22.

The rodeo poster is from the 1968 Houston Livestock Rodeo


            




ROUGH WEEK
March 8-14
Daylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 8
Full moon (will show on Sunday night and Monday night) March 8 & 9
Friday 13th
If you are an educator or healthcare worker or a GRANDPARENT…..be warned!!

MEMORIAL SECTION
Loretta LaLonde’s husband, Glynn Myers (a Bishop Byrne grad), found some dates which were missing on obituaries for classmates Arthur Stout, Rickey Romero and Karen Sue Woods. If you find some leisure time, check out our MEMORIAL section. It took a lot of research and time to make this a respectful tribute to our friends gone too soon.

Mickey Mantle
Anyone who has been to my home knows I am a lifetime Mickey Mantle and NY Yankee fan. I have shelves and shelves of baseball memorabilia. The top shelf is all MICK! Well, I finally departed with his autographed ball! I got it when he was on QVC and I skipped school (I was a TEACHER) when I knew he would be on. The producers would allow two calls per hour to talk to him. When I called in, the operator told me that they had already selected two and I started crying and gave him a long story. Well, he talked to the producer and BAM I was going to go live with him. We had the VCR camera ready and I finally got to talk with him. He talked about Nolan Ryan living near me and other things I can’t remember now. Oh, how happy I was. This was 4 years before he passed away in 1995. I lost my VCR tape in Hurricane Ike in 2008, but not my precious autographed ball. It is the FIRST thing I would always pack in my luggage for evacuations. Next are my 3 TJ annuals. True story. Well, I recently surprised my nephew with the ball. He called when he received it and was worried I was DYING. He always knew he was going to inherit it! I also surprised my other nephew/godchild with my Pudge Rodriguez Hall of Fame autographed ball and a great nephew with my Nolan Ryan autographed baseball. I figured that I have enjoyed them for many years, now let them.

NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Murphy and I attended the Lamar Alumni Basketball Gathering recently. Free tickets to the Girls and Boys Basketball game and dinner. We got some free gifts but decided to forego the face painting! I had theatre tickets afterward and didn’t want to look too FANCY! We are getting ready to have new flooring installed. I have my home stripped all my knick knacks and books and “precious clutter”. All the closet floors can now breathe. I did not imagine what all accumulates that has to be picked up for floor installation. Ugh. We have boxes and totes, etc stored in my daughter’s shop, my garage and on the patio. I guess the good thing is that you tend to do SOME purging. Not sure how this works, but Murphy hasn’t added anything to the donate bags! Hmmm Now I also have my collections of nuns, cardinals and poodles are all packed up. Books are all stacked up on the fireplace hearth. The furniture is still in the house but nothing is on shelves or in nooks. It is a little sad to me, but Murphy says it is kind of nice. My house is saying, “What is going on?” Murphy, Bill Richey, and Johnny “Pookie” Montagne and their spouses are getting together for a lunch this month. The boys all grew up in the Pear Ridge neighborhood and I figure this gathering will be filled with “stories” of good ole days gone by. Paul Colletti’s family have been involved with St. Joseph’s Altars beginning in Sicily many decades ago. He is coming in from Fort Worth to help the extended family again with this year’s altar on March 19th, St. Joseph’s Feast Day, that will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Port Neches. The food that is made by the Italian families are not only delicious but decorated beautifully. Stop by. 11am -5 pm. Paul’s family’s 2019 Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil known as Fratelli Colletti medaled at the Los Angeles International Olive Oil competition. It is sold at the Museum of the Gulf Coast or can be ordered from Paul. Paul.colletti@gmail.com Our “classmate” weekend is coming up on April 3-5. This year, we will be renting a large home in Concan, TX on the Frio River. The same couples have been meeting once a year for over 20 years. The classmates and their spouses meet somewhere in TEXAS for a weekend. Some years we meet at a classmate’s home; Paul Colletti – Fort Worth, Lynn Eldridge – Dallas or her ranch in Tupelo, Jim Andrus – Jourdanton, Jude Arisco – Temple or “my place”….the class reunions every 5 years!! My 1600 sq foot home wouldn’t fit us all. The Lenten season has started and I gave up sweets AND sodas! What was I thinking?

SUPPORT
2/6/20
update
George Collins' diagnosis has been changed after recent neurological testing. He does NOT have Parkinson's Disease after all. Instead he has now been diagnosed with a rare form of dementia known as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). PSP causes problems with balance when walking, and eye movements, focusing, and coordination. George has experienced several falls and he now has double vision, so he is unable to read or work on the computer.
2339 North Blvd
Houston, TX 77098

Laura Meece Darby has had surgery for a fractured ankle. She had just undergone carpal tunnel surgery. Prayers for her recovery. She and Bart have plans to go to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day to watch her granddaughter march in a parade.
Lauradarby49@yahoo.com
24606 Heirloom Ln.
Katy, TX 77493

01/23/20
A note from Gloria Phillips about Ricky Bradley
Tests results from the new biopsy were negative. Our next step is for his bladder to finish healing. Then, in three months Rick will begin chemo. Thanks to all who have been praying for him.
Rbradley73064@yahoo.com
9221 SW 99th Street
Mustang, OK 73064

02/25/20
A note from Mikey Varing
I went to MD ANDERSON Thursday for x-rays of my knee and upper leg. I returned Friday for my results. The x-rays showed that the saddle that the ortho surgeon placed over my broken femur is screwed into my femur to support it. The x-rays showed that the lower four screws closest to my knee has now been destroyed by the cancer since being installed three months ago. Now my oncologist and orthopedic surgeon are meeting and are decide how they are going to repair this. I do know that surgeon is going to remove the cancerous bone. He is then going to put in a prosthetic knee and the oncologist will then do whatever is needed. Would you all PLEASE KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS? I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU.
Varingmichael32@gmail.com
749 Queen’s Court
Port Arthur, TX 77642
Prayers requested for spouses of two classmates that would prefer not to be named.

CONDOLENCES
Carolyn Lyons
(death of her father, Leonard Lyons)
March 4, 1928 – January 31, 2020
outoftheatic@hotmai..com
2636 Galleon Ave.
Port Hueneme, CA
93041

Glenn Wigginton
(death of his daughter, Jamie Lynnette Clift)
Jan. 22, 1987 – Jan.30, 2020
rwigginton50@gmail.com
377 Brewer Cemetery Rd.
Leesville, LA 71446
These obituaries may be found on the front page under OBITUARIES.

I know that this newsletter edition was short compared to the past. I had to scrape to find anything besides SUPPORT and CONDOLENCES. Those are the sections I wish I DIDN’T have anything to add. Help me out for the next update. We would love to hear about classmates meeting up or connecting in any way. Pictures from the old days of having fun together would be a nice addition. We can use military pictures and information of days in the military. Aside from Mike Lawson's website update notice, I will be posting the link to our website on FaceBook each time there is an update from now on. Don’t forget us. Mike and I are here for you.

Keep in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindaDmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com

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