Just wanted to say a Happy Belated Birthday to our Class Blog. The first blog article was posted on 02/25/06 so that makes the blog 2 years old this week. Hurray! If you will, please note that on the left hand side of the Blog page there is a link to the First Fair Park Blog. Be sure to check it out for all the older postings.
Received a short note from Don Jones to compliment the website as being a wonderful way to keep in touch with our classmates. Thanks for that Don and please all of you be sure to pass this info along to all of our classmates and maybe more folks will learn about it. Lets keep the news flowing.
A special Thanks to each of you that has participated in this site. Please keep up the good work.
February 28, 2008
February 27, 2008
Kay Burford Murphy
Kay wanted to share with the class that since the death of her Mother a few weeks ago that now life is going on as usual at her house.
The memorial service and visitation for her Mother went very well. There were about a 100 people there in all. She said it was especially good to see Mark Carter and his wife at the service.
Kay's granddaughter Nikki, who is a Sophomore at Clear Lake High School was able to say goodby to her great grandmother before she died. Kay took her to the hospital with her on the night of the 13th of Feb. Mrs. Burford passed away on Valentines Day, Feb 14th and Nikki thought it was so romantic that her great grandmother would die to be with her great grandfather on Valentines Day. Mr. Burford passed away last year. Mrs. Burford was 88 years old and had a great adventure packed life.
Kay says that after all the children were grown Mr.& Mrs. Burford spent 7 yrs. sailing with friends around the Gulf of Mexico and over to the Bahamas on private sailboats. They visited China, toured Europe, spent a Christmas Eve at Westminister Abby in the presence of the Queen of England (didn't meet her though), cruised the Hawaiian Islands, went to Alaska and then on a Carribbean cruise. She said her parents were not 'stay at home' retirees! Mrs. Burford also volunteered a lot of her time. She volunteered 14 years at the local library and also started a sewing club at the local hospital making items to help sick people recover and making Christmas stockings for December babies to go home in. Kay says her Mom drove her own car and was a very careful driver so she had no problem riding with her when she drove.
Kay says that if she could accomplish half of what her mother accomplished in her lifetime, she would consider herself doing good. I guess we all feel that way about our Mothers, Kay. They were surely good ladies and Mothers to us.
Kay notes that her daughter Gayle is doing ok for now and has started her 7th round of chemotherapy last week. Kay takes her to work with her most days and finds many things for her to do to stay busy. We all wish Gayle and Kay the best in the future with her illness. Glad life is moving on for you with the loss of your Mom and thanks Kay for the update.
The memorial service and visitation for her Mother went very well. There were about a 100 people there in all. She said it was especially good to see Mark Carter and his wife at the service.
Kay's granddaughter Nikki, who is a Sophomore at Clear Lake High School was able to say goodby to her great grandmother before she died. Kay took her to the hospital with her on the night of the 13th of Feb. Mrs. Burford passed away on Valentines Day, Feb 14th and Nikki thought it was so romantic that her great grandmother would die to be with her great grandfather on Valentines Day. Mr. Burford passed away last year. Mrs. Burford was 88 years old and had a great adventure packed life.
Kay says that after all the children were grown Mr.& Mrs. Burford spent 7 yrs. sailing with friends around the Gulf of Mexico and over to the Bahamas on private sailboats. They visited China, toured Europe, spent a Christmas Eve at Westminister Abby in the presence of the Queen of England (didn't meet her though), cruised the Hawaiian Islands, went to Alaska and then on a Carribbean cruise. She said her parents were not 'stay at home' retirees! Mrs. Burford also volunteered a lot of her time. She volunteered 14 years at the local library and also started a sewing club at the local hospital making items to help sick people recover and making Christmas stockings for December babies to go home in. Kay says her Mom drove her own car and was a very careful driver so she had no problem riding with her when she drove.
Kay says that if she could accomplish half of what her mother accomplished in her lifetime, she would consider herself doing good. I guess we all feel that way about our Mothers, Kay. They were surely good ladies and Mothers to us.
Kay notes that her daughter Gayle is doing ok for now and has started her 7th round of chemotherapy last week. Kay takes her to work with her most days and finds many things for her to do to stay busy. We all wish Gayle and Kay the best in the future with her illness. Glad life is moving on for you with the loss of your Mom and thanks Kay for the update.
February 26, 2008
Marvin Jones
Marvin wanted to share with the class that on March 4, 2008 he will have his right knee totally replaced in a hospital in Little Rock, AR.
He hopes to be in and out of the hospital and rehab in about 2 weeks time. He promised the doctors he would work real hard at getting up and at 'em very quickly as he wants to be ready this year when hunting season comes to chase those deer without pain in his knee.
Marvin our thoughts and prayers will be with you during this time. Heal quickly and keep us posted on your recovery.
He hopes to be in and out of the hospital and rehab in about 2 weeks time. He promised the doctors he would work real hard at getting up and at 'em very quickly as he wants to be ready this year when hunting season comes to chase those deer without pain in his knee.
Marvin our thoughts and prayers will be with you during this time. Heal quickly and keep us posted on your recovery.
February 25, 2008
Johney & Judy Scott Jeans
Johney and Judy are pleased to announce the birth of their newest grandson. Wanda, their daughter and her husband Brett had a little boy on 02-21-08 at 6:15 p.m. His name is Wyatt Brett LeBert. Wyatt weighed 8 lbs 1 1/2 oz. and was 22" long. He is a beautiful baby. Mother and baby are doing fine. The father is doing pretty good too!
Congratulations to the proud parents and to Johney and Judy. God Bless Wyatt for a good life to come. Aunt Sue is proud also.
Congratulations to the proud parents and to Johney and Judy. God Bless Wyatt for a good life to come. Aunt Sue is proud also.
Don C. Jones
Don Jones got in contact yesterday and has since provided his address info using the new online form designed for that purpose. Don said he found out about the class website by a letter sent to him in August 2003 by Mary Calliham Corcelli.
Don retired from KCS Railroad in August 2005 with 35 1/2 years of service as a switchman. A short time later he bought a computer with internet capabilities. It took him a while to learn to use the new machine but his children were there to teach him how.
Don has lived in the Blanchard area since 1951. He started school at Queensborough Elem. in 1949 in the 1st grade. He was there for the 2nd grade in 1950 also. He still has pictures from both grades. He plans to share those pictures with the class and will send them to Bill to put on the website at a later date.
Don remembers Fair Parker's Lunie Ray Flowers, Jack Wiggins and Roy Morris from school in Blanchard Elem. from the 3rd thru the 8th grade. He says he has not heard from them in a long time now.
Don we are glad you sent in your information. Please stay in touch.
Don retired from KCS Railroad in August 2005 with 35 1/2 years of service as a switchman. A short time later he bought a computer with internet capabilities. It took him a while to learn to use the new machine but his children were there to teach him how.
Don has lived in the Blanchard area since 1951. He started school at Queensborough Elem. in 1949 in the 1st grade. He was there for the 2nd grade in 1950 also. He still has pictures from both grades. He plans to share those pictures with the class and will send them to Bill to put on the website at a later date.
Don remembers Fair Parker's Lunie Ray Flowers, Jack Wiggins and Roy Morris from school in Blanchard Elem. from the 3rd thru the 8th grade. He says he has not heard from them in a long time now.
Don we are glad you sent in your information. Please stay in touch.
February 20, 2008
New Search Process
Google has just announced an upgraded search capability for the blog. In the upper left corner of this page where it says Search Blog is the Search box you use to enter a phrase that you want to find. For example, in the article below Linda mentioned Carol Blake's previous knee surgery. If I type Carol Blake in the search box I get a list in date order of the blog articles with Carol's name in them. A quick read of those articles and you have refreshed your memory of when that surgery took place. Give it a try and see if searching the blog can be helpful to you. - Bill
February 19, 2008
Eugene & Carol Blake
Eugene and Carol wanted to share with the class that after all these years of working as a fabricator welder and maintance mechanic at GE in Greer, SC and working second shift for the past 15 yrs. 10-12 hrs. daily, he has now retired and they are adjusting to their new life with normal hours.
Eugene told Carol that he wanted to just take a month off and do nothing and get use to their new life without having to work daily.
They live about 2 hrs. from the beach and about 1 hr. from the mountains and as everyone knows Eugene loves to fish. So fishing it will be! They have a very nice travel trailer so that will be a second home for them in the future at the sea shore and in those beautiful mountains.
Eugene also has a shop behind his home that includes a complete wood working shop and plenty of welding equipment. So that will keep him busy also. He is a 32nd degree Mason and has not been able to attend many meetings due to the shift work and hopes to get back to doing that soon.
Carol had a complete knee replacement back in July '07 and has recovered with great success. She now has plans of her own for the two of them. First with the house and yard. She is also an expert seemstress and has a sewing room on one end of the house. She had a drapery and custom sewing business there for years. She has an embroidery machine and also teaches sewing. Eugene says there is a sign in the sewing room that reads, "The person who dies last with the most fabric wins." Carol will also take her machine in the travel trailer with them to use and take classes around the country.
Eugene and Carol have two children but no grandchildren at this time. So now they can enjoy those children and each other even more so now with all this extra time he will have.
Good Luck on the retirement Eugene & Carol. Enjoy all the together time and traveling in the future. You both deserve the best !
Eugene told Carol that he wanted to just take a month off and do nothing and get use to their new life without having to work daily.
They live about 2 hrs. from the beach and about 1 hr. from the mountains and as everyone knows Eugene loves to fish. So fishing it will be! They have a very nice travel trailer so that will be a second home for them in the future at the sea shore and in those beautiful mountains.
Eugene also has a shop behind his home that includes a complete wood working shop and plenty of welding equipment. So that will keep him busy also. He is a 32nd degree Mason and has not been able to attend many meetings due to the shift work and hopes to get back to doing that soon.
Carol had a complete knee replacement back in July '07 and has recovered with great success. She now has plans of her own for the two of them. First with the house and yard. She is also an expert seemstress and has a sewing room on one end of the house. She had a drapery and custom sewing business there for years. She has an embroidery machine and also teaches sewing. Eugene says there is a sign in the sewing room that reads, "The person who dies last with the most fabric wins." Carol will also take her machine in the travel trailer with them to use and take classes around the country.
Eugene and Carol have two children but no grandchildren at this time. So now they can enjoy those children and each other even more so now with all this extra time he will have.
Good Luck on the retirement Eugene & Carol. Enjoy all the together time and traveling in the future. You both deserve the best !
February 18, 2008
Johnny and Brenda McClure Johnson
Brenda and Johnny wanted to share some exciting news with the class that they just received about their garden at their home in Shreveport.
They were chosen to be on the Masters Gardners Tour again on May 5 & 6. This will be their second time to be chosen. They were on the tour in 2002, with over 1,700 folks touring their garden on that 2 day tour. Brenda says it was so much fun for the both of them to have it ready.
There will be more info in the paper as the dates get closer. They were nominated last Oct. for this Spring tour and they just announced the 5 homes that were chosen for the tour this week.
Brenda says the papers and local magazines do a great job with articles and pictures of the various gardens so she will try and keep us posted with the news and etc. She has lots of work to do now!
Thanks Brenda and Johnny for the news and that garden will be just as beautiful this year as it was in 2002 but more so. How lucky to have that much of a green thumb. Good Luck!
They were chosen to be on the Masters Gardners Tour again on May 5 & 6. This will be their second time to be chosen. They were on the tour in 2002, with over 1,700 folks touring their garden on that 2 day tour. Brenda says it was so much fun for the both of them to have it ready.
There will be more info in the paper as the dates get closer. They were nominated last Oct. for this Spring tour and they just announced the 5 homes that were chosen for the tour this week.
Brenda says the papers and local magazines do a great job with articles and pictures of the various gardens so she will try and keep us posted with the news and etc. She has lots of work to do now!
Thanks Brenda and Johnny for the news and that garden will be just as beautiful this year as it was in 2002 but more so. How lucky to have that much of a green thumb. Good Luck!
February 14, 2008
February Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the Class of '61 folks with February Birthdays.
--Johnnie Ross McKinney - February 3
--Johnny Johnson - February 12
--June Mullins Shay - February 13
--Johnnie Ross McKinney - February 3
--Johnny Johnson - February 12
--June Mullins Shay - February 13
January Birthdays
Happy Belated Birthday to the class of 1961 folks who had Birthdays in January.
--Judy Sewell Wilson - January 1
--Pat Hayes Smay - January 10
--Faye Hammons - January 11
--Joylyn Smith Smith - January 15
--David Loper - January 19
--Judy Sewell Wilson - January 1
--Pat Hayes Smay - January 10
--Faye Hammons - January 11
--Joylyn Smith Smith - January 15
--David Loper - January 19
Johnny & Brenda McClure Johnson
Brenda & Johnny wanted to share with the class a few milestones that 2008 will bring for them.
Johnny turned the big # 65 on Feb. 12th and Brenda will catch up with him on March 6th. Brenda said that even though their children are gaining on them its hardly believeable they are both 65 this year. To make March a more exciting month for the two of them they will also celebrate their 49th Anniversary on March 4th.
Brenda has been retired 5 years now and spends her time gardening and decorating. She has always loved to do both and now she has the time. Johnny is still working and right now he isn't sure when he'll give it up. Brenda seems to think when it's not fun anymore he will. So that is to be seen in the future.
They have been blessed with 2 great children and their spouses and 6 grandchildren ages 13 to 23. One of the oldest boys just graduated from Texas A&M in Dec. and needless to say how proud they are of him. Their daughter and her family lives in Missouri City, TX and their son and his family still live in Shreveport only a few miles from them.
The other loves in their lives are Georgie and Gracie, their 2 English Bulldogs and at 60 pounds a piece they do keep their lives interesting. They are all one big happy family on the sofa every night watching TV.
Brenda and Johnny sends their love and best wishes for a good year to everyone in the class and the class sends Congratulations to you both on # 65 Birthday and # 49 Anniversary. May the blessing from above continue to flow for the Johnson family in the coming years.
Johnny turned the big # 65 on Feb. 12th and Brenda will catch up with him on March 6th. Brenda said that even though their children are gaining on them its hardly believeable they are both 65 this year. To make March a more exciting month for the two of them they will also celebrate their 49th Anniversary on March 4th.
Brenda has been retired 5 years now and spends her time gardening and decorating. She has always loved to do both and now she has the time. Johnny is still working and right now he isn't sure when he'll give it up. Brenda seems to think when it's not fun anymore he will. So that is to be seen in the future.
They have been blessed with 2 great children and their spouses and 6 grandchildren ages 13 to 23. One of the oldest boys just graduated from Texas A&M in Dec. and needless to say how proud they are of him. Their daughter and her family lives in Missouri City, TX and their son and his family still live in Shreveport only a few miles from them.
The other loves in their lives are Georgie and Gracie, their 2 English Bulldogs and at 60 pounds a piece they do keep their lives interesting. They are all one big happy family on the sofa every night watching TV.
Brenda and Johnny sends their love and best wishes for a good year to everyone in the class and the class sends Congratulations to you both on # 65 Birthday and # 49 Anniversary. May the blessing from above continue to flow for the Johnson family in the coming years.
February 13, 2008
Judy Pace Smith
Judy and her husband Edsel wanted to share with the class a little surprise visit that they had this past weekend with their son Wayne.
Wayne and a buddy of his who both live in Pineville, La. rode their motorcycles on the back roads enjoying the beautiful sunny day and surprised his Mother and Daddy with a visit to their home in Lufkin, Texas.
They enjoyed a nice lunch at a neighborhood diner and had a good but short visit with Wayne and his buddy before the boys had to head back on another scenic route to their home.
Judy glad you and Edsel got to visit with that son of yours. See you never know when he cranks up that motorcycle where he'll end up. So be ready even if Mr. Edsel was working in the yard.
To view the picture of Edsel, Judy and Wayne, please go to Album 02 on the Photos web page of the class website.
Wayne and a buddy of his who both live in Pineville, La. rode their motorcycles on the back roads enjoying the beautiful sunny day and surprised his Mother and Daddy with a visit to their home in Lufkin, Texas.
They enjoyed a nice lunch at a neighborhood diner and had a good but short visit with Wayne and his buddy before the boys had to head back on another scenic route to their home.
Judy glad you and Edsel got to visit with that son of yours. See you never know when he cranks up that motorcycle where he'll end up. So be ready even if Mr. Edsel was working in the yard.
To view the picture of Edsel, Judy and Wayne, please go to Album 02 on the Photos web page of the class website.
February 06, 2008
Linda Smart Walters
We recently established contact with Linda Smart Walters and have posted her home and email address to the Class Directory.
Linda reports that she has visited the Class of '61 website and has been reading her yearbook and reminiscing about 1961 and all of her old friends. She said she was sorry she was unable to attend the '06 reunion.
Linda has lived in Slidell, LA since '79. She says she and her family survived hurricane Katrina but their home was beat up and not livable for 6 months afterwards. They live by Lake Ponchartrain off of Hwy. 11. The former name of the street was called Old Rats Nest Road, and it is still known by that name to the locals. There was also a well known restaurant at the end of the road but the restaurant is now gone along with all the camps in that area. Linda said her house is on pilings that are 18 ft. high and the storm surge was 17 ft. They were lucky the house did not get any water inside.
Linda, we are all glad you now know about our '61 website and can get in contact with old friends. We'll keep you informed on all activities of the class.
Linda reports that she has visited the Class of '61 website and has been reading her yearbook and reminiscing about 1961 and all of her old friends. She said she was sorry she was unable to attend the '06 reunion.
Linda has lived in Slidell, LA since '79. She says she and her family survived hurricane Katrina but their home was beat up and not livable for 6 months afterwards. They live by Lake Ponchartrain off of Hwy. 11. The former name of the street was called Old Rats Nest Road, and it is still known by that name to the locals. There was also a well known restaurant at the end of the road but the restaurant is now gone along with all the camps in that area. Linda said her house is on pilings that are 18 ft. high and the storm surge was 17 ft. They were lucky the house did not get any water inside.
Linda, we are all glad you now know about our '61 website and can get in contact with old friends. We'll keep you informed on all activities of the class.
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