TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                                10/13/07    
         

Hey everyone! 
 I am doing fifty things at once over here and you probably know that those fifty will only be done okay instead of RIGHT!  One of those things will 
be this NEWSLETTER and I am sure that in my haste I will leave out something very important.  Murphy and I are leaving to go on an 8 day vacation with a tour group to NEW YORK state Oct. 14-21.  I'll write about it when I come back.  So, without any more chit chat, here is the news.....

MAIL CALL

from Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley in Bedford , TX
Since I have gone back to teaching, I leave my house at 6:30-6:45am and don't get home til 7-8:00pm(except Fridays).  SO much paperwork and learning....so many special ed laws have changed/added..IT WILL GET BETTER..I have to just keep thinking of the paycheck, 2 weeks off at 
Christmas, 1 week off at Thanksgiving, and 1 week off at Spring Break..oh..and summers!!  
I have even quit volunteering at the USO..which I have done for 3 years.  This was soo dear to my heart....helping the military guys who are going back and forth to Iraq/Afghanistan and wherever the military sends them.

(I am a retired elementary teacher and I miss looking forward to the weekends the most.)
 

from Sara Little Chilton in Beaumont
My youngest son, Clay tied the knot Oct 6 with a lovely girl from Lake Charles , Megan Boswell.  They live here in Beaumont .
 

from Stephen Simonton in Orangefield
So good to see that we can recognize each other after all these years!

(Stephen and I bump into each other periodically at Market Basket in Bridge City .)
 

from Lynn Eldridge Gill in Dallas
We're headed to Cabo San Lucas, Puerta Vallarta, Acapulco , Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas , Puntarenas, Golfo Dulce and Cartagena .  Will buy postcards everywhere for your postcard collection.

(I have been collecting postcards since 1960 when I received my first one sent from a neighbor who was vacationing in Disneyland in CA. Lynn has sent me postcards from all over the world over the years.  Her husband even sent me some when he visited Viet Nam a few years back.  Sweet friends.)
 

from David Salter in Oklahoma City , OK
I appreciate you two keeping us current on our TJ family. It means so much to have friends like you and Mike going the extra mile for us all.

from Creig Romero in Houston
Love the website and enjoy reading about everyone. 

from Paula Iles (class of '69)
I've been meaning to write you to tell you that on Labor Day my husband had gone hunting, and I got a wild hair to try to find Ara Golman. Remember Miss Golman, the English teacher?  I'd run into Doris Crisp and another English teacher about 7 years ago in Luby's in Port Arthur with my mom, and I asked them if they knew where Miss Golman was.  They said she'd moved back to her native state of Mississippi .  So, I used Intelius to find her, and she is still living at 94 and has a sharp mind, at a nursing home in Brookhaven , Mississippi .  She didn't remember me, but she was very nice 
and asked all about my life now.  She has hardly any remaining living siblings, she was from a large family of about 10 children which I never 
knew.  She has one nephew and his family there but don't see them much.  I have her address if anyone would like to send her a card.  I'm going to write her to say how I enjoyed our conversation, she thanked me many times for calling he and thinking of her.  It would be an act of kindness to a probably lonely person. 
 

Can you imagine that, 94 years old? 

She also asked if I ever got to that part of the state, to please come see her.  I really would like to, and I bet if anyone out there happened to be around that part, it's Southwestern Mississippi I think, small town, she'd love to see any former students.  I think I am the first former student who has called her.  I hope I can make it over there before she dies.  I will try to find the address for those who would like to get in touch with her. 

from Jack Jones (SFA '67) and husband to classmate Kathleen Anniboli
I appreciate the links to the TJ web sites. It's really great to see some of the familiar faces from so long ago.  Sometimes I wonder where the time has flown.  The TJ website is really great and it was nice to see the pictures of a number of old friends. You and the other folks keeping up the web site are doing an excellent job.
 

from Becky Baker Thomas (class of '69)
sister of the late Steve Baker and wife of classmate George Thomas
George enjoys the updates and pictures, past and present. God Bless you for all ya'll do, ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

WEBSITE CONTRIBUTION
from Helen Rethke Lauck in Littleton , CO
 I have been carrying a check around for you in my purse for a month or more trying to find time to type up a nice little note to send with it 
thanking you and Mike for all of the hours you spend keeping us current with news on our classmates.  Today I just mailed the check with no 
note, but I do want you to know how much I appreciate what you're doing and I'm sure others do as well. 

I hope this little contribution will help somewhat. 

Checks may be sent to:
Linda DeCuir McFadden
112 Woodsong
Bridge City , TX 77611

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DICTIONARY

>ADULT:
>A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.
>
>BEAUTY PARLOR:
>A place where women curl up and dye.
>
>CANNIBAL:
>Someone who is fed up with people.
>
>CHICKENS:
>The only animals you eat before they are born
>And after they are dead.
>
>COMMITTEE:
>A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.
>
>DUST:
>Mud with the juice squeezed out.
>
>EGOTIST:
>Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.
>
>HANDKERCHIEF:
>Cold Storage.
>
>INFLATION:
>Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.
>
>MOSQUITO:
>An insect that makes you like flies better.
>
>RAISIN:
>Grape with a sunburn.
> should be illegal....a danger to society!
>
>SECRET:
>Something you tell to one person at a time.
>
>SKELETON:
>A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.
>
>TOOTHACHE:
>The pain that drives you to extraction.
>
> TOMORROW:
>One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.
>
>YAWN:
>An honest opinion openly expressed.
>
>WRINKLES:
>Something other people have.
>You have character lines.
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CLASSMATES MARRIED TO EACH OTHER

(This list seems to change periodically.  We had couples that didn't quite last together and we have others that have "found" each other later 
in life. You might read this list and be surprised at the longevity of SOME OF THEM!  "-)    Let me know of others to add to the list.) 

Gary Barbin & Jody Hopkins ( Waco )
Charles Blanchette & Nelwyn Comeaux ( Kingston Springs , TN )
Floyd Borgerson & Gayle Mercer (Katy)
Barry Boudreaux & Janice Hebert (Kingwood)
Gary Boullion & Tonna Cooksey (Leander)
Ricky Bradley & Gloria Phillips (Mustang, OK)
Horace "Tinker" Brown & Jody Juneau ( Groves )
Terry Cook (deceased) & Brenda Rector ( Nederland )
Bart Darby & Laura Meece (Kingwood)
Wayne LaGrappe & Jean Ann Virden ( West Lake , LA )
Perry Lee & Lyn Frasier (Port Neches,TX)
Marc Marroquin & Janelle Prince ( Austin )
Rex Meyer & Linda Olivier ( Fulshear , TX )
Dale Netherland & Kay Campbell ( Port Arthur )
David Petit & Felicia Hiatt (Texas City, TX)
Tim Phillips & Kathleen Rosenthal ( Groves )
Jimmy Schexnayder & Myra McConathy ( Groves )
Mike Turner & Linda Wappler ( Port Arthur )
Ron Waedemon & Betty Bernauer ( Sugar Land )
Bobby Williamson & Jonnye Dee Doering ( Port Arthur

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ONLY IN AMERICA
Only  in America ...do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people 
can buy cigarettes at the front!
Only  in America ...do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a diet coke!
Only  in America ...do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the  counters!
Only  in America ...do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the  garage!    

Only  in America ...do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of  eight

Only  in America ...do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering!
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

SUPPORT NEEDED (Please send me additional names of those who might need some  prayers and support) 

Linda Messer Jones (class of '66)
wife of Walter Jones (class of '67)
1304 West Meadow
Beaumont , TX 77706 

(I received the following e-mail from Walter.)
We had a good, but long trip to MD Anderson . Left home 10/3 at 5:30 am returned home at 2 am on 10/4. Blood work looked good - white cells , etc normal. Doctor says Linda is physically ready for surgery. Chest X ray was completely normal. No fluid on lungs, no spreading of the cancer. Her interview with the Doctor and brief physical were good. No current overt disease symptoms. Doctor was quite happy. He thinks the chemo is working. CT scan scheduled for 10/23 and pre surgery consultation on 10/24. Surgery was tentatively scheduled for 11/1 - check-in, with actual surgery possibly the next day - 11/2.  

Also, we did chemo therapy number three with no major incidents. Just got started late and took a bit long. Late breaking news! The CA 125 test usually is one day later than all the other test results. When Linda started the marker was 170. Normal is 0 to 35.  After one treatment it down to 162. After the second treatment it went to 18! This is a strong signal that the chemo is working and in fact the tumors are not active.

I know your prayers are making a difference. Please don't stop.
 

Laura Meece Darby 
(wife of classmate Bart Darby)
5207 High Glen Ct.
Kingwood , TX 77345
(281)764-1155
ldarby@cebridge.net
(I received the following e-mail from Bart)
Just wanted to let you know how much Laura and I appreciate everyone's concern.
 

We were on vacation  in the CA on wine country tour with my cousin Hedy (Mayer) TJ 1970 graduate,  her husband, David LeBlanc, TJ 1969 graduate and daughter and son in law. We left Healdsburg , CA on Friday and were in San Francisco ,  when on Saturday morning Laura had a coronary event in the hotel and we were sent to CA Pacific Medical Center. She was released last Sunday at Noon but we could not fly back to Houston till Monday (dr.orders). Left Monday morning and arrived back in Houston 6 PM.Yesterday, about Noon Laura had another coronary event at home and I was there and called 911 paramedics arrived and sent us to Kingwood Medical Center to stabilize her and we were transferred to St. Luke's at 6:45 last night. 

Laura is in stable condition now and we are waiting on her records from her heart cauterization  in CA 

(UPDATE on Laura's condition from Janice Hebert Boudreaux)
Bart called me on his way back from getting her medicine filled at the pharmacy.  He said they got home around 8pm.  Laura's mother is going to stay with her for a while to make sure the medicine works okay and the doctor did not want her by herself for several days.  Right now the doctor thinks the medicine will work and is treating her for variant angina . Praying that it does the trick and she has no more attacks.

(I heard from many of you who prayed for a speedy recovery for Laura and support for Bart.  You are the best!)
 

Mr. Lionel Rowland (history teacher)
430 11th Street
Port Neches , TX 77651
lrowland@sbcglobal.net
I have had two chemo treatments and am doing fine. The side effects have been minimal (a little nausea), but  don't have as much energy as 
I used to.  I had this week off but go back to Houston next week for another round of chemo (one treatment a week for two weeks).
 

Dianna Caillier Lewis 
912 6th Street
Port Arthur , TX 77640
(409)984-9508

(I received the following note from Dianna by US Mail)

"I hope that this finds you and your family well.  Robert and I are doing better.  I caught some kind of "bug" and my husband was changing a light bulb and slipped and broke two ribs!  So, we have been taking it very slow over here."  

(Dianna has had it rough for quite some time, but I don't think she knows it.  She NEVER complains even though she has a lot to complain about.  She and her husband have chronic health issues and she still is the most UPBEAT person I know.  She helps at the soup kitchen each week volunteering to the less fortunate. She writes notes to friends and those whom she hears about that need support.  She is also the one that YOU have probably received a sweet note from if you were ever mentioned in the SUPPORT or CONDOLENCE section. She calls me often and I am always grateful to hear from her and we laugh and reminisce about our classmates.   Let her hear from you.  She will be thrilled.  Give her a call but be prepared to spend some time talking and laughing.   I know that my fellow ROWLAND'S MAFIA members will come through with kind words.  Dianna was also a MAFIA member.)
 

(I have saved the following story for quite some time and I think it is just about perfect for today.  I think that the following story is talking about someone JUST LIKE DIANNA!) 

ATTITUDE
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. 'Well, she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'
So, she did and she had a wonderful day.
 

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.' 
So she did and she had a grand day.
 

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.' 
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. 'YEA!' she exclaimed,'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.


Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain!!!

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

CONDOLENCES

Randy Hutchins
(death of his mom) 
3150 Dogwood
Port Neches , TX 77651
(409)722-4759

following e-mail from classmate Randy Landry in Crystal Beach)

You may have read in the PA NEWS about Randy Hutchins' mom's funeral.  One of the most interesting things about this wonderful woman was that she was married to Randy's dad for 65 YEARS!   Is that awesome or what?
 

(the late Steve Baker)
death of his mom &
mother-in-law of classmate

George Thomas
2633 Saba Lane
Port Neches , TX 77651

(A note from Becky Baker Thomas....George's wife)

My sister, Susie and I, are keeping the guest book open for a year. 

http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=LS000094453632X

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Well, I hope that you have had your dose of classmate news to last you for a couple of weeks.  My mail has been really thin lately and I am afraid that you might think SOMEONE else will write.  I need more, please. I was really thrilled to get photos from Bruce Meyer, Raymond Belz, and Creig Romero.  Don't forget to send in MILITARY photos, vacation, grandbabies, and we also could use stories for I REMEMBER WHEN.  Murphy and I are planning on going to Larry's French Market for the ALUMNI HOOTENANNY on Oct. 13th.  Hope to see you there.
 

                                                                          Stay in touch and take care,
                                                                          Linda DeCuir McFadden
                                                                          lindasuemcfadden@sbcglobal.net
                                                                          www.tjhs1968.com

 

         
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