TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                           05/22/10
         
         

MAIL CALL

from Gene Baskin in Port Neches
A little news from here----I am retiring June 30 from Motiva Enterprises (aka Texas Company, Texaco, Star Enterprise, then Motiva)!  I have worked at the PA refinery for over 39 years as a Mechanical Engineer.  My wife Darlene and I bought a 230 acre ranch between Woodville and Livingston, TX.  We hope to build a Satterwhite Log home there but will still live in PN.  I already have a tractor and am looking for a bulldozer!  Can you believe that?  My plans are to build approximately 3 miles of fence, several ponds, and sell some timber.  Also, I will be restoring my old 1955 and 1956 Thunderbirds.  We will travel some, especially to my wife's homeplace of Wisconsin and will be helping to take care of her father.  I hope to be able to send more updates of how "retirement" is going. 
P.S.   For those who knew my brother James Baskin '67, he and his wife moved to Spring Hill, TN to be near their new grand-daughter.

(All I can say is the word RETIREMENT should be changed to TIRED if you are able to do all this!  Congrats.)
 

from David Elliott in Dallas
I wanted to send you my new e-mail address so that I may continue to receive the updates you and Mike so diligently send to us all.  Please keep up the good work. 

(Thanks for taking the time to send in the change.  Wouldn't want you to miss a thing.)
 

from Nancy Jowell Grisbee in Sugar Land, TX (taken off of Facebook)
24 years ago this month my son Jeremy was born.  The doctors wanted to end the pregnancy because of physical problems I had.  He said I wouldn't live to see him grow up.  God had different plans for Jeremy's life and mine.  God is so faithful.  We celebrate these 24 years!

(God is indeed good.)

 from Pam Owings Hund in Port Neches
Kenneth and I went to an all in-clusive resort in Cozumel April 25-30.  We had a great time.  Kenneth went scuba diving for three days and I swam in a beautiful ocean and met people from all around the world.  (I always did say that if we have to tolerate hurricanes we should at least have pretty beaches.)   Everyone was very friendly and except for the plane ride/airport/customs, it was almost perfect.  I divided most of my time sitting on the beach reading from my Kindle and enjoying the water.  Next month we are headed to Padre Island.  I've never been there and just hope the water is pretty and clear.  Both of my daughters, son-in-law, and grandson are going with us.  Just give me a beach-front view of the ocean and I am completely content.  Being able to visit all of these wonderful beaches has somewhat taken the sting out of getting older!

(Sounds so fun.  Keep it up.)
 

from Gail Wilson Felker in Barksdale AFB, LA
Has anyone kept up with the whereabouts of Pam Clary, Pam Visuete, or Vicki Verrett?

(Any help here?)
 

from Patti Farley D'Amico in Alexandria, LA
I wanted to tell you and Mike again what a wonderful thing it is that ya'll keep this web site going for all of us '68ers!  It must be a labor of love because I am sure that it is major headaches at times. 

(You are right on both counts....it is a labor of love AND can be a headache!  But, headaches go away.  We both do LOVE it and all of you, too!  That is why we continue.  Thanks.) 

from David Salter in Oklahoma, OK
Our family is doing fine.  Lana and I are enjoying having the "kids" and their families within walking distance of us.  Our son and daughter-in-law returned from a project in Pennsylvania in February and found a house about 6 blocks from us.  Our daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandsons (ages 2 & 3) are only 3 blocks away.  That certainly makes my duty of spoiling the little guys quite convenient.   

This year I have been fortunate to connect with some of our TJ gang.  While in Houston in February, I met Fred McCarty, Joel Levy and George Collins for what is becoming our annual Papadeaux's dinner.  (Tough to find good Cajun food in Oklahoma.)  Also, over Spring Break, Lana and I were in the Hill Country and were able to visit with Leonard and Kathy Hilliard in Fredericksburg.  So great to visit with P.A. family again!  Leonard and I have been pals since our first day of kindergarten at Robert E. Lee Elementary.   

from Mary Wells in Groves
Well, several classmates went on a cruise.  The classmates were me, Florence "Sissie" Woods Kilcrease, Glenda Patin, and Linda Gothia.  The cruise was great, had fun, ate way tooooooo much, but loved all the food, shopped just enough.  Glenda and I win for dancing the night away.  We outlasted the rest of them.  I have unpacked, washed and now I am ready to go again! 

from Florence "Sissie" Woods Kilcrease in Pineland
What goes on on a cruise stays on a cruise!!! "-)

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NASHVILLE AREA FLOODING

(Notes between Fred McCarty and married classmates, Nelwyn (Comeaux) and Charles Blanchette)

Nelwyn,
    I wanted to check on you and Charles since I know that you live in the Nashville vicinity.  Were you impacted by the recent flooding there?  Please let us hear from you so that we can have an update. 

                 Fred 

Fred,
     Thank you for checking on us.  Yes, parts of Nashville is quiet a mess.  We actually live in Kingston Springs, west of Nashville.  We had flooding and damages in our little town.  However, we live on a high hill so our neighborhood is in good shape.  Our biggest problem was trying to get out of our town to go to my precious brother's funeral.  He died the weekend of the flooding.  We are right off of I-40 and both East and Westbound were shut down.  East takes us to the airport and, of course West takes us where we needed to be since we travel with an RV.  Anxiety was really building.  Thank God that 2 days before the funeral roads re-opened.  We were able to head back to PA.  I did see a couple of classmates while at the funeral home.  Thanks again, Fred, for checking on us.

              Nelwyn and Charles
nelwynb@aol.com 

from Bobby and Jonnye Dee (Doering) Williamson in Port Arthur (taken from FACEBOOK)
Jonnye and I are in Jackson, TN.  We delivered the supplies and afterward met with an old friend who helped us during Ike.  He was leading a team, stripping, and cleaning flooded houses.  The local turnout is huge.  There are about 2,000 flooded houses and estimates are that all of them will be ready for rehab in 2 to 3 weeks.  Way to go Nashville.  We were the first delivery to the new Resource Senter.  Now, that is fast service.  The first things that flood victims need are something to sit on and something to sleep on.  There is an immediate need for mattresses and bed clothes in twin, full, and queen sizes.  A donation as small as $10.00 could provide a person with a full set of bed coverings.  Manufacturers sell to recovery non-profits at huge discounts.  Make your donation to Aid Matrix Network, Red Cross, or to the Salvation Army. 
bob_williamson@yahoo.com

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OKLAHOMA TORNADOES

from David Salter in Oklahoma City, OK
The storms Monday went mostly to the south and east of us, so we were not affected like so many others unfortunately were.  As you have seen, there was quite a bit of damage in a number of areas in the state, but not in large swaths as can happen here with the early May storms.  At least 3-4 of the local television stations carry constant coverage when we are under serious weather alerts and track the storm systems until they pass through the area.  Most of the stations have state-of-the-art equipment as well as a crew of storm chasers and helicopters monitoring the activity.  All in all, not too bad a place to be if you must be located in Tornado Alley.  Still, it is eerie to hear the sirens blaring when we are in a warning, as we were late Monday when I was driving back from a golf tournament I participated in that afternoon.   

from Ricky Bradley and wife Gloria (Phillips) Bradley in Mustang, OK
The nearest twister was 6 miles north of us but we did get some nice golf-ball sized hail.   

(I still have Pam Clary Wiser listed as living in Okalahoma City, OK but have no phone or e-mail address.  Anyone know her whereabouts?  Glenn McGee also lives in Duncan, OK.  The last address I have for Dennis Cross is Edmond, OK.  Larkin Eddie Thompson lives in Tulsa, OK.  I don't have time to check out the vicinity of these cities but OKLAHOMA sure seems a tough place to live.  I just thought the Gulf Coast was rough.  Let me hear from you if you see your name here.  Thanks.)

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CRUSIN' 16th STREET/GULFWAY DR.

from Jeanette Constantine Morgan in Groves
I remember having lots of fun on the DRAG!  I spent many hours just riding around and around and always ending up at Monceaux's Drive-In for a big frosted mug of rootbeer and a stuffed shrimp basket.  I am sure that many remember Monceaux's.  Mrs. Monceaux passed away a couple of months ago.  Of course, Dennis and I would leave the drag long enough to go over to NuZest for a strawberry malt.  My mom worked at the Chuck Wagon so we had a hamburger there quite often.  Just riding around and listening to the radio was relaxing.  For a lot of my slumber parties, we would make the drag and get out and have a chinese fire drill at the red lights. 

(Thanks for being the first to share for this new section of the NEWSLETTER!)

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BIRTHDAY POSTINGS????

(an idea sent in by Fred McCarty)
I just read the latest Newsletter and the mention of the May birthdays made me wonder if we might provide a listing on the website of UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS, maybe for the next month?  For example, if we could publish the upcoming June birthdays in the last May issue of the Newsletter, etc.  I was thinking that if our website provided that information it might encourage more communication among classmates.  This might be a new feature for our website , or it could be included in the NEWSLETTER.  I will do what I can to find information if you feel that this would be worth the effort. 

(I will get Mike to add this feature to the website front page and we will add any birthdays that are sent in by other classmates.  Thanks for the idea to help keep the communication open between our classmates.)

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SUPPORT

from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens (taken off of FACEBOOK)
Update on husband, Richard.
Just got back from MD Anderson.  The scans show 25% progression of disease.  Not good but we knew it was not working.  We thought it was gonna be that result.  But, they asked him to try another trial.  He agreed.  He is weak as he had a bad reaction from barium from the scan.  He has lost about 6 lbs.  He is tired and I am tired but we will go on.  Thanks to all my classmates and friends for the prayers.
cmullens@gt.rr.com 

Gail Wilson Felker in Barksdale AFB, LA
My husband, Major Ross Felker, is deploying to Afghanistan in a few weeks.  He is currently in New Jersy for five weeks of combat training.  Please keep him and our family in your prayers.
rgcjfelker@yahoo.com 

Gloria Phillips Bradley in Mustang, OK
(health update taken off of FACEBOOK)

Praise report
: as of my last oncology visit (May 18), I am clean as a whistle and I am 5 years out since my last cancer.  I now move to once a year visits now.  Whoo Hoo!  All praise, love and thanks to my God who reigns in my life every day and the keeper of my life's breath.  Bless HIS name.
gbradley73064@yahoo.com

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CONDOLENCES

Beth Crookshank Ayers
(death of her father)
219 Pine Hollow Lane
Houston, TX 77506 

Debra Jones Shwartzenburg
(death of her mother)
8 Thornhill Oaks Dr.
Houston, TX 77015
swhwardo@aol.com 

Nelwyn Comeaux Blanchette
(death of her brother)
1005 Timber Ridge Ct.
Kingston Springs, TN 37082
nelwynb@aol.com 

A note from our late classmate, Tim Kennedy's children
Thank you so much for the sentiments expressed for our father, Tim Kennedy.  We're glad that his friends and classmates thought so much of him.  He will be missed by a lot of people.  Thank you for honoring him in your MEMORIAL section on your class website.  He really would have appreciated that. 

         Tansy Kennedy Guidroz and Cody Kennedy 

3908 Canal
Groves, TX 77619 

Janice Ames Breaux
(death of her husband, Russell Breaux)
2724 31st St.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409)293-7359 

(Remember to contact these classmates and share your prayers and support.  You may find these obituaries on the front page of the website.)

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Wow!  This was a long one.  I am so tired AND happy at the same time.  I do enjoy getting news, items of interest, messages of deaths that many times I have missed in the paper.  Thanks to all who help make this bi-monthly effort worthwhile.  Keep it up friends.

 

                                  Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
                                  Linda DeCuir McFadden
                                  lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
                                  www.tjhs1968.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

                              

 



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