The "mini-reunion" is over! What a great time well-spent.
MAIL CALL
from Dwight Wagner '69 in Port Arthur
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed viewing the vintage pictures of old Port Arthur. I forwarded the website address to other persons interested in PA's history who were not necessarily TJ graduates, assured that they would log on and travel down Memory Lane. Thanks for sharing and God bless.
(Don't mind at all. Maybe they will also enjoy some of the other items we have on our class website while they are viewing the photos. Glad you are a loyal reader, too.)
from Donny Moss in Bevil Oaks (near Beaumont)
I read the comments from the two ladies from class of '62 in the last NEWSLETTER. They were Lucille Armentor and Linda Briggs. I met both of these ladies playing bridge at the Beaumont Bridge Studio and two nicer ladies you will never meet. I think that it is really nice that our class website is so widely viewed and rightfully admired.
from Linda Yancey in Nederland
The "mini-reunion" was great and it was so good to see friends. I appreciate you both and everything you both do to keep us connected. After I left the restaurant, I had errands to run and I still had on my name tag! Thank goodness I realized it before I went too many places! In talking to so many friends, it was nice to hear them talk about retirement. Some will be retiring in August and someone asked what will you do and they said whatever they want to. That sounds wonderful. As for myself, I will wait for 3 years and 3 months before I can say that exact thing. I wish everyone the best in the next phase of their lives. I did offer one bit of advice to the upcoming retirees. "You have to keep busy and keep your mind active"!
I really enjoy the letters and updates and I really appreciate what you wrote last time about not putting anything political on the website and e-mails. I think listening to news is quite enough.
from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston
As promised......If you've ever wondered what April in Holland and Belgium would be like, I can tell you! Cold, windy and rainy, with a little sleet thrown in for good measure. I left Houston on Easter Sunday for a couple of days in Amsterdam on my own, then took a 7-night river cruise through Holland and Belgium. My best purchase in Amsterdam was a woolen stocking cap and gloves. But even with the crummy weather, I had a great time and saw some beautiful scenery, including the much anticipated tulips and other gorgeous flowers. I have posted some pictures on my FB page (On the Go Travel).
Right now my sister is recuperating from surgery at my house here in Houston. This is definitely the most time we have spent together since I left home back in 1970, but we're having fun and really enjoying each other's company. Her surgery was at St. Elizabeth's in Beaumont, so I got to tool around there a little. I drove past Lamar one day, which was a kick; from MLK Boulevard, it doesn't seem to have changed much in 40 years. Just like all of us!
(Oh Cherlyn, you must not have driven on the roads that go in and around the Lamar buildings! They have added so much. It is really a thriving campus that SE Texas is really proud of.)
from Shari Louvier Parker in New Boston, TX
(taken off of Face Book)
Great news. Shari Parker Publishing and Printing has been nominated for the Torch Award for Integrity in Business with the BBB. The Bureau covers Shreveport and the Arklatex. The Awards Banquet is May 24, in Texarkana at the Texarkana Country Club. Wish us luck.
(Good luck. I know you have put a lot of time into building up your business.)
from Cynthia "Cindy" Duplantis Roberts in Horseshoe Bay, TX
It is nice to hear from you and to know that I'm still thought of back in old P.A. I've had quite a year myself these past several months . After losing my mother in 2008, my dad remarried 2 years ago this June and sadly I lost my husband this last October! It was sudden and so we have all been pretty well rocked by it. My girls have been my rock and it has been helpful to have my students and teaching to keep me focused on moving forward.
Finally on a joyous note, we welcomed a new addition to our family last January....we are all over the moon for Thomas. He is the first child of our middle daughter, Lea Ann, and he is a hopeless flirt. So, now I have 3 beautiful grandchildren who help me find smiles everday.
I do think of everyone from time to time and all the high school nonsense we indulged ourselves in....good times. Thanks again for reaching out and my best to all.
from Dianna Kube Stewart in Liberty, TX
Marvin and I both retired this past year and can't believe how busy we are! I'm a CASA volunteer with a group of four children, and Marvin is on the board of directors for Liberty/Chambers county CASA.
Our daughter, Laura, never left the Baton Rouge area after getting her LSU degrees, and works as the executive assistant to the Secretary of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. Our son Evan came back to Texas after LSU and is the Assistant Manager at Big Country Baptist Encampment in Leuders, TX....about 40 miles from Abilene. He and his wife are expecting our first grandchild in October! We can't wait.
I am always happy to see a TJ updated website reminder. Thanks.
from Sharon Lewis Forrest in Boerne, TX
I stay busy with making glass objects, but only when I really want to!! I definitely don't want this to turn into a JOB!
All's well with the Forrests here in Boerne. Nothing much to report. Our son, Chris, is still in the Army. He is now assigned to Fort Hood, TX. We are really enjoying having him and his family being close by! They've been stationed on the east coast for many, many years. Our daughter, Michelle, and her 3 girls still live in Port Neches, so we get to go "home" when we visit them!
"MINI-REUNION"
What a success! The gathering of 45 classmates and 21 spouses and guests came together for a an afternoon of hugs, laughs, and reminiscing. A couple of the classmates have not been together since high school.
The classmates who attendied were:
Kimberly Hebert
Linda DeCuir
Mike Lawson
Darlene Turner
Leah Conner
Fred McCarty
Loretta LaLonde
Lizbeth Branick
Adela Cantu
Linda Yancey
Linda Eldemire
Linda Gothia
Mary Wells
Donny Moss
Paula Daigle
Peggy Fontenot
Beverly Copeland
Robert McClintock
Debbie Borres
Carla Castro
Shirley Barra
Janis Hamilton
Sharon Gary
Jack Etheredge
Arleen Lang
Juanita Perales
Harold Erixon
Shari Champagne
Phillip Forsythe
Janice Hebert
Barry Boudreaux
Josephine Bordonaro
Marilyn Harriman
Joel Levy
Jack Atkins
Jonnye Dee Doering
Robert "Bobby" Williamson
Becky LeBlanc
Bill Richey
Cecilia Trevino
Harry Huebel
Darrell Richerson
Bobby Arciva
Betty Steck
Glenda Patin
NAME TAGS were certainly being used to identify each other. No one should be embarrased for using them either! We are all in the same boat. (That is.... the age in the 60"s!)
Many traveled from far away with Harold Erixon coming the longest trip (4 hours!) He came in from Liberty Hill, TX. Leah Conner lives in Fredricksburg but was in our area that week. The TEXAS cities that were represented were:
Lumberton
Houston
Port Neches
West Columbia
Fredricksburg
Liberty Hill
Kingwood
League City
Beaumont
Nederland
Port Arthur
Bevil Oaks
Tomball
Spring
Bridge City
Groves
Buna
Sugar Land
Conroe
Orange
The group wanted this to happen more frequently. So, maybe in September, we could have a gathering in the Houston area. Think about it. Of course, next spring/summer of 2013, we will have our 45th class reunion.
Thanks to those who took photographs to share with all of our class. I hated when it was time to leave! Until next time......
SUPPORT
from Carolyn Bigler Hebert (wife of Alfred Hebert...TJ faculty)
I created a Caring Bridge webpage for my sister, Molly Bigler '69 She had a craniotomy yesterday due to a fall on her coffee table and the Medical Center of SE Texas in PA didn't do a CAT scan. Three days later she had problems and her husband brought her to her neurologist. The doctor immediately sent her to Christus St. Mary where a neuro/surgical team was waiting. The scan revealed bleeding on her brain but the blood was too thick to do a burr hole. They removed a two-inch by three-inch section of her skull. She will go to a rehab hospital after her stay in Neuro/ICU.
The doctor was able to stop the bleeding where the artery had ruptured. The first scan showed that she had had a stroke awhile back. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago. The stroke has affected her memory.
I would appreciate prayers for Molly. She is more than a baby sister to me. Because of our 10 year age difference, I helped my parents raise her.
from Janice Hebert Boudreaux in Kingwood
I just returned from Branson, Missouri from seeing my brother, Alvin '64. He was in ICU after being diagnosed with pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. He was in ICU in the Springfield Hospital. They took a biopsy of his lungs and sent it to the Mayo Clinic. His blood oxygen level has been erratic. I traveled there with my mom and sister, Donna '75. My brother and his wife have been in Branson where they have a vacation home. We are hoping to get him stable enough to bring him back to Texas where he lives in the Orange/ Mauriceville area. Please keep him in your prayers.
CONDOLENCES
Jeanette "Jenny" Havens McCormac
(death of her mother, Muriel Havens)
13607 Hidden Dell Court
Houston, TX 77059
This is a note from classmate, Christy Kirkland Havens, that was on Face Book:
I lost a wonderful, sweet mother-in-law Saturday, the day before Mother's Day. She was a very caring mother and granny and friend to all she met. Her wit, her story-telling, her willingness to be there for her family will be sorely missed. Muriel, I love you and I thank you for all you taught me by your example.
6018 - 15th St.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
Ellen Fawvor
(death of her brother, Curtis "Butch" Fawvor)
4125 Turtle Creek Dr. Apt. 5
Port Arthur, TX 77642
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I was happy to receive news for my MAIL CALL from several classmates that I had contacted for updated information for my spreadsheet. Many have not moved but have deleted their landline phone # and just use their cell/mobile phones. The problem is.....I don't have everyone's cell #. Please contact me. I spent over an hour and a half three nights ago sending out requests to individual classmates for updates. I received NO response. Yow! That hurts. Help is needed. Even if you have no changes, I need to know so I can put the year 2012 by your name! Thanks.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden