2/4/24

MAIL CALL
from Betty Bernauer Waedemon in Sugar Land
Thank you so much for all you & Mike do to keep TJ friends connected. I look forward to the updates. Is there a way to ZELLE or VENMO donations for the website?
Bbw1m@aol.com

Yes, there is. Check the section WEBSITE DONATIONS in my newsletter. You can donate by check, VENMO or ZELLE.

from Fred McCarty in Kingwood
Thanks for all that you and Mike do on the TJHS1968 Website! It was great reading about how you and Murphy met at the Newman Center, went to Lamar together, and have reached your 50th anniversary in July. Regarding your incident about a scam trying to get computer help, I have a deal with the Geek Squad over in Atascocita, about a 15-minute drive for me. I had a problem in September, so I grabbed my laptop and zipped over there. I had spent about an hour trying to figure out the problem at home, but I was getting nowhere. They had a technician available, and it took less than 5 minutes to get me fixed up. Geek Squad service is worth the yearly payment.
fmccrun@aol.com

from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston
I went to visit Linda Smith Webber at the end of October; it was my first trip anywhere that I had to fly to since July 2019! Me . . . the travel agent . . . the lady who used to take 3 or more trips every year! I just plain got out of the habit, so I was hoping that taking a trip somewhere would get me going again. I have the urge to go places; it's the execution and follow-through that are lacking. I'm still hoping, though. Anyway, it was good to see Linda. We stayed in Albuquerque except for a day trip to Santa Fe; even though I'm not a fan of Southwestern jewelry and decor, I still enjoyed looking through all the shops in both Old Town Albuquerque and Old Town Santa Fe. Linda had warned me that the New Mexican idea of Mexican food was NOT Tex-Mex and she was right. They have an enduring love affair with green chiles; they're on everything; but not a cheese enchilada in sight!
Houston8514@yahoo.com

from Bill Horton in Austin
2023 was a pretty good year in Austin. No major health issues, which is always nice. But I injured a hamstring in late February, and it took 6 months to completely heal. 50 years ago, it would have healed in a few weeks.
I had some fun adventures this year starting with a backpack trip in Big Bend NP with Gary Jones and a few others. In June, my two children went with me for a week in California. We camped, climbed, and hiked in Yosemite NP. Then joined some ex-coworkers and others for three days of whitewater rafting on the Tuolumne, Stanislaus, and Merced Rivers. All three were near flood stage from the record snowfall and the rafting was intense.
August was forecast to be hot, so I left home and spent the whole month in Wyoming and Colorado. Every day here it was at least 100F. I backpacked for a week in Yellowstone National Park and it was great - unique scenery and hardly any other people. The rest of the month was spent climbing, hiking, camping, and watching wildlife.
Two mini-adventures in the fall were fun. First was a week backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico. Then 4 days canoeing down Lake Travis with camping along the way.
Billh812@gmail.com

WEBSITE DONATIONS
Donations have been given by Linda DeCuir McFadden in memory of classmates, Dal Worth Badgett, Ricky Bradley and Liz Tieskens.
Donations may be made by:

Linda DeCuir McFadden
7699 Boardwalk
Lumberton, TX 77657

VENMO
@Thomas-Jefferson68

ZELLE
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com

MAIL SERVICE WOES
Mike Lawson thought that we had the mail-forwarding working properly after changing servers. But, after he spent a quite a bit of time sending out Liz Tieskens’ funeral information to all the classmates listed in our e-mail file, we found out many did not receive their notice. He has gone above and beyond trying to get this to work. We hope that it is successful sending out the website update this time.
Now, I have been asked about how we decide to send out notices about deaths. Here is our “policy”. If we find out about a classmate death and future funeral or memorial service, Mike will send out a notice. If we hear of a classmate death where no services are planned, we wait and post on the next website update. We try our very best to find out the most information available. Please check out the MEMORIAL section that includes pictures, dates, and obituaries when available. At this time we have 182 known classmate deaths. There is no way that we have the time to send out notices for deaths of family members, also. But, we do try to include anyone we have information on in our newsletters and updates. Thank you for your understanding in these matters.

WEBSITE FINDS
While checking out the newest info on the website, make sure you scroll all the way down to see the human interest stories that Mike includes in each new update. He also adds photos that have been sent to him. Those are in the photo gallery.

SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION in memory of Lynn Eldridge Gill
(I received the letter below from Lynn’s dear friend, Alice Townes.)
It seems impossible that we are just past the 1st anniversary of the death of our dear friend Lynn Eldridge Gill. We all share so many wonderful memories of her life and think of her often.
Several of us have spent time talking about how to honor her for all the things she did for each of us.
Several of Lynn's Theta friends worked with her husband, Jim Gill, and he decided the best way to do this is to honor her with a scholarship in her name to the Texas Tech Medical School Nursing Program. Jim has generously offered to match all contributions up to a total of $25,000. The potential for this type of contribution is amazing. Jim's ultimate goal is for the fund to reach the endowment level so it can generate scholarships in perpetuity. If you are interested in participating in the scholarship for year one, please use the link below and contact Alice Townes (972)897-8768 if you have any questions.
Here are the links. Note that the link to online is pre-filled with Lynn's scholarship info. The link to the form for mail-in would need to be printed AND on the form, you must fill in the name of the fund (Lynn Eldridge Gill Memorial Nursing Scholarship)
Link for online donation: Lynn Eldridge Gill Scholarship Online
Link to form to donate by mail: Lynn Eldridge Gill Scholarship Mail Form
(Note, if sending your donation by mail, BE SURE to indicate “Lynn Eldridge Gill Memorial Nursing Scholarship where indicated on the form and also on your check)

NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
I’m still having therapy for my shoulder. I just had a 4-month appointment after surgery at Fondren Clinic in Houston. Murphy and I always like to go to PAPPAS for bbq afterward. This week I happen to stop and talk to two women at a table. The older lady was eating a huge plate of bbq ribs and brisket along with beans and cole slaw. She probably looked in her late 80’s. NO! She was 106! Her granddaughter told me she still cooks at home. Oh, my heavens. What a treat to meet and hug her. Speaking of centenarians….we attended the funeral for the father-in-law of Johnny “Pookie” Montagne. Mr. Cedric Stout, 102, from Bridge City was a PEARL HARBOR survivor. He was stationed on the USS Utah docked there. He was working down below and when he heard the bombing and poked his head through a port hole. A bullet whizzed by his head. Two bombs and two torpedoes had hit the ship and it was going down. He made it to the deck and went hand over hand down a rope tied to the dock. Then, jumped into the water and swam to safety. There is only one other living survivor from the USS Utah. He is 104. A full military funeral was held at the cemetery. Very moving. Speaking of survivors, I just had my 44th anniversary from my thyroid and throat cancer diagnosis. I was 29 in 1980. Like my doctor at MD Anderson said 25 years ago, I’ll die of something, but I won’t die from THAT diagnosis after all this time. At the time I was recovering Murphy told me that if something did happen he would remarry since he had a 2 year old daughter to raise. Well, over my dead body! I am still here and we made it to out 50 anniversary last summer. (He always asks me if I have mentioned him in my newsletter. Well, now I just did! HAHA). We are looking forward to spending a “little” time with our oldest granddaughter who will be turning 21 February 15. She started in the TEXAS A&M SCHOOL OF NURSING in January. She will graduate in the spring of 2025 with her BS in Nursing. My house is decorated with Mardi Gras. We have enjoyed some King Cake. Strange that Valentine and Ash Wednesday are on the same day this year. Easter will be very early. March 31st. Crawfish will not be plentiful this year, due to the draught. The cost are way up there so far. Ugh. Well, it looks like I will be eating a lot more shrimp instead. Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler.

SUPPORT
(a note from Cherlyn Hebert)
Fellow classmate, Linda Smith Webber, was involved in an automobile accident in Albuquerque, where she lives now, on Sunday, November 19, 2023. She was the passenger in a friend's car stopped at a traffic light that had just turned green; her friend started forward and a car ran the red light and smashed into Linda's side, totaling Linda's friend's car and breaking four of Linda's ribs and both sides of her right wrist. She had to have surgery that day and stayed in the hospital from that Sunday until Thanksgiving Day, when she was transferred to rehab. She is supposed to be released to go home the week of December 11th sometime. This has been a slow recovery for Linda. In addition to PT, OT and home health care, she will have to have part-time private nursing care for a while, to help her bathe, dress and to cook for her.
Lindalwebber1126@yahoo.com
Linda Webber
6441 Palomas Avenue NE #307
Albuquerque NM 87109.

Linda Louise Davis Fitzpatrick
Thank you all for all the wonderful prayers and good thoughts - they mean the world to Charlie and I! It is finally decided, after having more x-rays today with the most amazing Orthopedic Surgeon in Vermont - I will have to have knee transplants on BOTH knees!! (I just refuse to say, out loud, anyway, that this is in any way age related!) I will let everyone know when the first one is scheduled. I’m going to ask for a lot of prayers from each of you to get me through something I’ve feared for way too long!!
Lfitzpatrick13@gmail.com
Linda Fitzpatrick
PO Box 37
Au Sables Forks, NY 12912

Beverly Bragg (wife of Kenny Bragg)
Fell in October and underwent kneecap surgery. Continuing with therapy.
kenwbragg@gmail.com
Beverly Bragg
63 Pinecrest Circle
Sheridan, AR 72150

Sandra Garsea Broussard
Underwent shoulder surgery in late December.
sandrabroussard@yahoo.com
Sandra Broussard
2640 66th St.
Port Arthur, TX 77640

Loretta LaLonde Myers
Recovering from hip surgery.
Loretta Myers
522 Beacons Hollow Lane
League City, TX 77573
Lorettaamyers@verizon.net

Ron Waedemon (a note from Betty Bernauer)
Ron just had another surgery on his right knee replacement from 13 years ago. They were able to replace worn out parts of the original. He is doing well.
Bbw1m@aol.com
Ron Waedemon
1818 Cheyenne River Circle
Sugar Land, TX 77478

Laurie Jackson(daughter of Arlene “Becky” Morgan Jackson)
Recovering from cancer surgery
beckyjackson@gt.rr.com
Laurie Jackson
6245 Jenny Lane
Lumberton, TX 77657

Lana Olivier Baker
Pacemaker
lanbak@yahoo.com
Lana Baker
130 Turtle Creek Dr.
Silsbee, TX 77656

Felicia Hiatt Petit
Jan. 9
Tomorrow I'm having a spinal procedure at Methodist Hospital. Meng Huang, M.D. is going to fuse my L4-L5 vertebrae. He is going to put in a spacer to take the pressure off nerves and then do the fusion. This is partially due to my fall while we were in Switzerland. He's already done a Kyphoplasty where he cemented my L5 vertebrae to stabilize it. I certainly hope this helps a lot with my back pain and nerve tingling. Of course I'm very nervous. Having anyone work on my back scares me. Please say a prayer and have positive thoughts for me.
Jan. 12
Thanks so very much for all the prayers and thoughts you all sent my way. Hopefully going home today. Surgery went well, with only one hiccup. Bone density test I had done said bones were ok, but not true. Dr. Huang had to put the screws for the fusion a little further out and cement them. I was in surgery for almost 5 hours. Not that I remember anything, thank goodness. Waiting on an X-ray and getting fitted for a brace. Then I'll probably get released.
Jan. 29
Just a short update on my spinal fusion surgery. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since my operation and things are progressing slowly. My back feels good, but I'm having some knee and hip pain. Dr. Huang had my knees x-rayed to ensure that my knee replacement hardware is ok. And it is. He said probably just positional stress related from a 5-hour surgery and should ease up with walking and simple exercise. I go back to see him in about 5 weeks. David has been so wonderful and patient with me. It takes a true partner to get through this. Hopefully things will continue to progress.
texteach@yahoo.com
Felicia Petit
3008 Cambridge Meadows Ln.
Dickinson, TX 77539

Marilyn Jackson
Treatments for breast cancer and bladder cancer. Dr. gave her a choice of another year of treatments or mastectomy. She chose the latter. She is improving daily.
marilynsjw@yahoo.com
Marilyn Jackson
2315 Glenwood
Port Arthur, TX 77642

Carole Oubre Reeves
Continuing treatments for pancreatic cancer
Carole.reeves@att.net
Carole Reeves
6536 Jefferson
Groves, TX 77619

Dianna (Caillier) and Robert Lewis
Multiple heath issues
Dianna Lewis
912 E. 6th St.
Port Arthur, TX 77640

Charline Valenciano Allen
Dementia
Jhargrave77@yahoo.com
Charline Allen
8695 Medical Center Blvd.
Port Arthur, TX 77640

Diane Barker Foreman
Multiple health issues
dianebforeman@gmail.com
Diane Foreman
5541 Garfield
Groves, TX 77619

CONDOLENCES
(DEATHS OF CLASSMATES, GONE TOO SOON)

Dal Worth Badgett
9/16/1950 – 12/5/2023
Chris Badgett
3019 Nashville
Nederland, TX77627

Ricky Bradley
2/21/1950 – 12/14/2023
Gloria Phillips Bradley
9221 SW 99th St.
Mustang, OK 73064
Gbradley73064@yahoo.com

Elizabeth “Liz” Tieskens Ellis
11/28/1949 – 1/21/2024
Albert “Butch” Ellis
358 Elk Trail
Lafayette, CO 80026
liztellis@gmail.com

Beatrice “Bea” Barbin
(mother of Gary Barbin)
5/1/1924 – 12/17/2023
Gary & Jody (Hopkins) Barbin
2515 Eldridge Ln.
Waco, TX 76710
gkbarbin@gmail.com

Ray Knox
(husband of Patricia Trahan)
6/11/1946 – 12/26/2023
Pat Trahan Knox
925 Brandywine
Beaumont, TX 77706
patknox@hotmail.com

Lynn Fowler
(brother of Willis “Billy” Fowler)
6/10/1955 – 1/13/2024
Billy Fowler
4171 FM1844
Gladewater, TX 75607
Fowler.wm@gmail.com

Russell Selkirk
(husband of Sheila Irby)
6/13/1953 – 1/14/2024
Sheila Irby Selkirk
2806 Windsor
Port Neches, TX 77651

Jim Wilson
(brother of John Wilson)
11/24/1946 – 1/18/2024
John Wilson
PO Box 1456
Crystal Beach, TX 77650
Jdub2349@yahoo.com

Larry Fergusson
(husband of Penny Moakk)
1/30/1946 – 1/21/2024
Penny Moak Fergusson
424 Wildwood Trail
Lorena, TX 76655
Pferguson2@hot.rr.com

Please contact those mentioned on the SUPPORT AND CONDOLENCE lists. Also, a big gratitude to classmates and friends who have contacted me to tell me of those names that I was able to add to this newsletter. If you know of someone that needs to be added, please keep me in mind. I can give you a home address, e-mail address or even a phone # for you to text. I am also here to help you navigate the website. I had a question about someone looking for a 1968 annual. I reminded him that you can find our 1966, 1967 and 1968 annual on our website. Mike downloaded all the pages. To find them, go to our website, www.tjhs1968.com and then scroll down, down, down ALL the way and you will see CLASS ANNUAL LINKS

A million thanks to the classmates that sent me something for MAIL CALL this time. Just drop me a note. Also, life is too short to keep putting off contacting old friends, classmates and neighborhood friends. Take the time now not later.

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