MAIL CALL

from Martha Gomez Miller in Port Neches

We are sorry we cannot attend the reunion this summer.We will be having out of town guests.It is also our 35 ^th wedding reunion on August 4 ^th .

(We will miss you.See you at the 50 ^th reunion in 2018.)

from Terry Watson in Richardson , TX

Our summer is going well.We've gone to about five Texas Rangers games and will do a few more.Our daughter will finish her Master's degree this summer.All that is left is an internship.We have a River Cruise on the Rhine planned for this fall to celebrate our 40 ^th anniversary.But first, we will be attending our 45th class reunion!!See you there.

(Woo hoo.I knew my buddy wouldn't disappoint me.)

from Gloria Faye Burks Scott in Bryan/College Station

I'm not sure yet if I will be able to make the reunion.I have a summer Regional VSU Conference that I am attending at South Padre Island .But, I do hope I get to come in and see everyone.

(Keeping our fingers crossed.)

from Liz beth Branick in Nederland

I enjoy all the information on the website, especially your entertaining stories!The work you and Mike do is greatly appreciated.Thanks so much.I will be attending the reunion Social on Friday night.I am looking forward to it.

(Thanks for your kind words.We are looking forward to seeing your smiling face.)

from Raymond Belz in San Antonio

Thank you for the updates. We have moved to San Antonio for a year while we build a home in Canyon Lake . It has been one long two months. We are not sure about the reunion but I would like to come if at all possible.

(Oh, Raymond....you must come and see the fruits of our labor.We have worked hard to make this Mardi Gras event special.)

from David Salter in Oklahoma City , OK

I'm looking forward to visiting with my TJ classmates---most of whom I have not seen since May, 1967 when we moved from PA to New Jersey . It will be good to see PA and be "home" again. Thanks again for you and Mike 's efforts with the website and reunion.

(David posted his check the day AFTER the second set of tornadoes that went through his city.Now, that is dedication!)

from Richard “Dick” James in Nacogdoches , TX

I'm probably not going to make the reunion this year. I have to work that weekend. I work at The Rusk State Hospital these days. I will try to find a brave soul to cover, but most folks don't want to give up their weekend off.In April, my wife, Cathy, fell 13 ft out of deer stand we were constructing for next season. She received a compound fracture of her right forearm.She had surgery where they put in 2 eight-hole plates and 15 screws! She is healing well. She was not able to return to work at Henderson ISD for the month of May, so her summer started early. She is quite a trooper though. She was back up in the same stand this past weekend and helped to finish the job. She is tough!

We don't talk about memory, but I can't remember why.

(Trooper?She must have hit her head to go back up there in this heat.Take care of your sweet bride.I understand about being on CALL.My brother can't ever get anyone to take his weekends at St. John 's in Clear Lake .Maybe another miracle will happen and you WILL get to come and let us SEE your bionic wife!)

from Gilsey Viator in Austin

I can't wait to see everyone!! I still work and I am really looking forward to going and reconnecting with classmates.

from Harold Erixon in Liberty Hill , TX

I am scheduled to move my daughter from Lexington , KY to Louisville during the last part of July.It doesn't look like I will be able to make the reunion this time.

(Sad face!It was so good to see you again in May of 2012 when we had a Cinco de Mayo get-together in PA.Maybe you'll come down again and we can get together with some classmates.Have a safe trip to Kentucky and back.)

from Sandy Ellis MacNamara in Elgin , TX

I am looking forward to coming to the reunion.My husband will not be able to attend since he will be attending his own 50 th reunion that very weekend. Paul's reunion is very different.He went to a private Catholic school with 6 - 10 people at most.They go out to dinner together. Then, he will go to NY and spend time with his son.

I may get Brenda Schlaudt to come with me.She is from the class of '70. I may also invite Dana Stough, also from the class of '70. I hate to go alone -- sound familiar?

(The more the merrier.)

from Lyn Frasier and Perry Lee in Georgetown , TX

We will not be able to attend the reunion. It just isn't going to work out. I know you all have spent hours and hours planning this big celebration for our class. Thank you and the reunion committee for the time, energy, and effort put into the events of that weekend. We hope the reunion will be a tremendous success.

(We will miss you and Perry.I know how much fun the other reunions were for the both of you.Keep in touch.)

from Linda Blanton Murski in Guanaja Island , Honduras

I am planning on attending the reunion. I will be bringing my daughter again this time. I hope my son will be able to join us again, too but he is having back surgery so I am not sure about him. Looking forward to seeing everyone in August.

(Can't wait to see my sweet, bubbly Linda B again!Safe travels.)

from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston

I can't make the reunion this year, but I am sending a little update. Some of you already know through Facebook that I took a river cruise in May from Paris down the Seine to Norma ndy and back to Paris , passing through some delightful towns such as Rouen and Honfleur. There were two highlights in my mind. One was a visit to Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny. I love impressionist art, and this part of the itinerary was one reason I chose this cruise. The other highlight was our visit to Norma ndy . Since it’s D-Day as I am writing this, that visit has really been on my mind today. It was such a reaffirmation of the debt we all owe to our service members past, present and future.

A few days after I got back, Linda Smith Webber and I headed back to Las Vegas . It seems like they hadn’t gotten enough of our money back in Marc h and bribed us to come back, so we did. I’ll only say that a good time was had by all, especially the casinos.

(We will miss you at the reunion.Thanks for the description of your trip.My mom was born on June 6 (D Day) and she always talked about it. )

from Carolyn McCollum Elender in Houston

I've retired from teaching business in Pasadena .I'm now writing lessons for the Texas Council on Economic Education, doing professional development for elementary math teachers and my daughter and I have opened a school!We cater to the children of teachers.Our babies are from 6 weeks to preschool.Life is good.See you at the reunion!

(Oh, I'm tired just reading that.Whew.Glad you will be able to come to the reunion and UNWIND!)

from Sara Little Herman in Alpine, TX

I wanted to call you so badly when I was in southeast Texas last week, but just didn't have the opportunity to set aside time for a quiet visit. I was there staying with my son Daniel and his family that just got a little larger.He and his wife, Emma, had child # 3 on May 8 when baby Betsy Lillianne was born.Big brothers, Levi and Smith, are so excited to have a baby sister! Emma had a C-section and so I was there to help send the kids off to school and then take care of the baby while Emma heals. I left Saturday morning for Tyler to see my youngest son without having the chance to talk to you.

My husband had a heart attack on May 11 ^th and is still recuperating. We have been building a new home ourselves. Rusty has nailed every stick himself at the age of 70 and the stress of that plus his law practice has proven too much. We will not be able to come to the reunion at the beginning of August, I'm afraid.We will definitely make the 50th, though!

(I am excited about all your grandbabies!I know you waited awhile to get one and now....a bunch.I'll be here in Lumberton next time you come.Love you friend!Now, take care of that sweet husband.)

from Joye Jefferson Roll in Pearland , TX

I think we will be at the reunion. We have a slight conflict in that my daughter's first baby is due 2 weeks before, and I've promised to be with her. So, here's hoping that the baby is either early or on time, but not late!

We're all good. Mike is busy building beach houses in Galveston- his retirement "hobby".

(Grandbabies, grandbabies everywhere!Hope to see you and Mike at the reunion.)

from Ellen Fawvor in Port Arthur

I will not be able to come to the reunion this summer.I will miss everyone.

(Sorry.Maybe the 50 ^th ?)

from Mindy Marburger Lawrence in Houston

I have been in a new position since the end of January, and it seems I have made a few more commitments than time allows.But, Tim and I will be at the reunion for both events.Thank you for all that you, Mike and the committee do to keep us connected and on-track.

(Take a breath, relax, and visit with all your crazy, (but older), classmates! Excited you will be able to make it to PA.)

OKLAHOMA TORNADOES (part two)

from Glenn McGee in Duncan , OK

We live in Duncan , OK , the home of Halliburton, which is about 1 hour from Moore , OK . We had no damage, thank God. When the tornado hit, I was working as a Chaplain for a local hospice. I was in a nursing home facility. They went into emergency mode by bringing all the residents in the hallways and closing all the doors. About that time, the power went out. The outage lasted about four hours but we had no local damage. We have been praying for all the families in Moore .God Bless everyone.

glenn7@cableone.net

from Lana Oliver Baker in Tulsa , OK

We are okay.The worse was north and south of us.

lanbak@yahoo.com

from Gloria (Phillips) and Ricky Bradley in Mustang, OK

THANKING THE LORD FOR SAFETY OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR HOUSES!! We stayed in our shelter last night for 2 hours while tornados came straight through our pasture, turned in front of the house and crossed the front yard then went across the street. We lost 9 large cotton wood trees that were all uprooted. One landed on my car!! Praise the Lord it was the top of the tree and not main trunk of the tree (no damage to car).Another tree fell on our RV port and smashed the fence and side and top of RV port with (no damage to trailer!) We have some hail damage to metal house roof. Four large trees were uprooted in the front yard that fell across the street. Other random trees were downed on ourproperty. We faced a lot of hard work ahead of us for at least 3 weeks....MOSTLY HARD WORK FOR RICK. Our son Jeb called to get damage report, then Misty and Jeb came, bringing his brother Patrick, wife Renne, and 4 other people from his church " Beth el Baptist Church".....Everyone of us worked hard from 8-3 ~ ALL TREES CUT UP ~ Fence fixed ~ yard cleaned up~WE ARE PRAISING THE LORD FOR SENDING HELP ♥ FAMILY AND NOW NEW FRIENDS ♥ ONCE AGAIN GOD PROTECTED US AND CAME TO OUR AIDE WITH HELPING HANDS.

gbradley73064@yahoo.com

REUNION NEWS

There is a big smile on my face!I have gotten checks from 24 classmates and 14 guests since the last NEWSLETTER and website update on May 31 ^st .That makes 174 guests on the list of attendees and several are “promising” to get their checks in the mail pronto.As I write this NEWSLSETTER, we only have 49 days left.That isn't as much as you think.We are now paying last minute type bills and also wanting to order fun items to give away.We need head counts to know how much to order.Hope to hear from you soon.

WEBSITE DONATIONS

The website checking account received two more checks this week from Mindy Marburger and David Salter !Thanks, thanks, thanks.

NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT

Today is my honey's 64 ^th birthday!We met the week of his birthday 43 years ago at the Newman Center at Lamar University .Even though Murphy went to TJ and graduated in '67, I only knew his name.While at Lamar, my mom said to me, “Go to the Newman and meet a good Catholic boy.”Well, I met a “bad” Lutheran instead playing Spades during his off time between classes.The rest is history!He is in Huntsville at an RV park camping with our daughter and her family while I am at home in Lumberton with Dad.We couldn't find a sitter for the 5 days that we had previously planned.I will leave tomorrow to go meet them.This was our first time in 43 years that we haven't spent his birthday together.“-(

Good news about my SISTER.The last time I wrote this column my sister's future was up in the air.She had just been moved to my nephew's house on the spur of the moment without any plans.She is doing well and is actually doing much better in a less stressful environment.Please keep her and her husband who is in Bridge City in your prayers.There are a lot of decisions that will need to be made.

Our summer has started with us keeping the two sister-granddaughters, 8 ½ and 10.So, keeping a 97 year old dad, Murphy and I in our 60's, and two elementary age kiddoes happy, entertained, and fed is a little bit crazy.But then, what's new?Speaking of fed, Murphy was in charge of cooking and feeding dad while I was out recently.I came home and asked Dad if he was ready to eat, just teasing him.He said, “Yes.”He didn't remember eating 30 minutes before and LAUGHED when I told him that Murphy had cooked and fed him. Obviously, Murphy is not in charge of cooking very often. Murphy got a little bit of what I get everyday! Ernie Castaneda Bullion came over yesterday to give dad his B12 shot.You should have seen his face when I told him to go into his room to get his shot.He gave me one of those looks and hung his head while frowning as he led Ernie into his room.I don't even want to know what he was saying under his breath!

Thanks to Diane Richmond Miller and Diane Barker Foreman for sending information on RESPITE care for my dad for short term visits on weekends or for us to go on vacations.You are very much appreciated, friends!

SUPPORT

I received a surprise phone call from my very special high school friend, Donnie DeLee .He has moved from Sacramento to San Antonio to be closer to his brother and sister-in-law due to health issues.He is now receiving dialysis three times a week.He is also planning on coming to our reunion.I will be happy to see my running around buddy again!We were in Mr. Rowland's homeroom and the Maroon and Gold band together.

dondelee@gmail.com

CONDOLENCES

While researching missing classmates, we found that two of our classmates had passed away.That makes 95!So sad.

Earnest Reed, Jr.

June 4, 1950-August 20, 2012

Michael “ Mike ” Hilton

Marc h 19, 1950-April 10, 2010

We haven't found an obituary for Mike but you may read Earnest's obituary in the MEMORIAL section.

THIS FATHER'S DAY ON SUNDAY, JUNE 16 ^th, WILL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT THE FOLLOWING CLASSMATES WILL SPEND WITHOUT THEIR FATHERS STILL ON THIS EARTH.PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS.

Florence “Sissie” Woods Kilcrease, Ronnie Moerbe, Pete Huber, Craig Runyan, Joan Joffrion Williams, and Ellen Fawvor.

Friends, this is it for this edition.I hope the next one is just as long.That means that I will have lots of MAIL to post.

Stay in touch, WRITE YOUR REUNION CHECK, and contact a classmate,

Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com