TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                           06/04/11
         
         
 

 

The temperature here in the Beaumont area hit 102 Thursday!  Really?  The first week of June?  Pleeeze.

MAIL CALL
from Felicia Hiatt Petit (and classmate/husband David Petit) in Texas City, TX
David and I are looking forward to retiring in the near future.  He has been with the Corps of Engineers in Galveston for 38 years.  I have been an 8th grade science teacher for 24 years.  After retirement, we are making the ultimate road trip.  We are heading for Alaska via all kinds of locations.  We plan on being on the road approximately 3-4 months.  The hardest part of that would be missing our 2 kids and their families.  Four grandkids are hard to leave behind.  Guess we will be doing a lot of video conferencing by skyping.  The countdown has begun and we are really counting down the days.  After we return from Alaska, we will be moving to Coldspring, TX where we plan to build our retirement home. 
Well, now that school is over for this year I am having a total knee replacement surgery.  It needs to be done but I am still nervous.  Look out rehab....that will be my summer project!  This is the last summer I will have to return to school in the fall. 
 
from Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley in Bedford, TX
Wow!  The last day of school with students!!!  Yippee.  I teach the severe special needs students at Irving HS.  We have 80% disadvantaged.  We have high absences and lots of problems, BUT I do love it MOST of the time.  So many kids need us since they don't have real parent figures.  I will begin my 30th year in the fall.    So, to get away from it all, we are headed on a vacation.  We will be camping in Colorado ....Durango, Ouray, Aspen, Denver!  Here we come.
 
from Loretta LaLonde Myers in League City, TX
We are just back from a holiday weekend at Stonebridge RV park in Sweeney, TX.  We had a wonderful time with Steve and classmate Peggy Fontenot Mundshau.  This week I am off to Galveston for JURY DUTY!
 
from Sara Little Herman in Alpine, TX
We're terribly busy in Alpine, Rusty with his work and me with my substitute teaching.  We have just completed the school year.  We're buying a home with some property and are planning to build another home on it.  It has absolutely gorgeous mountain views.  We love it here.  We'll be coming back to Beaumont for a day or two for my latest grandson's 1st birthday on September 1st.
 
from Mike Soileau in Atlanta, TX
I've been really busy, or at least that is my excuse for not corresponding!  Thanks to you and Mike for doing a great service for us.  I appreciate it greatly.  I hope all the classmates are in good health and enjoying the summer sunshine.....and a little rain depending on where you live.
 
from Ann Hefley Boriskie in Alpharetta, GA
I really like our class website so I will work on checking it out more often.  Thanks to you and Mike for all of your hard work.
 
from Linda Olivier (and classmate/hubby Rex Meyer) in Fulshear, TX
Rex and I are doing great.  We sold our home this past July and finally got a single story home in the same subdivision we've lived in since 1991.  And we will NOT be putting in a pool in this home!!!  The grandkids aren't too pleased, however, this home is on an acre so they have plenty of room to roam. 
 
from Gloria Phillips (and classmate/hubby Ricky Bradley) in Mustang, OK
Rick and I have a new love....it feels like we're a little closer to heaven....a tempur-pedic cloud mattress.  It's better than CALGON. 
***********************************************************************
TORNADO NEWS
from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
The April 27th tornadoes that struck Alabama have given me a different perspective.  An EF5 tornado that traveled 138 mph on the ground passed within six miles of my house.  It killed 14 people in the county just to the west of us and another 4 in the county north of us.  We lost power for 5 days as it totally demolished the electrical transmission system in northern Alabama.  I ended up buying a generator and hooking it up to the circuit box.  We were able to run everything but the dryer on it.  I am now seriously considering getting a storm shelter installed in the floor of my garage.  There were a lot of lives saved because they had storm shelters and had gotten in them just before the tornado hit.  From 10 AM that morning until about 7 PM that night we had seven tornado warnings.  The power went out about 4 PM so the sirens did not work after that and we were relying on the weather radio.  We were definitely blessed that we were spared.
 
from David Salter in Oklahoma, OK (May 24th)
Our family is all fine, as the tornadoes went NW and south of Oklahoma City.  We are in the NW part of the city and have a number of friends in Piedmont which was hard hit.  At least one family we know sustained home damage but are safe and without injury.  I'm afraid there are others that were affected, but at this time we don't know.  Right now our fervent prayers are with a 3 year old Piedmont boy who is still missing as widespread search efforts continue. 
 
As today's weather pattern began to mirror that of past serious storm systems, most schools, businesses, etc. took no chances and closed early...quite unusual, even for tornado alley.  The Birmingham and Joplin tragedies have made everyone much more cautious.  Our kids and 3 grandkids (including our 2 1/2 month old first granddaughter Anna!) all gathered at our house by 4:30 to hunker down in our storm shelter, if necessary.
 
Thanks so much for the way you and Mike keep our class connected.  I know of no other class our size which has been able to stay in contact so well.  It is such a joy to be able to keep up with our TJ family.  Early this year, Fred McCary, Joel Levy, George Collins and I met at Papadeaux's in Houston for what has become an annual gathering.  As always, we had a great time getting caught up on the prior year's events. 
 
from Gloria Phillips and Ricky Bradley in Mustang, OK (May 24th)
(taken from FACEBOOK)
Our sirens are going off!  We are preparing to go in our "hidey hole".  It is open and ready.  Our daughter, in Norman, has 7 people and 2 large boxers in their shelter.
 
Well, we're fine!  Didn't have to get in the shelter.  We had heavy rain and high winds and lots of tornadoes but they didn't come near our dwelling praise the Lord!
 
(I made a phone call to Glenn McGee in Duncan, OK.  He said that he was fine and the tornadoes weren't near his home.  He and his family are doing well and he is preaching at a church in his town there.  He was going to be coming to the Beaumont area this last weekend to visit his father for his birthday.)
***********************************************************************
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Well, it is OFFICIAL!  Murphy RETIRED from Enterprise Products Pipeline.  His last day was May 31st.  He worked there for 27 years.  He had previously worked at Texaco for 11 years before the massive lay off in 1984.  He has had a busy week so far.  The hardest part of this time seems to be still waking up at 3:45 to go to work!!!  So, now he is all mine, (except, of course,  he also belongs to my 95 year old dad who lives with us!!!)
 
We have every weekend in June filled up with activities.  Murphy, the 8 year old granddaughter, and my daughter are cycling 15 miles June 4th in the "Spindletop Spin".  My son-in-law is cycling in the 50 mile ride.  I noticed that Hal Ross was also going to be a participant.  There is also a 100 mile ride.  I don't know which one he is in.
 
We are traveling to Bryan/College Station for the two granddaughters (6 and 8) to participate in the AGGIELAND KIDS TRIATHLON next weekend.  Then, on June 18 is another Kids Triathlon at the YMCA in Port Arthur.    The last weekend of this month has us traveling to New Orleans for my niece's wedding.  Murphy has never been to N.O.  It ought to be a "trip"!  Can't wait.  Cafe du Monde, here I come for some beignets!!!
**********************************************************************
TJ '66 WEBSITE INFO WANTED
( a note from Fred Schneider '66)
 
At long last, the new home of Route '66 is up and running.  It still has a few bugs here and there to clean up, but it is at least presentable.  Shortly, new photos and items will be added to better represent our class.  Please review the new page and see if you can find something to correct!  Check out the spelling, names, and especially the e-mail addresses.  Maybe you could help me with the following list of names that had their 45th reunion invitation returned due to an "old" address.  I appreciate any help you can give us. 
 
Arturo Lozano
Mary Chapman McAnally
Ada Dorion Bridges
Beverly Abston Whidon
Willard Allen
Sandra Guidry Apperson
Gary Neel
Gary Willis
Martha Dezelle Inabnett
Leslie Smith Collier
David Martinez
Glenda Comeaux Miller
Christy Grady Townsend
Gary Pierron
Robert McCullough
Linda Broussard Fontenot
David Allen Adams
Virginia Allen Olbrich
Edward Rutherford
Allen Head
Patricia Molaison Bailey
Mary Jane Duplantis Nance
Dinah King Chelena
Joan Lemoine Siragusa
Nancy Ellis King
Randy France
David Seelke
Sherry Daniels Whitfield
Karen Martin
 
(If you have any information about these '66 classmates, please send to Fred or me.)
*************************************************************************
E-MAIL CHANGES
I recently sent out a "heads up" about the last website update to all of our classmates.  I received 40 (FORTY) back because the e-mail addresses I have listed are no longer VALID!  I need all changes so that Mike and I can have the most recent, current ones to keep you up on updates .  Classmates who are teachers.....some of you retired or you are out for the summer.  I need your home e-mail addresses.  Also, some of you have retired from your work site or even left your job for one or more reasons.  PLEASE update us. 
*************************************************************************
SUPPORT
from Loretta LaLonde Myers in League City, TX
Please pray for our daughter, Michelle.  She had an MRI that showed "brain lesions".  She then had to have a spinal tap.   We are awaiting results.
 
Prayers and support needed for classmate, Phillip Bodin, who is battling cancer.
Phillip Bodin
3120 Girouard Private Rd.
Rayne, LA 70578
 
Prayers needed for:
Ellen Fawvor's family.
(Death of her 10 year old great niece who died in an accidental drowning.  Also, her brother is battling cancer.)
 
Ellen Fawvor
4125 Turtle Creek Dr. #6
Port Arthur, TX 77642
*************************************************************************
CONDOLENCES
 
Death of a classmate
 
Edrice Joseph Malveaux
April 24, 1950-May 22, 2011
 
Condolences may be sent to his sister, also our classmate,
 
Maudrie Malveaux Carthon
5266 Lakeside Dr.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
**********************************************************************
I was happily surprised at the letters I received from classmates this update.  Thank you and continue to send in anything that I might be able to use in the future NEWSLETTERS or for Mike to post on the website.  We love passing the news around to others.



..................................Let me hear from you and contact a classmate,
                                  Linda DeCuir McFadden
                                  lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
                                  www.tjhs1968.com



                      

 



.

         
    index     back to top