TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                                08/19/08   
     

Wow!  Has it already been two weekends since the REUNION?  I rested for a week and then took my 5 year old granddaughter and we "ran away" for 5 days!  More about that adventure later.  I am really, really BEHIND on answering my e-mails.  Please be patient.  I'll get it done somehow, someway, sometime!    Now, let's read what SOME of the classmates have on their mind..... 

MAIL CALL(PRE-REUNION)

from Patty Marshall Branch in Houston
Since my family moved to Houston the day after graduation, and then to California during my freshman year at Texas, I have lost touch with many of my old friends.  It’s nice to read what everyone is up to these days in your newsletter. Yesterday, I got a Longhorn Singers Newsletter (Un. Texas) and former TJHS choir director, Mr. Hawthorne was in it.   While working on his doctorate in music at Texas, Mr. Hawthorne directed the Longhorn Singers, so once again my choir director.  He did a super job with Longhorn Singers and we all had a great time.
 

from Linda Louise Davis Fitzpatrick in San Antonio
I can't believe I just happened on this website and it is absolutely fantastic.  I was Linda Davis at TJ, Swingsters, etc. and best friends with Betty Bernauer (Waedemon, now) and, for some reason, I started thinking about Betty and Ron yesterday and just couldn't get them out of my mind.  I took out my senior annual and started looking at all of the people in our class and just couldn't believe how nostalgic it made me!  And then, when I pulled up Ron and Betty on the internet, this website popped up!!!! 

I was married to Mike Harper and had two children - Shawn is now 36 with a wonderful wife and my first two granddaughters, Julia and Lauren; and Jennifer is 34 with my newest granddaughter - Sydney (who just turned 2!)  Michael and I divorced after 8 years of marriage and I moved to San Antonio where my mother and sisters were living and I met the absolute love of my life, Charlie Fitzpatrick, after working as a Paralegal for a law firm for about 20 years.  Charlie is a nuclear attorney and the absolute greatest person.!!!!  We own a home in San Antonio but we got married in Upstate New York and flew all the family up there and it was wonderful.  We have 88 acres up there and are almost finished building a log home on the most gorgeous site.  We will continue to live in San Antonio and just go back and forth - Charlie was raised in New York until he moved to San Antonio for Law School and has been here ever since.  He has a son from his first marriage who lives in Washington, DC; my son, Shawn and his family live in Austin, and Jennifer lives in San Antonio with her husband and daughter. 

Charlie and I have two more children living at home - two Newfoundland dogs - Maddie and Beau - that are about 150 lbs each! 

I have owned a children's boutique in San Antonio for the past 7 years - A Tisket...A Tasket and it is, of course, the greatest children's shop ever!!!  LOL   

I have been spending hours on the website checking on what's been going on, memorials, etc.  I am in total shock right now after going through all of our classmates that have died.  It is just so strange to read about the ones that are no longer with us - it's like high school was just not very long ago !!!! Amazing the ones that are gone!  And that 40 years has passed so quickly! I contacted Mike Lawson regarding the Memorial DVD and am sending a check.  It was great to talk to him!  

I am looking so forward to talking to people we graduated with and have wondered over the years what they  were doing!  What a GREAT website!

from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
I took a fishing trip with friends in June to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area which is just across the border in Minnesota into Ontario.  We canoed about six miles to an island where we camped for a week.  The weather was not good with thunderstorms and cold.  It got down to 39 degrees one night.  We had a couple of days of good weather and caught a lot of fish.  The morning we started to paddle out the wind was blowing 20 to 25 miles an hour into our face and there were three foot waves on the lake.  The canoe I was in with one of my friends caught a wave wrong and we flipped the canoe.  This was a concern as the water temperature was 50 degrees and we were about 400 yards from shore.  Luckily we had two other canoes which helped us get to shore, stripped down and dried off.  In my case my backpack floated so I had some dry clothes.  We finally got to our pickup point and the two hour boat ride back to the landing.  All in all I had a great time and look forward to going again next year.  I lived in Minnesota for seven years but never got the chance to go to the Boundary Waters while I was there.  The Boundary Waters allows no motors and the lakes are extremely clear.  The water is so clean that we just drank water out of the lake.  For the week we were there we only saw one other group. 
 

My wife and I just got back from our annual summer beach trip to Destin, Florida.  The weather was good and the temperature and humidity were excellent.  The beach water was not so great with a lot of green seaweed.  You can tell the economy hit has impacted vacations as almost every condo had lots of vacancies and the restaurants were not crowded.   

That is all for now,  see you in August.

from Creig Romero in Houston 
Unfortunately we will not make the reunion this time. Last time for our 35th we had a Hurricane Claudette  hit south Texas and I was deployed to Corpus Christi for 6 weeks for disaster recovery assistance and was not able to make it. This time it is not Hurricane Dolly but Hayden, my grandson turns three August 3rd and the birthday party is on Saturday the 2nd. His party is at (you guessed it) Paw-Paws house for a swimming party. On Friday the 1st, I will take off to cut the yard and clean the pool and have the housekeeper come friday instead of saturday. So Friday night is out of the question which at first I thought I could pull off. 

Would have loved to have seen everyone again but I know you understand the circumstances. I do not want to be the first in history to be divorced from his grandson for not attending his 3rd birthday. I became a grandpa again in March so now I have Hayden - 3 to Lori my oldest and her husband Mike and Avery - 2 on June 21st and Addyson - born March 9th to my youngest - Jana and her husband Mark.  Will send pictures later.

Tell everyone at the reunion hello. 

from Jack Atkins in Austin
 sure am going to miss everyone.  I just don't think I will be able to travel.  I am recovering from back surgery fusion. Please give my regards and well wishes to everyone.
 

from Loretta LaLonde Myers in League City
Kelsey has arrived! Born 30 Jul 2008 at 12:19 PM, weight 8 lbs. - 8 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Kelsey is our 4th grandchild (3rd granddaughter).  Her parents are Nicole and Marcus Nalepa. Nicole is our youngest daughter.

MAIL CALL(POST-REUNION)

from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
I had a great time at the reunion.  The committee did a tremendous job getting it together.  The faculty attendees really excited us.  I wish Mike Lawson could have been there.  I heard several classmates mention Mike and if there was anything we could for him to recognize his time and commitment to the web site.  I also spoke to many friends and classmates about how special our class seems to be.  There was something about 1968 that brought us together at the time and has kept us connected all these years. 

from Mike Lawson in West Columbia, TX
Well, I have received several nice e-mails from some of the many '68 classmates.  I was certainly disappointed that I wasn't able to get down to PA to see everyone.  I was so excited that I was actually getting off on Friday, Aug. 1st (first time I've been off for nearly a month) with plans to be at the "social" at the Holiday Inn.  I got up early and got a few needed errands done.  I also had a chance to do some things around the house.  When I came in, I heard the phone ring (around 12:30 pm) and don't know why I felt I needed to answer it.  It was a CALL-OUT to the plant!!!!!  I spent the rest of the day working with contractors.  My original plan had been to leave to go to PA around 3:30 pm.  Now, I guess I'll just have to wait 5 more years.  What a bummer!
 

from Carla Castro Hass in Nederland
Had a wonderful time.  It was fabulous.  For all of you who did not go, It was wonderful and you missed a rocking good time.  Thank you Hal Ross and everyone of you who contributed to my winning the Silent Auction for the 1968 Year Book.  Mine was lost many years ago and I have tried without success to get one.  It was my first reuion to attend and I am so sorry I have missed all the previous ones. 

Again thank you all of you who helped me win my (my very own) year book.  All of you are special and you have a place in my heart. 

Love all of you and I already can't wait for the next reunion. 

from Darlene Turner Landry in Port Neches
If anyone has pictures from the week end, can you please e-mail them to me.....I have no idea what happened to my camera, but
not all of them turned out..... We had a great time.....!
 

from Diane Richmond Miller in Silsbee
Well, I surprised myself and really enjoyed the reunion.  Also, since the website keeps us up on things in each other's lives, it was so much easier to talk to people you hadn't seen in a very long time, because you knew a little about what was going on with them NOW. 
People seem more comfortable now, myself included.   

from Randy Blanchard in Port Arthur
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN OUR GRADUATING CLASS?  I think everything went well for this reunion, I enjoyed both nights very much.
 

from Carole Oubre Reeves in Groves
Just wanted to thank the committee for doing a fabulous job.  It was so good to have so many teachers show up AND to see some graduates that I have not seen since high school.  It is really hard to believe that it has been 40 years.  What a tall group of guys we had in our class!  (Must have been something in the water Sept. '49-Aug. '50!!) And, what a great group of graduates we have!  I thoroughly enjoyed my visits with everyone.  It just never seems to be enough time.  Maybe we need to do like some of the other schools in the area and have a week long reunion.  Either that or plan a cruise following our next reunion.  We did that for my husband's class of '67 after their 35th reunion.  Around 30 classmates and spouses went down to Cancun and Cozemel.  It was a great opportunity to visit some more with the friends. 
 

from Lynn Eldridge Gill in Dallas
We had so much fun!!!
 

from Beth Anne Sutherlin Coakley in Bedford
Hey..I am already labeling my 136 pics for Mike.    I will be sending to him by way of cd if you know of anyone esle that wants a copy... I want to go back to the reunion..it didn't last long enough!! IT WAS AWESOME!  Wanted to say THANK YOU for everything ya'll do.  The reunion was

 U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E  Thanks to all that did  hard work on the reunion committee. I think it could have lasted all week and I wouldn't have gotten to talk to everyone.  Only 4 years and 50 weeks til the next one! 

from Ernie Castaneda Bullion in Pt. Arthur
I think this was the BEST reunion of ALL.
 

from Mike Soileau in Atlanta, TX
Had a great time at the reunion.  I think it was the best yet!  Thanks to all the efforts our class team put into the decorations, food, the music was great.. and of course we had a good turnout.

 It seemed we had a lot more cameras there this time.  Maybe we want to capture some of those great reunion moments so we can look back and enjoy them.  I know I enjoyed some of the old and new photos that some classmates brought.  It is always fun to try to remember the faces and names.  Of course it is good when ya have people who were part of the photos to help bring back memories.

  Looking forward to seeing some of the snapshots everyone took show up on our web site.  I hope everyone takes the time to share them and sends them in.

   The picture name tags were priceless.  Without them we would be thinking, "Now I think I remember that person but...???"  Of course with such a large class we need all the help we can get. 

  Hope everyone made it home safe and sound.  I stayed down a few days and visited with my Dad, he had his 80th birthday.  He isn't doing bad for an old cajun, his tatoo of a red headed sailor girl on his shoulder is starting to fade a little and the black panther on his other shoulder is not as perky these days. hahaha. But, he still has the spirit that the old timers had, independent and a fighter (it took them thru some of the lingering years after the depression, as I am sure most of your families went thru).  He still believes in turning off the light when you leave the room, can't use too much tooth paste (and be sure to put the cap back on), save some of those good plastic containers (used to put screws, and miscellaneous stuff in), and I could go on and on.  

  Wel,l let's take advantage of our computers and send in stuff to Linda and Mike.  We can get ready for the next one and stay in touch.

  Port Arthur seems to be going thru a job boom while the rest of the country is looking for work... that is a good thing for the locals.  Lot's of memories ... I made the drag some time back just to remember.. Can't say it looks the same but still brought back some memories. hahaha. Times were much simpler then... remember when we had to stop and actually use put money in to use a pay phone?  And those 8 tracks, if you could afford them.. now CD.. I phone.. and palm.. and more.  Yep times have changed. 

  Raining up here today (NE Texas)..needed it bad.  The tropical storm did not amount to much but we needed the rain for sure.  Ok gotta get ... I had a great time at the reunion .... 

from Gary Hammond in Plano, TX
Thanks for a Wonderful  Reunion.   Thanks to the committee that help make it happen…GREAT time! 

from Robert Sandoval in Fulshear, TX
Great job on this reunion.  The committee sure deserves a rest. 
 

from Sandy Ellis MacNamera in Elgin, TX
GREAT PARTY!  You guys put on a heck of a show and a hell of a party!  We are SO blessed - life-long friends - good music, GREAT old memories - amazing new memories - good health - (as evidenced by ALL the Dancing), beautiful families, lovely smiles - and the list goes on and on! Can't wait to see all the photos - unfortunately mine are not too good - camera acting up - husband in charge - bad lighting etc.  (excuses excuses).   BUT, I have great photos in my head - and in my heart.  It is SO amazing how the years just dropped away after a few moments - looking into the eyes and smiles of life long friends - how blessed are we??   

I am sure that I will come up with MORE to say - but for now waiting (impatient) to see the pictures and hear the stories.  But for me - It was all very great - very fun - just very, very everything I had hoped for.  My husband, Paul, couldn't stop smiling.  His comment was how wonderful it was for him to stand back and see the smiles and most of all - Feel The Love.  We are truly a special group of friends - the class of 1968, Thomas Jefferson High School - Port Arthur Texas.   

I have attached my few pictures and hope for more from my friends.  A request - the picture of the Franklin School bunch (just the 4 of us) was a miserable failure - if ANYONE took one - Please, Please share with me, Ernie, Sandra G, and Carla C.  My picture of the Edison crowd sucked as did the picture of the WHOLE class.  Share, Share, Share!  please  

Thanks to you all - reunion committee, and just FRIENDS!  Those of you who were unable to attend - you sure missed a hell of a good time!   

from Fred McCarty in Kingwood, TX
Linda, Kay, Reunion Committee, TJHS1968 Classmates, Former Teachers, Coaches, and Administrators
I am addressing this to all of you to say Thank You for making our 40th Reunion such a wonderful event. It would be impossible to describe this event in mere words, although Outstanding, Awesome, Wonderful, and Beautiful would be a start. The photographs will be wonderful and I hope everybody will share their photos, even if it takes a while to get them all published on the website. It was so great to see everyone, to talk, to hug, to laugh, to reminisce, and to reflect on how fortunate we were to have been together in Port Arthur from Kindergarten through TJ. And when you think about it, to get 175 of us back together after 40 years was just great. To those who attended  a TJ Reunion for the first time since Graduation, I am sure you will be back for the 45th, since you now know how much fun you have been missing. It was outstanding to get a chance to see a number of our teachers and coaches. I especially enjoyed talking with Coach Wayne Williams and Mr. Rowland. And to all my classmates who attended, your presence made this such a special event. To borrow a phrase from the current times...."TJHS1968....You Rock!" 

My special Thanks to Linda Decuir McFadden and to Mike Lawson for keeping us all together on this website. Mike, I was so sorry you could not attend the Reunion because of work commitments. We all understood, but we missed you. 

To everyone who was unable to attend....you missed a great time that would have only been better if you had been able to join in. I hope to see you at the 45th Reunion. 

from Laura (Meece) and Bart Darby in Kingwood
Finally had a moment to sit down!  Bart & I want to tell you what a great time we had the reunion!!!  It was great to see so many of our classmates again.  Especially all the first-timers.  Although, we were disappointed about the few that didn't come on Saturday that were supposed to.  We wanted to congratulate all the committee members on a job well done!  You guys worked really hard and it all came together.  Everything was awesome...good food, beautiful flowers and decorations, good music and wonderful company!  The turnout on Friday night was awesome.  So many people and not enough time to talk to everyone!  I think everyone had a great time.  Looking forward to seeing all the pictures on the website! 

Bart & I are getting ready to go on our Mediteranean Cruise on the 20th.  We are so excited!  Have been busy trying to get everything bought, ready and packed.  We will be back either Sept. 9 or 11th.  I will email you with all the details when we get back! 

Thanks to all the committee members again for a job well done! 

from Cynthia Marshall Devlin in Zavalla, TX
I hope you have "rested-up" from all the wonderful reunion activities. I have posted my summer grades at SFA and have a little down-time before the fall semester begins August 25th. For all of those who enjoy beautiful art, may I recommend "The Impressionists" at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. The collection is worth the drive. The paintings came from the Art Institute of Chicago and will be there until Nov. 2nd.       

I so enjoyed the reunion on that wonderful Friday night! Our generation grew up smack in the middle of such social, cultural, and political tumult. The 1960s represented multi-dimensional changes in our society that affected all of us in some way. From all of those who attended the reunion, I think it can easily be said that the Thomas Jefferson Class of 1968 represented a slice of American exceptionalism worth bragging about to all those who will listen!  We have been productive citizens who have a strong desire to seek the greater good. 

Hoorah! 

Thanks to all the committee members:  Kay Campbell, Randy Blanchard, Debbie Borres, Ernie Castaneda, Linda DeCuir, Jonny Dee Doering, Jack Etheredge, Sandra Garsea, Linda Gothia, Danny Landry, Dale Netherland, Cecilia Trevino, Mary Wells,  Florence Woods, Paula Daigle, and Darlene Turner. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!!!  Thanks for having some of the teachers and staff there as well. We were blessed to have good, strong teachers who cared. 

from Rhonda (Carleton) Richey '70 (Bill's wife) in Bridge City
We enjoyed the reunion.  Bill has some possible thoughts and  ideas for next time.   His idea involves game day.  Table games, horse shoes, washers, softball, volleyball, and just visiting with music in the background.  With on site catering of just some hot dogs or bbq wagons.  Thanks to the committee for all the work on the reunion. 

from Betty (Bernauer) and Ron Waedemon in Sugar Land
Ron and I both had a wonderful time at the reunion.  I have been in contact with Linda Davis and Barbara Bowers since the reunion, and they both promise to make the next reunion!  Thanks again.
 

FACULTY MAIL CALL

from Carolyn Bigler Hebert (Mr. Al Hebert's wife)
I really did enjoy doing the hula for your reunion
. If anybody took pictures of me doing the hula I would appreciate photos please.
 

from Bertha Hebert (Girls' PE)
You all did a fantastic job on the class of '68 reunion.  I really enjoyed seeing all of you and I had a great time. 
 

a phone message from Jo Ann Carver (Economics)  
I am so sorry that I will have to miss the reunion.  We have previously made plans to be on the road following our grandson in All-Stars.  I have a soft spot in my heart for this class.  It was very special.
 

a letter from Melba Magnus (English)
I will not be able to attend your 40th class reunion but thank you for asking me.  It sounds like it will be a great time and lots of fun.

(Ms. Magnus' envelope was postmarked Kihei, Hawaii) 

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Granddaughter's HEALTH report

My 3 3/4 year old granddaughter, Drew, was diagnosed with hydronephrosis of her rt. kidney during an ultrasound one week before she was born in Oct., 2004.  My daughter brought her to Dr. Roth, a kidney specialist at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, and he monitored the condition for a year.  He then told her that Drew was doing fine and would most likely outgrow the condition.  Well, three weeks ago she was very sick with an infection that turned into an abcess in her adnoids area and landed her in the hospital.  During her 4 day stay, the doctors noticed hypertension and called in a pediatric cardiologist.  He took ultrasounds of the kidneys and the heart and noticed "gross hydronephrosis of the right kidney".  He had to put her on blood pressure medicine and then a week later had to double the dosage.  A visit to Dr. Roth in Houston proved to be a pre-cursor to Drew having to have surgery.  He has a scheduled "dye test" on Sept. 3 to determine the condition of the rt. kidney to see what measures need to be taken during the surgery scheduled on Sept. 5.  Please keep our precious Drew and all our family in your prayers.  I have received numerous notes showing concern.  I do appreciate them.  Thanks from the bottom of our hearts.  I will keep you all posted.  (We are thankful that she did have a stay in the hospital or we might not have known of her problems until the condition might have damaged her heart!  God is GOOD.)

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REUNION

I cannot say enough about the wonderful gathering that happened on Aug. 1-2, 2008 in PA!  You had to be there to really understand.  One of the most exciting changes this year was the reuniting of some of TJ's faculty members.  You had to have seen the smiles on their faces to know that they were enjoying the get-together with their former co-workers as much as getting reacquainted with some of their class hulligans!  Those attending Friday night were: Joyce Vazquez, Jayne Smith, Mack Estes, Hilda Brazzel, Laverne McMillan, Nancy McClain, Al Hebert, Martha Taylor, Smitty Hill, Wayne Williams, Ken Barland, Paul Schultz-Behrend, Tommye Hogue, and Charles McBee.  Also, joining on Saturday night was Bertha Hebert, Lionel Rowland, and Al Hebert (AGAIN).  It was priceless when, after being introduced to a classmate's spouse who had attended PN-G, Dr. McBee broke into a soft medley of "Poor Little Indian Boys, Jackets gonna sting those Indian boys!"  He told someone that he was also known as "Old Man McBee!  Hey, he was cool after all.  We had a huge turnout for the Friday night "social" with 271 attendees with 29 classmates and guests paying at "the Door".  Saturday night attendance was 231 classmates and guests with 14 showing up at "the Door". ( I was so sad that I only got to talk to my Homeroom teacher, Mr. Rowland for a couple of minutes before I needed to do some announcing at the stage.)  Many other students did not realize that he had come to visit until he had already left.  Tropical nametags with graduation photos were available along with "koozies" and leis.  Smiles were all around as friends became reaquainted.  Cameras were flashing and laughter could be heard all around.  The food table was terrific with the catering done by SIMPLY ELEGANT.  The DECORATIONS were fabulous (even the bathroom doors were spruced up with netting and bathing attire!)  A swimming pool filled with beach balls and fish, adirondack chairs with a thached umbrella were waiting as guests lounged in them taking photos, while a cute whimsical 6 foot board depicting a beach babe in a bikini with her hunky beau awaited guests to have their photos taken.  An impromtu gathering was asked for by classmates to take photos of all of the elementary schools, then junior high, and of course our high school class!  Everyone was having a grand time being silly and enjoying being together that we had a rough time getting the music and dancing started. The DJ was Lowell Benoit from Pt. Neches.  You should have seen the classmates kicking up their heels doing the LINE DANCING!  40 YEARS passed and many still had it in them.  Music by Otis Redding and Percy Sledge, the Boogie Kings, and other great sounds could be heard.  Door prizes were given out and even some $20.00 bills were given as door prizes later in the night.  A SILENT AUCTION was held benefitting the www.tjhs1968.com website.  The prize was a 1968 yearbook donated by Jane Lippincott and the winning bid was $231.00 by Carla Castro.  She could be seen hitting up friends all night for donations to try to win.  31 bids were taken with Hal Ross and Robert Sandoval inching up the bid to help out the website fund.  Carla and Sheridan Jones were seen running back and forth to the auction table to make sure that Carla would eventually get her prize.  (Sneakily, Hal Ross was seen DONATING a hundred dollars to his bidding opponent (Carla) to help her win!)  Two wine bottles with a special TJ YELLOW JACKET label from the Bruno winery in Sour Lake was the other SILENT AUCTION item.  Karen Cooper was the winning bidder with a final bid of $65.00.  The fruity wine won Best in Show in its category at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show.  A memorial corner was set up to show a DVD made by classmate Mike Lawson  memorializing our 70 known deceased classmates.  Classmates could be seen viewing the show and reminiscing about their long-lost classmates. A poem written the morning of the reunion by Donnie Moss was read to the attendees.  Alas....12 midnight came, the decorations came down, tears of joy (it was a huge success) and tears of sadness (it is over) was seen on the tired committee members!!!  See you in 2013. 

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SUPPORT

update about Billy Jordan's grandson
My grandson is doing well after several months of concern with his low blood platelets (ITP).  His count is now steady in the 300,000 area which is perfectly normal.  He is now learning to swim and at two and a half months old. I am amazed that he goes down a slide into the pool and jumps off the side.  Going under water does not bother him at all. 

Jack Atkins
Back fusion surgery
jack.atkins@verizonbusiness.com
 

Walter Jones '67 (update on wife, Linda Messer '66)
I'm writing this from MD Anderson where Linda has a Dr visit today and another round of Doxil chemotherapy. Linda and I have already seen the last CT scan results from last week and she is down to one spot which has been stable since it was first noticed on 1/28/2008. We rejoice at these findings. All organs, lungs, bone, etc continue to be clear. Thank you for your prayers. They mean so much to us.

a note about Gail Wilson's sister, Jane
(7/30/08)Gail’s older sister has been diagnosed with Stage II ovarian cancer.  Gail is in route to Austin to take Jane home from the hospital.  She wanted me to let you know so that everyone can keep her in their prayers. 

Tommy Theriot '67
Needs prayers and show of support
27 Gulf Links Ct.
Kingwood, TX 77339
 

an update on James Miller's wife, Sue
I just wanted to let you know that I had a great check-up from both of my doctors this week. I started my vaccinations (5 shots in the arms) too. But not too bad. I go back in two months for the 2nd series and then last series in a year. 

Both my doctors said they were in agreement that I could go 6 months before my next check-up which is a lot earlier than they had said when we started this journey. So, we are thrilled and relieved. It was a long stressful week. We went Sunday to see our daughter and son-in-law, then Tues. for CAT scan, blood work, The visit with lymphoma dr. and Friday visited with my stem cell dr. and shots.

Again thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your support and prayers. Take care and remember all of you are in our prayers always.

from Richard Daniels
Sorry I missed you guys at the reunion.  I had found out I’ve got
prostate cancer earlier that week, and my step-son who is the director of the cancer center for Baton Rouge General Hospital, wanted me to meet with his medical director for a second opinion on my method of treatment.   He asked me to come on Friday, and I didn’t even think about the reunion.  Anyway, the prognosis is good as we caught it early.  Hopefully, all my male classmates are getting their prostate checked every year.  It’s not a lot of fun, but it s necessary.  I have decided to have the Brachytherapy(seed implants) treatment.  From all the facts that I’ve been able to gather, the survival statistics are about the same as surgery and the trauma and side effects are much, much less.  I’ll keep you posted.

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CONDOLENCES

Leo Carl "Brit" Pingleton
(death of his mother)
Dessie W. Bennett, 92, of Port Arthur died July 23, 2008.  Services will be held at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. 

4120 32nd St.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409)982-0929

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That is it in a "nutshell".  A lot to digest.  I will need some mail for my MAIL CALL next time.  I have depleted my folder.  Don't forget me just because I won't be dogging you about the reunion for awhile. 

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

     
     
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