TJ Class of '68     UPDATE                                                       09/25/06     
       
I'M BACK!!  Murphy and I just returned from our 11 day tour of the Maritime Provinces in Canada.  No litter, very little humidity, nice company, and no blue roofs!  It was good to get back to hug on the two granddaughters, though.  Enough chit chat, on to the UPDATE.
 
MAIL CALL:
 
Susan Antone
I love you for keeping me up on all of this, Linda!  Clifford loved all of this so much...keeping up w/ his classmates and going to those reunions. I have been to more of yours than mine. I know that he really cherished the people he grew up with in PA.  He use to tell me that his real friends, his lifelong friends, called him CJ.  That meant home to Cliff. It's really so nice that you guys have commemorated him...he'd like that. Please keep in touch.
 
Christi Kirkland Havens
I enjoyed the update on everyone and thank you for mentioning the death of Jenny's dad and my father-in-law, Robbie Havens.  He was the best!  To update my info: Louis & I have been married forever!! (38 !/2 years) and have two children.  Robert Louis is a Port Arthur Firefighter, paramedic, professor at the Lamar Fire Academy, Haz-Mat. expert with Garner and father of two.  He received the Texas Firefighter Instructor of the year in 2005.   Wendy, our daughter, is a Port Arthur Police Officer and mother of one.  Between the two, I worry alot!! They love their jobs, though, and I am very proud of them.  Louis will soon retire from Afton (Texaco Chemical) and embark on a life of fishing.  He has been on medical leave for the last 6 months after breaking his neck in a car wreck.  Lots of prayers were answered and he is going to be ok.  As for me, I'm your typical homemaker, babysitter, chauffeur, cook & bottle-washer and enjoy every minute of it.  However, some fishing and antiquing would be fun, too. 
 
Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley 
 I work at American Airlines and also the USO at DFW airport....if they know of anyone coming through..I will make sure that they will be taken care of. We have a beautiful large USO at DFW airport......for any military....I am jealous of those that are retired...l have already taught 25 years and will put in 10 years at American Airlines(June 2007) and then go back to teaching until I drop!! Being a grandparent is all that people say! IT IS AWESOME!!!!I am greatful that we have a break in the heat in the Dallas area..even though we really still need rain. I love hearing from everyone!
 
Gail Wilson Felker
 My husband, Ross, and I just got our son, Chris, settled at University of Alaska-Anchorage this past week.  It's hard having him so far from home, but this has always been his dream, and who can mess with someone's dream?
 
Sharon Gary Peters
My dad, Issac Gary, had Alzheimer's and blessedly died in his sleep.  I was in Wallace, Idaho attending a National Endowment of the Arts Institute and was called by my daughter telling me of Pop's passing. Of course, the return trip was quite long and agonizing.  My mom is doing well.  She is a "rock" and such an awesome lady.  Our daughter, Meghann, is a senior at Lamar finishing a degree this year in Business Edu. and our youngest child, Michael, is beginning at Lamar as well, majoring in Music.  My eldest daughter, Rebecca, resides with her husband and son Gage in San Angelo.
 
Gloria Faye Burks Scott
After reading the latest e-mail from you, I do not want to become a "missing classmate".  We have moved outside the city limits of Bryan and have room to "run" along with our Australian Shepherds.  They love it and so do we!! Just this morning, our ASCA champion, Bing, had the best time with a deflated volley ball just running the acreage.  Amazingly, my 5 minute trip to work is just 8-10 minutes now.  That is not bad!!
 
Linda Blanton Murski
The island that we live on is called Guanaja and it is in the Bay Islands of Honduras.  Another island in this group is named Roatan, and is a more known island in the Bay Islands and a popular tourist place.  Guanaja is more remote. My son, Damian, lives in Port Arthur now with his Grandmother Bennett.  She is elderly and he is her main care taker.  It is a good situation for both of them as they get along very well.
My husband, Michael, is doing very well now.  He made his one year mark on July 4th and got a very good report from his cardiologist.  We are on a strict heart healthy diet and have gotten used to no more fried foods, butter, bacon.....all the good stuff. Our summer was great.  Lots of snorkeling, swimming and boating.  I love to be in the sea.  I am in Houston right now on my way to Disney World with my daughter Stephanie and her family for 10 days.  My husband's daughter, Michele and her family will be there at the same time so it willbe a real fun time and a family reunion for us.
 
Linda Blakley Rindlishbacher
I really enjoy hearing how everyone is doing. I loved looking through the pictures on the website. Gosh, I actually remembered alot of people.
 
Mike Soileau
I want to send you my new company's web site http://peaknetinc.com/index.html We are small but has been really good so far.  Presently, we have a few engineers down in Mexico and are building some modular homes for Italy.  I e-mailed Mike Lawson and we are going to try to get together since I am on a project down and the South Texas Nuclear Site close by where he lives.
 
Loretta LaLonde Myers
Kellen has arrived, Sept. 13, 2006 at 10:44 AM. He weighed 9 lbs.-10 oz. and 21 in. long. As you might guess, Nicole had to have a C-section. Mom, dad and Kellen are doing well.
 
Janette Light Norris
I am sending this message to all of you because I love you.  Ikey, one of my oldest friends (so old that I'm the only one he tolerates calling him "Ikey"), sent it to me.  In case you haven't heard, my PA friends, Ikey's younger brother Michael passed away on Sept 13 after quite a battle for his health.  Please pray for him as I do.
 
Jann Rodriguez Carter
The last reunion was a cool occasion for being with Pt. Arthurpals from our  firmer/former time.  You and your krewe did a great job.  I did remark to (most handsome guy around at puberty's launch), Clifford Antone, that I wish he could put on the music...being that's his speciality.   He told me he'd like that; and that he'd been to all the reunions.  Sigh.  Rest in peace, CJ.  I've seen Irene Protas Heath a few times since - she and I were tight in Austin in the early 70's.  A great friendship rekindling!
(Hey, Jann.  Send us Irene's e-mail address.  We don't have hers on the list).
 
Jonnye Dee Doering Williamson
Well, Retirement has been nice but short.  I will start a new job Monday working for SETIO (SoutheastTexas Interfaith Organization).  SETIO is the umbrella group for many faiths in this area which are working to help rebuild homes that have been damaged from hurricane Rita.  They are also working with Lutheran World Relief and the Reform Church and many others to go out access the needs and start the work on the homes. They needed someone to set up their office and become their Office Manager so now retirement is put on hold for now. I felt it was a good chance to help others who needs the help and a great organization.  If you haven't been to Port Arthur lately, there is still trash piles everywhere and we have another year or more of work to be done in this area.
 
Notice that I didn't add town and e-mail address in the MAIL CALL this time.  Now, all you have to do is check out the Classmate Listing link for that info on our new website www.tjhs1968.125mb.com
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HEARD FROM:
I also received messages via e-mail and "snail mail" from the following classmates:
Lana Weber Guidry, Glenda Patin, Roy Dale Birkelbach, Ronnie Boneau, Lynn Eldridge Gill, Jane Lippincott Koerth, Jody Hopkins Barbin, Florence "Sissie" Woods Cox, Butch McWilliams, Janice Hebert Boudreaux, Laura Meece Darby, and Dianna Caillier Lewis.  Hal Ross sent me a "good" address for Neil Vance Person.  So Vance is now off of the "missing classmate" list and Hal will be eligible for one of the door prizes that is going to be offered for helping find MISSING CLASSMATES!!!  Thanks, Hal.  I have received CLUES from classmates about the MISSING, but you are the FIRST to send me an ACTUAL address.  So, everyone check out the website again and send me some help, please!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Condolences
James "Ikey" Landry
(loss of younger brother, Michael)
16243 Rocky Creek
San Antonio, TX 78247
(210)654-0740
 
Michael Hilton
(death of his brother, Cecil Hilton, Jr)
4234 32nd St.
Pt. Arthur, TX 77642
(409)2-0595
 
Please take the time to convey your sentiments to these two classmates.  Also, send any other deaths or illnesses so that we can add them to our prayer list.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So, there you have it for another UPDATE.
  Mike Lawson and I have had terrific response over our "baby". But, and I mean BABY.  The website is growing leaps and bounds.  Please continue to check it out since we add updated info weekly.  Fred McCarty has offered tremendous ideas on how to make it more informative and fun.  Be on the lookout for additional links that will gradually be added.  John Upton was very generous in offering some free space on his site.  But, Beverly Copeland Gaspard (our Lamar State College professor of computer classes), Mike, and I felt like we would need much more space. So, therefore we will be getting a PAID site in the future.  Thank you so very much for the offer, John. We will be calling on your expertise often, I'm sure.  Fred McCarty and Glenda Patin have been added to our list of those that have offered financial assistance..  We will notify all of you that have offered contributions when we find out the actual cost. 
 
Now, be sure to check out the new "updates" and "new" items on our website.  We are here for you.  Tell us what YOU would like us to add and we will TRY to comply. 
 
Until next time,
                                                                                      Stay safe and keep in touch,
                                                                                       Linda DeCuir McFadden
                                                                                       lindasuemcfadden@sbcglobal.net

 

o
index     back to top