MAIL CALL
from Hal Ross in Nederland
This past weekend we had a great dove hunt with two former great defensive ends, #71 Wayne McDermand, Beaumont High and Texas Tech and #72 Diron Talbert, U.T., LA Rams, and Washinton Redskins. Also, Lamar University standout, #1 Monica Kattner and of course, my favorite cameraman and rancher, Mark Kat.
(see Hal's pic posted in PHOTOS)
hal.ross@me.com
from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
It is amazing what young kids can learn. My 2 year old (25 months) granddaughter has been singing the ABC song now for months. A couple of weeks ago I started working with her on identifying the letters. To my surprise she now can tell me about 10 letters when I write them down. They are not the first ones in the alphabet. She knows A and B but also H, O, F, K, W, X, Z. I think she will know the whole alphabet before she is 3 years old. She is in preschool so that will help. She has most of the colors down and some shapes.
(Aren't grandkids “grand”? We should have had them FIRST!)
jwj6872@aol.com
from Kay King Young in Missouri City, TX
Thirty six years ago today I married the most wonderful man. Dwayne and I merged our two families and created a new one. We have so many adventures with our three beautiful girls. We have lived in the Houston area, Austin area, Tyler area and 20 years in Colorado. We have been so blessed. Now, we have six grandkids to finish out our blessed.
kaykingyoung@yahoo.com
from Janette Light Norton in Cypress, TX
I have a dream to visit Cuba with my red flip flops one of these days. You may not know but I taught Spanish for 13 years, and one of my primary professors was a Cuban political refugee. He loved his homeland and taught me to love it as well. I always said I'd go there if ever the doors were opened. My teacher died before he could return but I'd like to mark it off my bucket list. And of course, Richard would like to light up an Havana on one of those beautiful beaches. I'd be happy just to wiggle my toes in the sand.
(I know you will go someday!)
hjn50beach@yahoo.com
from Jeanette Constantine Morgan in Groves
I wanted to let everyone know that our son Chris' restaurant Morgan's Brooklyn Bar B Que is one of the
restaurants that will be on Bravo TV starting Jan 21. We are so proud of him they were chosen after several interviews. He said it has been very interesting. You can check it out on Bravo.com . It shows one of the first interviews and you can read about him, also.
Recently a drunk driver decided to come into our yard and rearrange our carport, vehicles, and tear up the yard. The driver came very close to our living room. Thank heavens no one was hurt.
denandjune@yahoo.com
from Linda Davis Fitzgerald in Au Sable Forks, NY (and San Antonio)
(this is written to another classmate, Bob Sewell)
To Robert Sewell, MD:
I finally had some free time to return to your books and read, and, OMG!!!! I was on your second one, "The Conflict" when, with all the holiday things and company, I never got a chance to pick up where I had left off until now! I have read a lot of books and, this is no exaggeration whatsoever, this is the most wonderful book EVER!! I cannot put this book down - we may not eat until I finish it so I can start the next one!! I will definitely do a review as soon as I finish. I knew you were a great writer after your first book and now I am absolutely sure of it. Gotta go finish "The Conflict" but just had to drop you a quick note to tell you how great it is!!!
lfitzpatrick@gvtv.com
(Bob has written three books, the fourth one due in February. More about these fictional medical stories may be found at www.asurgeonsheart.com I have ordered the first three but Murphy is reading them at this time. I had already began another book before they came in.)
rsewellmd@gmail.com
SWAMP POP
Be sure to check out the poster on the front page of the website. This music
“blow out” will be featuring Gregg Martinez, Charles Mann, “Jivin” Gene Bourgeois, GG Shinn, TK Hulin and Ken Marval.
Mar. 14 at the VFW in Orange. See the poster for more information.
(Murphy and I will be there)
MARDI GRAS in PA
www.mardigras.portarthur.com
Feb. 12-15
Many of our classmates are participants in this celebration every year. Some are in KREWES that have floats and some are royalty and some march in the HUSSARS! It is a great event that has something for everyone including music, food, parades, dances, etc. It is a very safe event in downtown Port Arthur. “Come have you a good time, sha”.
MISCELLANEOUS
Several of our classmates have a parent living in the Rose House Assisted Living in Port Arthur. Jane Hoffpauir Frasier, Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley, and Ruelle Parker have moms there. Sherry Clingan Armentor has her father there, also.
(Diane Barker Foreman had her mom there until she passed away earlier this week.)
Don't forget to check out PHOTOS that Mike posts every update on our website. It isn't hard to get to.
Follow these instructions:
Go to SITE LINKS (top of our website page)
Go to PHOTOS
Pick FLASH or STANDARD HTML
(I use Standard HTML)
Go to MOST RECENT
(These are the ones for the most recent update listed that week)
After we post a NEW UPDATE, Mike will then take the photos out of MOST RECENT and put them in one of the other folders listed.
Be sure to take time to look at the other folders with lots of photos that have been sent in over the years.
“mini-REUNION”
Classmates of TJ '68
Guys and gals invited
February 21, 2015
Olive Garden
Beaumont, TX on IH10
Noon
RSVP is a must (even a maybe is better than no response if you might make it)
(There isn't a “room” to reserve there.)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Contact:
Mary Wells mwells@totalsafety.com
(409)460-8828 mobile
or
Linda DeCuir lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
(409)749-4879 mobile
from Jan Russell in Houston, TX
Count me in for Olive Garden on Feb. 21. It's already on my calendar. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
LAMAR ALUMNI night
January 31st
Women and Mens basketball
$5.00 for a ticket
Reception (optional) also being held in between the games
(catered and cash bar)
$7.00 a ticket
Contact the Alumni Department for information
alumni@lamar.edu
Diane Richmond Miller, Ernie Castaneda Bullion, and I along with our spouses have our tickets. Hope to see you there. Go LAMAR, L..U L...U!
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Okay, I am ready for a little spring weather even though it is still winter. Enough rain and yuk.
Sad over here about the COWBOYS! It was fun while it lasted.
Baseball spring season is only 2 ½ months away. Woo Hoo
Dad seems to be better and enjoys any kind of weather since he doesn't get to get out much anyway.
We did go on an outing this for him to take a couple of tests at the hospital. Of course, it was pouring down rain and windy! It didn't bother him since he ate his HAPPY MEAL from McD's in the car as I drove. I let him out under the awning and I had to go park 10 miles away! When I went to get him in the waiting area where I left him he looked at me and said, “Where did you get wet?” Good thing I have natural curly hair. It looked like I got a TONETTE! (Only the girl classmates will understand that.) I don't know how many times that day with Dad I had to say, “No, he isn't my husband. He is my Dad. ONE of us doesn't look our age!” I bought him a balloon “just because”! It says it all....YOU'RE really really really really really OLD. He'll be 99 in April. Yeah, he is really, really, really, really OLD!
We enjoyed another birthday with our foursome. It was Debbie Borres Desmond's 65th and she chose to dine at Schooners (yummy). We decided to make it a little Mardi Gras luncheon. Beads, candy coins, balloons, and decorations. Happy 65th Debbie. Debbie and I have grown up as “cajun cousins.” Our dads came here from Loreauville, LA and roomed together in downtown PA when they were unmarried young men. The other classmates that shared Debbie's big day were Ernie Castaneda Bullion and Diane Richmond Miller.
I went to the dermatologist this week to have several small cysts taken off around both of my eyes and one on the forehead. The procedure left several bruises and some swelling. I got a kick out of people's expressions when I went out this week. Some asked and others just looked and had their opinions of what happened. I figured they must have thought I had some type of “work” around my eyes! Heck, if I am going to spend $$$ I'll just get a tummy tuck and anything else they want to TUCK, raise, and cut off!
Class of '70
This is a busy class that is working hard to keep their classmates involved. They have been having a monthly night-out to eat in a local dining establishment. They have just come back from a cruise. They have a great website www.tjhsclassof70.com They are also hard at work planning their 45th reunion.
from Rhonda Carleton Richey:
TJ, Class of '70 is having our 45th Reunion on July 24 and 25. Help us spread the word. Classes of 68-72 are also invited. Request details or see details on tjhsclassof70.com
SUPPORT
from Linda Davis Fitzgerald in Au Sable Forks, NY (& NY)
Well, we are starting the New Year going to the hospital by ambulance again. Mom was at breakfast and became unresponsive. She is okay now and they don't see anything serious. I have accused her of wanting to take a ride with the cute paramedics that come get her. She is saying she is not ready to check out yet. I asked what is on her bucket list but I cannot share that because it is R-rated. I think she is trying to give me a heart attack.
Lfitzpatrick@gvtc.com
from Charlotte Cunningham Etheredge in Bridge City
I'm asking all prayer warriors to please pray for my brother in law, Bobby. He is special and cancer is trying to break our hearts. We are asking God for his miracle healing. Amen I say AMEN!!!!! I want to thank everyone who is praying. Your prayers are being heard and felt. We are taking one day at a time. I love all of you guys .
charlotteellia@hotmail.com
from Jessica Schexnayder Young (Jimmy Schexnayder's daughter)
(update on Jimmy Schexnayder's son-in-law, Jim Young who is recovering from an accident)
Wow, what a day!! We had appointments all over Austin today. We saw the orthopedic surgeon first, he took a few x rays. He says things look like they are suppose to, bone wise. He scheduled Jim to go back to the operating room next Thursday. At that time he will loosen the fixator and manipulate the ankle to see how stable it is. Something we learned today is when Jim had the infection in the ankle, he not only lost muscle and skin he also lost the ligaments to the infection. So, the stability of his ankle will depend on how much scar tissue has formed. We are hopeful it will be stable enough to have the fixator removed.
The second appointment was with the plastic surgeon. She walked into the room and from the door was very pleased with how the flap looks. Every day we have to 'bathe' the flap with soap and water and then put lotion on it. We have to do this because it doesn't and will never sweat. So, I see trips to Sam's for very large containers of lotion in our future.
The third and final appointment today was with the infectious disease doctor. She said she will keep Jim on the oral antibiotics for at least a month after the fixator comes off, just to be safe. She was pleased with everything as well.
We are making progress, slowly but surely. We will find out after surgery when he can start physical therapy. He will still be non weight bearing on that foot for a while. Thank you all for the calls, texts, email and everything!! It is all very much appreciated. Also, thank you to all who have helped us with getting Kandyce to and from all of her stuff!! My Dad, (Jimmy Schexnayder), has been a HUGE help with everything, and we are so grateful to have him here. Thank you all again!!
jimgolf111@gmail.com
from Jessica Schexnayder Young
(daughter of Myra (McConathy) and Jimmy Schexnayder)
5 years ago today my beautiful and wonderful mother became the best guardian angel anyone could ask for. I can't believe it has been 5 years. I love and miss you more than ever, Mom!! — on Myra Schexnayder's Memorial Page.
(picture in PHOTOS...MOST RECENT)
CONDOLENCES
Diane Barker Foreman
(death of her mother, Marcie Barker)
5541 Garfield
Groves, TX 77619
diane.foreman@lamar.edu
Mike and I aim to complete an update every other week. We had to skip an extra week this time because of the lack of news. I have to admit that anyone that reads Face Book has most probably read quite a bit of the information that I put on the NEWSLETTER this week. I received no MAIL CALL with the exception of sweet Janette Light Norton, so I “borrowed” information from FB. Sometimes I have to do that and sometimes I get REAL mail by E-MAIL! What ever I have to do......
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
www.tjhs1968.com
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com