MAIL CALL
from Kathleen (Rosenthal) and Tim Phillips in Groves
Our daughter, Marissa, was named “Rookie of the Year” at PAISD for 2015.
We are so proud of her.
kk5010@yahoo.com
( Congratulations to Marissa. PAISD students are blessed to have her in their lives.)
from Lyn Frasier Lee in Georgetown, TX
I enjoyed the last newsletter. You write such neat things about your sweet dad.
Thanks to you and Mike. Keep up your tremendous work on our TJHS 1968 class site. We appreciate it. !!!!!!!
picmms@suddenlink.net
from Carolyn Bigler Hebert (wife of faculty member, Alfred Hebert)
I have a copy of the original 1940 Dick and Jane book and also created some graphics with it....background graphic, graphics for links etc.
hawaiistomnd@hotmail.com
(I had a Dick and Jane book while living in Bridge City but it swelled up to the size of a shoe box after Hurricane Ike visited us! Ugh)
from Jerry Miller in Bacliff, TX
Thanks, you two, for the great work you do! Like the rest of the classmates, I do enjoy the newsletters and the website. Although I only went to TJ for my senior year (a transfer from West Chester, PA) I managed to create many friendships. Even met Bill & Till Richey that I went to Sam Houston Elementary with when I lived here in the past. And through my step-brother's friends, Tim & Tom Phillips. My wife, Carole, and I are in the process of organizing things to prepare us for going full-time in our RV starting in May.
squaredancer50@gmail.com
(Enjoy your RV'n! I'm sure many of our classmates are envious but also happy for you.)
from Felicia (Hiatt) and David Petit in Texas City
Our granddaughter, Arwen, our daughter, Rachel's daughter, won an art contest held by Dickinson
Public Library. She did a bookmark that has now been printed by the library (1000 copies). So, I guess now she's a published artist. She also got a $25 gift card which she can't wait to spend. She wants to study art after high school and I really think she could make something of that. The library asked her art teacher to send them a letter stating that she actually did this art because they said it was really very advanced for a 6th grader and they wanted to be sure it was her art work. Her art teacher was so thrilled for her. She certainly does not get her artistic ability from me or David.
texteach@yahoo.com
from Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley in Bedford, TX
Ok..just got back from 3000 mi vacation to beautiful southern Colorado and SE UTAH.. EXCITING Souvenirs included Cyclopith ( petrified dinosaur poop) and a live recording of a Navajo singing Happy Birthday in her native language to her cousin and lots of cool pictures. We had a wonderful visit with classmate, Barbara Bowers and Dani. WHAT IM NOT EXCITED TO FIND OUT THE Derek died on GREYS ANATOMY. NOOOOOO!!! Not going to watch anymore...
eac2005@sbcglobal.net
WEBSITE VIEWING ON MOBILE DEVICES
I got responses from David Lapham, Linda Yancey, Diane Miller and Jerry Miller.
(I might have left out some of you!) I forwarded this information to Mike Lawson. Thanks for your input.
ASTRODOME MEMORIES
from Charlie Fontenot in League City
Your mention of the Astrodome and your love of baseball has me thinking of all my great memories of my wonderful dad. He was the inspiration and guidance that led me to my “Love of the Game”. He coached youth baseball for about 26 years. Together we saw the first game in the Dome, and The Mick's first home run in the dome. It landed just two rows from us, what a catch that would have been. We also saw the last game in the dome, the first game played in Enron, Biggio’s 3000th hit and his last game! Thanks for setting off some of these great memories. As always, thanks to you and Mike for all of the hard work and keeping us all in touch.
P.S. – I do however have an autographed baseball of Mr. Mantle ( My All-Time Fav).
cf2676@att.com
(TRUE STORY: I also have Mickey Mantle's autographed baseball and it is the FIRST thing I pack when we evacuate for hurricanes!)
ANNUAL “BEER PAY-OFF” WEEKEND
The annual trek to somewhere in Texas for five classmates and their spouses will be this weekend at Jim and Lynn (Eldridge) Gill's ranch in Tupelo (1 hour south of Dallas). The other couples that will be there are Jim and Jane Andrus, Paul and Lori Colletti, Jude and Cindy Arisco and Murphy and I.
Oh, the tomfoolery that goes on! It might be a little less crazy since we are MEDICARE age now....never mind. I don't think with this group it will make a difference!
TRIBUTE to LARRY SPEAKE by Summer Fogle
I hope by now that all of you had the time to view this wonderful video. I never could make the link work so Mike was kind enough to send me a CD! Thanks friend.
from Beverly Copeland Gaspard
The video about Larry Speake needs to come with a warning "Tissues Will Be Required". Summer and Mike did a great job on the Tribute.
Summer said she has received many kind words and memories of her dad from our classmates and his college buddies.
“I have heard from many that it brought tears to their eyes. Makes it all worth the time and effort put in to make the movie.”
Summer Fogle
If you would like to drop Summer a line, you may contact by e-mail or FB
jsdfogle@hotmail.com
UPDATED INFO NEEDED
I am working on updating the information on our class spreadsheet. The last full update was when the committee was working on our 45th reunion that was held in 2013. If you have moved, retired, dropped your “landline”, remarried and changed names, spouses' deaths, changed e-mail address, AND, AND, AND since 2012, make sure I have those changes. If you can't remember if you sent them, send them AGAIN just in case. Thanks.
(This time I heard from Jerry Miller, Josephine Bordonaro, Mike Harmon and Bruce Meyer. Thanks for updating.)
MAY BIRTHDAYS!
It is that time again, but does it mean we have to turn 65? Yuk! Mike Lawson, Barry Boudreaux, Robert McClintock and I were all in St. Mary Hospital together. Mike, May 4, me, May 5, Robert and Barry, May 6! If I am remember properly, “what hunks!” Don't tell them but I think MY birthdate is more important...Cinco de Mayo or, as I like to call it, “Cinco de ME, ME, ME!” Birthdays have never bothered me. When you have throat cancer at 29 years old, each year is a GIFT!
NOAH'S ARK
(contributed by Sheryl Evans Graham
Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark....
ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built his boat.
FOUR: Stay fit. Someone might ask you to help them do something.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, there's always a rainbow waiting.
(I should have heeded # SIX before Hurricane Ike!)
NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
We just returned from a weekend trip to Corpus Christi for a Woodman of the World (fraternal
organization) convention. Murphy was a delegate and had to attend meetings, but I didn't! I enjoyed the Bay from our 12th story patio at the OMNI hotel and also from walking on the seawall. As luck would have it, it was Buccaneer Days that weekend. I watched a large parade from my patio. We also were able to attend a great rodeo in an arena in walking distance. The night ended with a fireworks show that night further down the street. It could be seen for miles.
Murphy liked his part in the story about him last NEWSLETTER! He enjoyed the “chores” that I listed that he does but said I forgot some things! Enough is enough!
I'm mad at my favorite pitcher! Murphy said I'm pouting. I said, “No, I'm boycotting!” Maybe by next NEWSLETTER I'll be in a better mood.
DAD'S 99th B-D
Two celebrations were planned.
PARTY #1: It was at my home the weekend before his actual date of April 22nd. My brother, Danny Boy, from Friendswood, was finally able to get a weekend off and I surprised HIM by inviting my sister, Gerry. She came with my niece, (my “other” daughter). My daughter and Dad's two great-granddaughters also surprised us with their presence. (They were originally scheduled for soccer games in Atascocita that got rained out!) I also invited a couple of my Dad's nephews. But, we had a PARTY CRASHER! Earlier, Danny and I picked up Dad in Nederland at his assisted living. By the time he got to my house in Lumberton he was in intense pain. His bladder was filling up and he couldn't urinate. After several trips to the bathroom I had to call our party crasher; John, the home health nurse. Right in the middle of the “party” I set up a TRIAGE in a back bedroom and Dad had to have a CATHETER put in. GEEZ. He was, of course, immediately in heaven. John, his NEW favorite guest, was a Godsend. Now that Dad felt better, he returned to his recliner and SLEPT through the whole party. We had to wake him up to take a couple of pics and then eat supper. Then, it was back to sleep. Oh, well.
PARTY # 2: It was scheduled on Dad's actual birthdate, April 22. I planned to have a giant cookie and ice cream and few friends meet at Dad's assisted living in Nederland after he ate lunch. But, first 
I received a phone call around 8:30 in the morning to tell me that Dad woke up very nervous and anxious and they couldn't get him to settle down. They didn't want to give him any extra anxiety pills since we were planning a get-together. When I got there you could have sworn he was on “speed”! He wanted to go WALKING in the hall, outside, on the highway, anywhere! He was so wired that he wouldn't eat any lunch or even his cookie cake or dessert. He did stay quite enough for us to sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY and let him blow out the candles. The company left exhausted after walking many LAPS outside, but not DAD. No. I let the aides give him his extra meds. Didn't do a bit of good. (Maybe I should have taken them, instead!) By this time, he wanted to go “home” to Lakeview. He said he was tired of visiting at Holland Place. Whew. This went on for hours; in fact the aide said he didn't shut his eyes until 2:00 AM the next morning. He was really ticked off at me for not taking him back to his “house”. I had to sneak out. He slept until noon the next day and woke up just fine. Oh, boy! I wonder what the 100th birthday celebration will be like? Hey, you are ALL invited to see what happens at that one! It should be really INTERESTING!
SUPPORT
from Darlene Turner Landry in Port Neches
Our great-grandbaby was a full term baby born with hyperplastic left-heart syndrome. It was not discovered until last Friday after being born on Monday April 6. She was rushed to Texas Children's and been there ever since. The left side of her heart (internally) was not developed. Now, the stint placement has been changed back to today. It's been an awful experience. She's a beautiful baby. We know God gave her to her parents (and the rest of us) for a reason. She remains in Texas Children's. The 3 week old angel was due to have a stint today, but it's been rescheduled for Monday. She's been through a terrible ordeal.....dialysis, pic lines,etc. Prayerfully, we'll get through this and we can all have the grace to accept His will. Her parents are really hanging in there. Just a few months before she was born, their home burned to the ground and they lost everything! (material).
gran090@yahoo.com
3195 Williamsburg Lane
Port Neches, TX 77651
update on Janette Light Norton
(April 28)
Prayers needed for Janette Light Norton. She was moved to ICU/Liver floor of the Dunn Building and they have started dialysis. Her kidneys gave up due to her advanced "Non-Alcoholic Cirrhosis of the Liver". She will need a liver and kidney transplant.
hjn50beach@yahoo.com
20219 Sweetgum Way
Cypress, TX 77433
from Loretta LaLonde Myers in League City
Our oldest granddaughter, Taylor, fractured her hand in two places last Thursday at school and we took her to an orthopedic doctor yesterday. The good news is, no surgery needed, but her hand was too swollen still to put a cast, so we take her back next Tuesday. As luck would have it, is her right hand and she is left handed!
lorettamyers@verizon.net
522 Beacons Hollow Lane
League City, TX 77573
Keep in your prayers and show your support to Joyce Marceaux's family. Her husband, Ronnie Abate, is having radiation at Methodist Hospital for a cancerous liver and is also on the transplant list.
Abate.joyce@yahoo.com
6305 Marble Falls Dr.
Lumberton, TX 77657
Diane Richmond Miller had a couple of set-backs after her surgery in Houston and had to return there for a few days. She is recuperating at home now.
millerdianee@gmail.com
101 Hendricks
Silsbee, TX 77656
(update on Jim Young, son-in-law of Jimmy Schexnayder in Wimberly, TX)
Update time!! Last week we saw the plastic surgeon. She was very impressed with how the muscle flap has healed. She wanted Jim to try and get off of his crutches within a few weeks. He had gone down to only using one but always having both around just in case and for long distances. So he has slowly started to wean himself from using them. This morning we saw the orthopedic surgeon. They did xrays and he seems pleased as well. There was some concern, at our last visit, about lack of blood supply to the talus bone is his foot, its called Avascular necrosis. The Dr said it is just something we would watch and not treat unless he had symptoms such as pain like arthritis. On the xray today he said it actually looked better. Could there be issues with it down the road?? Who knows... He also changed Jim from the walking boot to an orthopedic shoe. That will take some getting used to, there is not near the support in the shoe as in the boot. Both doctors said we didn't need to come back for a few months!! He will continue with physical therapy and get more range of motion in his ankle. These milestones may seem small, but in the overall picture, it is huge!! Just thinking back to when we were in the hospital and the topic of conversation was if he would be able to keep his lower leg, them to seeing him walking today..amazing!! Thank you all again for everything, we appreciate it more than you all know!!
jimgolf111@aol.com
from Jerry Miller in Bacliff, TX
There has been a bump in the road with me being diagnosed with prostate cancer this week. More tests next week to see where it is exactly to determine the treatment.
(update)
The doctor is going to put Jerry on hormone therapy.
squaredancer50@gmail.com
PO Box 8208
Bacliff, TX 77518
Paula Daigle's husband, Glenn Sheppard, has been recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. His tests showed tumors in his lungs and abdomen. He is awaiting info from MD Anderson. She has asked for prayers.
shepppms@att.net
5411 Garfield
Groves, TX 77619
CONDOLENCES
Our class has lost yet another classmate:
Vicki Cochran
September 13, 1949 - April 27, 2015
May she rest in peace
Her memorial will be this Saturday, May 2 at 2:00.
(Please view her obituary in our MEMORIAL section)
Janice Jones Kelly
(death of her brother, John Mark)
lsuaggiemom@yahoo.com
915 Norbert
Bridge City, TX 77611
Josephine Martinez
(death of her mother, Concepcion F. Martinez)
jomama6758@yahoo.com
1014 Gale St.
Houston, TX 77099
(Her service will be on Saturday, May 2 at 11:00)
Please read the obituaries for John Mark and Concepcion in the Obituary section listed on the front page of the website.
*****************************************************************
You have really stepped up these last 3 weeks and sent in mail, info needed and names for the support and condolence sections. I am like a proud Momma! Keep it up.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com