Oh heavens! Mike Harmon reminded me that there are three Friday, the 13ths in the year 2012. I hope I can get through the NEWSLETTER unscathed by bad luck. Keep your fingers crossed. NO!!! Not both hands. That's bad luck. Just one hand. Okay, here goes.....
MAIL CALL
from Jan Russell in Spring, TX
I attended the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Women Educators State Convention at the end of June at Las Colinas. I sang with the Convention Choir, attended sessions, SHOPPED, and played hookey visiting my cousins in Frisco. This is north of Dallas. Other than that, I'm
"enjoying" working out at the gym and totally not knowing or caring what day it is! That's the best summer reward for teachers! I just completed my 40th year of teaching and am still going strong- most of the time!
from Pam Flohr in League City, TX
I have been divorced since 1987 but do not want to get remarried. I am content with my life now, semi-retired and spending a great deal of time with the grandkids in League City. I just booked a Disney Cruise for the family for December, 2013 . It is an East Carribean Cruise, (Castaway Island, St. Maarten, Virgin Islands), and the grandkids are over the moon about it. The way time is passing it will be here before they know it. On a sadder note, I still can't believe it has been 5 months since my Mom passed away from pneumonia due to progressive dementia. Take care.
from Becky Baker '69 (wife of classmate, George Thomas and sister of the late Steve Baker)
This really isn't news, but information. George suffered a Brain Aneurysm rupture in 1993. He was away from home for a total of five months, September, 1993 to January, 1994. He spent one month in ICU at St. Mary Hospital and four months in rehab. Every step of the last nineteen years, have been filled with a God-lead journey. George was always a man of few words and now even fewer. The left side of the brain that was affected controls speech. So, I thank God for the twenty-three years prior to '93. We married in 1970 and the unspoken communication that had become a part of our relationship has been a tremendous help since we are usually on the same wave link. Even though I was encouraged to put him in a nursing home, that was not an option to me. George has made unbelievable progress in these last nineteen years; he recognizes people from the past that don't recognize him. I make every effort to make his connection to them known; school, work, Coast Guard. I try to keep him informed of the health and also the passing of his friends. The TJ '68 website has been one of the most valuable ways for me to accomplish this, and I thank everyone that writes in for their time and dedication. It means so much to still have contact with classmates that we spent the majority of our youth together, raised our kids, and then, of course our grandbabies. When we reconnect later in life, we can enjoy the fellowship and sharing. The NEWSLETTER and updates on the '68 website is a more frequent way of doing that. Thanks for helping me, (not a classmate), with the news of all of my brother, Steve's, and George's classmates and friends.
We have two grown daughters, Chera (39) and Shayna (36). We also have our three beautiful grandchildren, Lauren (16), Shaylea (15) and Cade (10).
from Carla Castro in Nederland
For all of you who say I should retire......guess what? I am going to retire on July 31st! That will be my last day.
from Charlene Valenciano Allen in Groves
My granddaugher, Brittany, as a freshman at Nederland High School, ran the 4x4, 4x2, and 4x1 on the Varsity Relay Team. In regionals, they placed 4th overall. At the award ceremonies, Brittany received awards for the 4x4, 4x2, and 4x1 Track and Field relays. I am looking forward to seeing what she can accomplish with the Nederland Varsity in her sophomore year!
from Galen Ducharme in Lorena, TX
Personal info: married to Debbie from the Hewitt/Waco area, working and seldom get on the computer at home, no FACE BOOK (against company policy), and will be retiring in 537 days!
Lorena is a very small town with a population of 700, just 13 miles south of Waco, off IH -35. Deb and I own a small farm/ranch where we raise Santa Gertrudis cattle. We don't have as many due to the drought of 2011. I've been married to Debbie for 6 years. I met her at work, (Time Manufacturing Co.), where I am an Accounting Manager. My health is good except for my knees. I will be having my right knee replaced as soon as I get permission from my lovely health insurance company. Our favorite pastime is watching old John Wayne movies and going to Bossier to the casinos. I used to go to Las Vegas every year for the Professional Bull Riders championship, but my knees don't like to "fly" anymore.
I really enjoy the website, it brings back a lot of good memories. The pictures of old PA are great. Thanks to you and Mike for making the website possible.
from Jeanette (Jenny) Havens-McCormac in League City
I work for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. I am an engineer working both the International Space Station (ISS) and Commercial Space programs. The Commercial programs are Space Agreements between NASA and public companies to provide technology transfer and insertion to commercial enterprises.
We have two children. Our son is the Director of Productions at Park City Baptist Church in Dallas. Our daughter is completing her Masters Degree at UT-Dallas.
from Edward (Ed) Shaver in Spring, TX
I am married to Janet Hammond from the class of '69. We were just down to PA a couple of weekends ago to visit my mother-in-law. I always enjoy the updates so keep up the great work.
from Lynn Martin in Highland Village, TX
We had our first grandson in May. That makes one of each now!
from Janice Jones in Bridge City
I have a fabulous family! They gave me a surprise retirement party. I was able to visit with many family members and friends, God's gifts to us. I celebrated my retirement after 34 years in education and my 38th wedding anniversary on the same day! God is awesome!
from Gene Baskin in Pt. Neches
Well, it's been two years since I retired from Motiva and it is true what they say; time sure flies when you're retired and busy. The biggest happening in our lives around the Baskin household is the recovery of my wife, Darlene, from a freak accident! She mis-stepped onto a curb while shopping and broke her leg in three places and dislocated her ankle. She had eleven screws and a plate put in on March 5th and then developed a 'fracture blister", which is a wound from the inside out. It has taken sixteen weeks to close up!!! Now, I like to think that I don't take my wife for granted, but WOW, with me playing "Mister Mom" for about twelve weeks, I thought that I was going to die! The cooking and shopping were the hardest things for me. I still can't find anything at the HEB. Anyway, she can walk now with a cane and it appears she is on the mend, finally. All her friends that know her well said, "She shopped til she dropped" literally!
My son, Ryan, just resigned from Dupont in Orange and is now working for Brand XX, that's EXXON/MOBIL in Beaumont. He likes his work as a Mechanical Engineer and we are happy for him. Allison, our daughter, is teaching Algebra II at PN-G High School. It's really challenging because Texas now requires ALL students to pass the Algebra II exam to graduate. By law, the classes cannot be segregated by ability, so she must teach a range of students from "gifted" to "I don't want to be here"!
Our 230 acre ranch between Woodville and Livingston takes a lot of time. During the past year, I have sold some timber, sold hay, and have cleared about one mile of my four mile fence line. I just bought 2100 fence posts and 20 miles of barbed wire (4 miles x 5 strands). It's clear to me that I will never "catch-up" on all the things that I want and need to do. So, I just do what I WANT to do and WHEN I want to do it.
Darlene and I still go to Wisconsin every summer for about a month. We also own a house in Superior, WI and have had some challenges there, also. First, a storm destroyed our roof and we had to have that done (12/12 slope!) Then, in February, the battery in the thermostat to the furnace went dead, the furnace quit, and 19 pipes busted! My brother-in-law /caretaker found about 2 inches of water on the bottom floor! We had to have all flooring, some sheetrock and the plumbing fixed. This, and getting the roof fixed, all had to be done while communicating over the phone, long distance with the insurance and contractors. That was not fun. We are very thankful, though, that we were covered by insurance. That's it for NOW!
SPREADSHEET (awwwwwww)....becoming a DIRTY word around here!
I love posting the news from classmates that seem to have come out of the woodwork! I hope you are also enjoying reading what they have sent in. This new interest in the MAIL CALL is because many classmates are sending in current spreadsheet info. Yeah! The latest count is 99 left to hear from of the ones that I sent individual messages to. If you have an e-mail, PLEASE, please check your messages and respond to my request. Once that is finished, then I'll have to start calling phone numbers of the classmates that have invalid e-mail addresses or no e-mail addresses listed at all! Also, I have more news items from other classmates for the MAIL CALL, but I am dividing them up so that I will have some for publishing in future updates of the website.
PS I have put in untold hours working on this. My dad recently said after looking for me, "Why are you always on the computer?" I told him a "white lie" and said, "Oh, I'm doing my school work," and he replied, "Oh, are you still a teacher?" I didn't have the heart to tell him that I retired in 1999! It would have been too hard to explain websites, spreadsheet info, etc! I don't know what I will have to come up with when the actual planning of our next reunion begins!
WEBSITE DONATION
We received a check from Galen Ducharme to help with the website expenses. Thanks very much. Donations are always appreciated. I had two other classmates that asked for my address so they could also make donations.
Here is the info you need:
Linda DeCuir McFadden
7699 Boardwalk
Lumberton, TX 77657
Make the check out to me. I will then deposit it in 5 Point Credit Union in our website account.
A FEW GOOD MEN
(sent in by Lynn Eldridge and Donnie Beagle)
(The following occured on Memorial Day, May 28th, 2012 at the Golden Triangle Veterans Memorial Park on Hwy 87 in PA near the Veterans Memorial Bridge)
written by Cpl Bill Feidler
My wife and I arrived at 2 pm as the band began to play and the service was slated to start at 2:30 pm. When we got
there, the pavilion was full but we were able to squeeze into the back left hand corner under the roof in the shade. While the program was going on, I was listening to a friend of mine speak, retired Colonel Chris Lamson, with 25 years active duty in the Marines and I looked over my right shoulder and noticed an old veteran sitting on the wall. His wife had been holding the umbrella over his head and laid it down to stand up where she could see the speaker and hear what was being said. When I turned to look the second time, I noticed a Marine had stepped forward, picked up the umbrella and was holding it over the older gentleman. You can tell by the shadow that only the left shoulder and arm of the Marine was in the shade. Notice his right hand behind his back standing at parade rest in full dress blues. Not once did he flinch. The temperature forecast that day was predicted to be 90 degrees or more in the shade. In Southeast Texas the humidity can also match the temperature. If you have ever worn a set of dress blues you would understand how hot they are. He stood there until the service was over. When it was over I walked up to him and said, "Thank you for such a kind act for the old veteran." He just looked at me and nodded as if to say, it was my duty. As I walked away with a tear in my eye and my heart swelling , it made me proud to know that the old traditions are still carried on. It has been 57 years ago this summer that I joined the Marines.
60th BIRTHDAY PARTY for the CLASS OF '70
(Reminder...this weekend)
The TJ class of '70 is having a 60th B-D party
Saturday, July 14
7pm
Groves KC Hall
SUPPORT
(from Norma Gayle Guidry Rose in Breaux Bridge)
I had surgery to remove a tumor on my arm that I have had for 20 years. Thank God that my Dad and my late husband were looking after me! The doctor said I had "the good cancer", never knew they had a good one, but it is the kind that doesn't spread. He took my stitches out. I'll have a long scar but the doctor said he got it all. I guess God isn't finished with me yet!
CONDOLENCES
Pamela Owings Hund
(death of her daughter, Laura)
826 South Avenue
Port Neches, TX 77651
(409)722-6954
Please support these classmates during their time of need.
*************************************************************************
I can't believe that half of the year is gone! I guess I better get that Christmas Club started! I have listed e-mail addresses for the classmates that were mentioned in this edition. Why not contact someone that we wrote about? I always like hearing from friends from the "old days"! Don't you? Also, REMEMBER to help me out with the spreadsheet info that needs to be checked correct or have some info changed.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden