7/12/26

MAIL CALL
from Lori Colletti, wife of Paul Colletti in Fort Worth
05/26/2026
We are enjoying the Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros game here in Arlington. Paul is only working every once in awhile now and will fully retire as a pharmacist in July. I just retired. We took a trip to Portugal in March to celebrate our new life without working. We traveled with my sister and husband and spent a week hiking along the Atlantic coast. We put in 75 miles! I wanted to do something like that while we still can. But Paul “jokes” that I was trying to do him in!
Paul.colletti@gmail.com

from Dianna Caillier Lewis in Port Arthur
(rehab facility after fall)
Now that I am getting stronger with physical therapy, I have been able to take part in many of the activities here. We had Circus day and a western day. Bingo is also fun. We have a bible study and a reading room along with singing. I have been working hard to get stronger.
Update
Dianna has now been released and is receiving therapy at home.
912 E. 6th St.
Port Arthur, TX 77640

from David Lapham in Sunset Valley, TX
It's always interesting to read your newsletter and website and learn what folks are doing. My wife, Lanette Bading, and I recently returned from a trip to Vienna, Austria where, along with a group of friends, we attended the Zuckerbäckerbal (Confectioner's Ball) in mid-January. While we were there, we made day trips to Prague, Budapest, and Bratislava. Some of the places we visited and enjoyed were the ball, the opera house in Bratislava, and the American Bar in Vienna. The American Bar was designed by a man named Adolph Loos who apparently was a pretty famous architect in the area a little over 100 years ago. It was particularly interesting to me because my mother's family name was Loos. I am sure there's no connection, although one of my so-called friends commented that if there was a bar, my family was probably connected in some way. It was pretty cold, including snow at the opera house in Bratislava, Slovakia! We had a great time. The ball was held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna which was, to put it mildly, rather magnificent.
davel@lapham.us

WEBSITE DONATIONS
A note from an anonymous donor:
A small donation for the website. You guys do a great service for us. BTW, your Astros are suffering, if you have not noticed!

A donation was made by Linda DeCuir in memory of classmate, Emmett Morales.
Ways to DONATE to the Website:
Write a Check made out to:
Send to:
Linda DeCuir McFadden
7699 Boardwalk
Lumberton, TX 77657
Or
Venmo
User: Thomas-Jefferson68
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com

MINI REUNION (Coming this weekend)
MINI REUNION
July 18, 2026
12 noon
Rancho Grande
7670 Memorial Blvd
Port Arthur, TX

RSVP
Jeanette Constantine Morgan
409 853-0433
Or
Sharon Lewis Forrest
830 431-2860
Those who are attending:
Linda Carlsen Chapman
Felicia Hiatt Petit
David Petit
Jeanne England
Phillip Wayne Forsythe
Joyce Marceaux Abate
Linda DeCuir McFadden
Murphy McFadden
Carla Castro Stewart
Carla Castro's friend
Darlene Turner Landry
Pat Trahan Knox
Linda Gothia
Linda Gothia's cousin
Sharon Lewis Forrest
Jeanette Constantine Morgan
Dennis Morgan
Georgette Licatino Stepan
Ron Stepan
Lana Weber Guidry
Chrissy Dupuis Mullens
Susan Hatfield Miguez
Gary Miguez
Debbie Borres Desmond
Raymond Desmond
Dianne Mannino Landry
Chris Klinkhammer
Johnny Doering Williamson
Bobby Williamson
Paula Daigle Sheppard
Ernie Castaneda Bullion
Ron Bullion
Laura Meece Darby
Bart Darby
Jane Lippincott Koerth
Bill Richey
Rhonda Richey
Cecilia Trevino Esqueda
Tony Esqueda
Ruelle Parker
Lana Oliver Baker
Fred McCarty
Florence "Sissie" Woods
Jack Atkins
Chris Atkins
Darrell Richerson
Jody Juneau Brown
Tinker Brown
Linda Hopper Hunt
Becky Harrison
Arleen Lang Hulin
Marlon Hulin
Janice Nunez Lynch
Jack Lynch


EACH OF YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO RESPOND AND CALL A FRIEND OR TWO TO JOIN US!

MEMORIES
The last two newsletters have had a paragraph with MY MEMORIES of ELEMENTARY and JUNIOR HIGH. I had thought of continuing by writing MEMORIES OF HIGH SCHOOL. But, I have had no one that sent me any of their memories so I won’t continue.

60th CLASS REUNION in 2028 Send in suggestions.

CHANGES IN CLASSMATE INFORMATION
Please continue to update your address, cell #, e-mail, etc. That is the most efficient way for me to have an updated spreadsheet to work with.

MY INFO:
I have had several classmates that could not get info to me because they were not using the CORRECT e-mail. The following is correct:
lindaDmcfadden@yahoo.com
The “D” does not have to be capital but many of you are NOT including the “D”. That is why it doesn’t get to me.
Just a friendly reminder.

NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Lots of turmoil around here. Pretty stressful but that’s life. Could use some prayers. Since May 10 of the last update we have been pretty busy with things. Murphy and I went to several Lamar U baseball games in Beaumont since they hosted the championship tournament. We sat in the same seats each night and made many new friends. The same week of the tournament I had a scary incidence of being stuck in rush hour traffic in Beaumont with a stalled broken-down car. After being towed to Silsbee they found out I had BAD GAS. I happen to write about it on FB and had a friend who reached out and said to be sure to bring the receipts of the gasoline, towing and repairs to your insurance company and file on COMPREHENSION (comprehensive). In 8 days, I had a check in hand for the repairs and towing minus $100.00 deductible. They do not refund the gasoline charge. I had never known that you could be reimbursed that easily. You are welcome. Now, you know what to do. My brother, Danny Boy and Murphy and I had a great time on our senior bus trip to an Astros game in June. We plan another one in September. We also made another trip to Bryan/College Station for Murphy’s 77th birthday weekend. Our granddaughter was performing in Shrek. We also got to visit with our other granddaughter and boyfriend who came in for the weekend from Addison and also our daughter joined us. Drew will be heading up the choreography for the upcoming The Little Mermaid at the end of July. This will be her first gig at planning all the choreography. She is very excited. Well, if there wasn’t enough going on (remember the stress), we will begin a master bath remodel August 3. Oh lawdy!

ARTICLES
Mike Lawson always includes human interest stories from our region and beyond on the front page of the website. They are always very interesting reads. To find them, scroll ALL THE WAY down to the bottom of the website home page. This update includes articles on Texas Outlaw Sam Bass, “The Chicken Ranch” and Time LIFE at the Vatican: unearthing history beneath St. Peter’s. If you come upon any interesting subject articles, send them our way. We always appreciate your involvement.

SUPPORT
Judy Thompson Orr
June 30
My hip replacement surgery went great! First one on the table and home by 2:15pm! I was able to ditch the walker after day 6, was walking without a cane at day 13 and my surgeon saw me on day 17 and approved me to start driving then! Even though it’s my right hip! It’s now been 5+ weeks and I’m still doing the exercises every day and back to my walking: just over a mile 3x a day. Seeing friends and getting out and about. I get to start swimming again on Wednesday and I’m so excited to get back in the pool. I think I’ve done so well because I had to wait 4 months for the surgery, and I really concentrated on doing the 3x daily exercises to get me ready and that really made the difference.
I need to be ready for our trip in August. We’re off to Colorado (to see son#2 and partner), New York (to see son#3 and family) and on to England to see family and friends. We will be home end of September, stopping to see friends in Florida on the way. I need to be “walking fit” for that! Say “hi” from me to all the friends at the July reunion! Y’all have some FUN!
Jmorr49@gmail.com

Shirley Moreau Betar
After a hospital stay, Shirley was transferred back to her assisted living and placed on hospice care.
705 N. Main St.
*Room 409
Lumberton, TX 77657

Dianna Caillier Lewis
She is back home after several weeks at a rehab after a fall. She is still in a wheelchair but is receiving therapy at home.
912 E. 6th St.
Port Arthur, TX 77640
(Dianna is the one who sends a note or card to each of our classmates that are listed in the SUPPORT or CONDOLENCES.)

David Petit
(a note from Felicia Hiatt Petit)
June 8
David had knee replacement surgery today. It took about 1-1/2 hours for the robot to do its thing. He's doing really well. Has already been up walking and pain management is good. He'll go home tomorrow and start physical therapy on Wednesday. Hopefully he'll be a good patient!!
texteach@yahoo.com
3008 Cambridge Meadow Ln.
Dickinson, TX 77539

Kirk Abshire (husband of Phyllis Fett)
Acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia
Doing well with treatments
pabshire@yahoo.com
605 Fence Post Pass
Cedar Park, TX 78613

Charlie Fontenot
Prostate cancer. Trying to regain his strength.
cajunfont@aol.com
412 Brookdale
League City, TX 77573

Linda Coates Conde
Serious health issues
2106 Lee St.
Nederland, TX 77627

Rex Meyer
Parkinson’s Disease
rex@geomon.net
835 5th St.
Sealey, TX 77474

Ernie Castaneda Bullion
NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis)
1950tina@gmail.com
6215 Marble Falls
Lumberton, TX 77657

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

Kay King Young
kaykingyoung@yahoo.com
Health issues involving lymphoma
12256 Emerald Mist Ln.
Conroe, TX 77304

Debbie Borres Desmond
Cancer remission
Desmonddebbie353@gmail.com
503 37th St.
Nederland, TX 77627

Billy Caldwell
Health issues
bgcaldwell@outlook.com
12092 Woodbrook Dr.
Conroe, TX 77306

Creig Romero
Back on May 14th, I fell on the concrete on our patio and had Traumatic Brain Injury and was taken to Memorial Hermann Head Trauma Unit by ambulance and stayed there for 26 days, treating my brain bleed and severe brain trauma to the left side. Was discharged on June 8th and while there, received Physical and Occupational therapy. I am in Memorial Hermann TIRR Challenge Rehab, 3rd week tomorrow and recovering well. Continuing my Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, speech and short-term memory therapy and all of them progressing well.
creig@creigromero.com
7408 Dillion
Houston, TX 77061

CONDOLENCES
(Classmate obituaries may be found in the Memorial Section)
Classmate gone too soon
Emmett Morales 10/05/1949 – 06/13/2026
Ginny Morales
5260 Stardust Dr.
Beaumont, TX 77706

OTHER DEATHS
(These obituaries may be found in the OBITUARY section)
David Clingan 12/26/1946 – 05/13/2026
(brother of Sherry Clingan Armintor)
Sherryc12009@hotmail.com
3235 Woodlawn
Groves, TX 77619

Roxie Roll 07/20/1946 - 05/14/2026
(sister of Shirley Roll Rabuck)
srabuck@gmail.com
452 CR 2077
Woodville, TX 75979

Jay Levy 04/07/1953 – 05/27/2026
(brother of Joel Levy)
docjkl@msn.com
5534 Hummingbird St.
Houston, TX 77096

Ron Lerner 08/22/1958 -06/12/2026
(husband of Paula Fanguy)
prlerner@comcast.net
834 Ivy Wall Dr.
Houston, TX 77079

Laurie Jackson Delarosa 12/01/1975 – 07/05/2026
(daughter of Arlene “Becky” Morgan Jackson)
Tomjackson1234@gt.rr.com
6245 Jenny Lane
Lumberton, TX 77657

Well, I am looking forward to seeing the classmates and spouses/cousins/friends that will be able to come to our luncheon on Saturday, July 18, 2026. I also hope that the Richeys, who spent their vacation/adventures in Washington, DC for the big 250 year celebration bash, will write something about it for our next update. Anyone else that has something to tell us would be fully appreciated. So until then…..

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