Category Memories

Aug 12 2018

Waco Town Crier – August 2018

An adapted version of “The Town Crier” sent by Jeanne Harman on August 1, 2018.

Upcoming Reunion

I sincerely hope you will plan to come to the reunion. We are getting older every day and cannot be sure we will have the chance to visit with graduates again. The event is only about 2 months away. Get on board and register. Here’s the registration form. Malissa awaits!

Please help if you have any information on these graduates:
Contact: Bob Easter or Malissa (Starnes) Baugh

Grover & Sandra Rogers
Linda Ann Bailey Embry
Marian Lee Barnes Carson
Donald Allen Cook
Linda Marie Davis Rachui
Carole Fisher Clingman
M. Louann Hanna Lund
Bobby Hurst
Malachi J. Kelley
Anna Louise Logan
C. Tom Lowrey
Gerry Anne Parke Markham
Maxcine Reppold Moss		 Mary Ann Scott Honea
Doris Virginia Thrasher Gamboa
Douglas Harris
Leland Howard
Mary Pact Hogan
Ellen Conway Buckner
Guy Mitchell Collins, Jr
David Haferkamp-
Linda Lord Gentry
Linda Davis Rachui
Zeda Cosper Hopkins
Eugene Gaisser
John Danzeiser

Early Birds who have already registered:

Ken and Scoot Baker
Lynette (Muchow) and Jarod Baugh
Malissa (Starnes) and Rex Baugh
Louann Hilton Brady
Rita (Coates) and Ed Burnett
Gene and JoAnn Carson
James and Gia Coone
Howard Dudgeon
Bob and Carolyn Easter
Janice Massengale Foster
(Tuesday and Wednesday evenings)
Betty Luedeker Gatlin
Jeanne Holland Harman
Anitra Harrell Henrion
(Tuesday evening and Brunch only)
Kay Albright Hofer
Karon Shinault Jackson
(Brunch only)
George and Glenda Karahal
Charlotte Suttle Kleibrink
Cathey White Land
(Tuesday evening and Brunch only)
Tim Lasseter Latta
Mickey and Melody Lavy
(Wednesday Brunch and evening only)
Pat and Carol Malone
Bill and Jeanette Markum
Dorothy Bryan McCook
Linda (Phelps) and James McKee		 Mary Beth (Cash) and Don McMahon
David and Janie McPhail
Jim Monnig
(Wednesday Brunch and evening only)
John (Moon) Mullen and Guest
Judith Hamff Murphy
Sandra (Wooten) and Don Overholser
David Peeples
Gary and Donna Roberts
(Donna Brunch only)
Terrell Reagan
(Wednesday evening only)
David and Lesley Rosen
(Tuesday evening only)
Christian Ruebeck
Norma (Cissell) and Wayne Smith
Rod and Cheri Sommer
Kay (Phillips) and Ralph Sparks
Carolyn Taylor (Rayburn)
Tommie Ruth (Blair) Toler
Vince and Betty Tusa
Nena (Hunt) and Bob Wallace
Mary Ann (Shilling) Watt
(Brunch only)
Bev Murphy Wells
Robert (Little Red) Wilson
SuEllen (Golden) and John Wilson
(Wednesday evening only)

From Our Graduates

Last month, Mickey Lavy asked: “Why is there air?”
Answer: In 1965 Bill Cosby (not yet on TV) proclaimed that, There’s air to blow up volley balls, there’s air to blow up basketballs.”

**Side note from the editor: “Hmmm- my guess would have been: So the politicians could speak– since they all seem to be full of nothing but hot air.”

Updates

Bob Easter fell on Thursday afternoon July 12th, hit his head, had a concussion, and eventually had to get a pacemaker. Here is his account of the incident:
“After falling and not having any knowledge of the fall, I stayed in ER for 18 hours, lots of tests for bleeding brain and then decision to install pacemaker to prevent future falls. Saturday morning, July 14, Dr. David Kessler installed a pacemaker. Went home Saturday afternoon. Felt drained emotionally and physically. Not ready to go dancing if you know what I mean. The only issue is my head where I fell. It is still tender and has a raised area. That will go down soon. Carolyn is telling everyone ‘See I told you he was hardheaded.’

“I am taking it easy and plan to watch the recovery time carefully. I also know the emotional part of the head injury will resolve, as little things seem to bother me.

“Now, go tell someone you love them, not at a glance but look them in the eyes and say it slowly. We all need tender loving care. Thank you for your love and concern.”

August Birthdays


3- Angie (Plemons) Lehman
4- LouAnn (Hilton) Brady
9- Mary Frances Rodriquez
19- Dill Bailey
21- Charlotte (Suttle) Kleibrink
22- Pat (McGlaughn) Dooley
27- Bonnie (Burson) Chapman
29- Aubrey Stringer

Show and Tell – Sondi (Nelson) Pace

I began playing the violin in 1950 when we still lived in Kansas. Upon moving to Waco in 1952, I continued lessons and training, and was fortunate to play regularly at Austin Avenue Methodist Church and 2nd chair with the Waco Symphony during my teenage years. After taking a bit of time off during college and child-bearing years, I began playing again with our church orchestra, First Baptist of Richardson, and continued for 30 years. We were blessed with the opportunity to present The Easter Story to the community for all this time, to play at the Myers Concert Hall in Dallas, and to tour Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1990 playing concerts.

When we moved to Fairview (near McKinney), I was privileged to play with their church orchestra for many years. Following that, I played with the Dallas Praise Orchestra all around the Metroplex area. My involvement now is mainly “fiddling” with the tiny country church near our lake cabin in Oklahoma.

Other highlights of my life have been the opportunity of working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for 24 years, serving in the Dallas, Regional and State offices, doing event planning for hundreds of athletes, supporters and staff, and serving on their National Board of Directors. I was also wedding coordinator for our church for several years, was involved in Camp Fire for over 50 years, working with kids and including service on the Local and National Boards of Directors.

We are the proud parents of two lovely daughters and four grandchildren … the oldest two grandsons are married and living in Nashville and NW Arkansas. Our granddaughter is married to an Irving police officer and teaching 4th grade in Mansfield. Youngest grandson is attending SFA in Nacogdoches and playing baseball.

Ray (class of ’59) and I have been blessed beyond belief … have travelled extensively and, on August 18, will celebrate 56 years of adventure! (58 years if you count the two years we dated and were engaged.)

Would love to list all of the Waco friends from the classes of ’59, ’60 and ’61 who meant so much to us, but am sure I would leave someone out. So to all of you: thanks for the memories and God bless!

Pictures

What a difference 70 years makes. Below is a picture of 1st grade – Ms. Bailey’s room- at Dean-Highland Elementary. Aubrey Stringer and Linda Shelby started first grade together in 1948. Aubrey is 4th from the left on the top row. Linda is 3rd from the left on the middle row.


(Can you recognize any of the others? Hint: Marvin Schutza, Vic Anderson, Rayburn Taylor, Poppy Early, Susan Stringer, Melissa Snell, Bobby Willingham, Malissa Starnes, Sharon McCarthy, Crozier Brown)

This new picture was taken a few days ago on July 29, 2018 — some 70 years later. Aubrey and Linda have not changed very much in all those years, have they?

“Make new friends but keep the old…
One is silver, the other is gold.”

Jul 19 2018

Special Edition – Remembering Jack Martin

As Jack and I used to say- “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”  Well, Life surely interrupted our plans!!

After 4 years of dating long-distance from San Antonio to Waco, Jack had only moved back to Waco 4 months before he got sick. Much of that time was spent unpacking. Any of you who have downsized know how time consuming and exhausting that chore is. Jack moved from a home that he had lived in for 40 years so you can just imagine the work that it took to get the job accomplished.

Jack moved to Waco on August 11, 2017. On December 10, 2017, he had his first symptoms that anything was wrong when he experienced what the doctor thought was reflux. Jack found out on January 2, 2018, that he had pancreatic cancer. Everything Jack did to fight this terrible tumor seemed to fail. He was unable to have the Whipple surgery due to the fact that the cancer had spread to his liver. All chemo treatments that he tried were unsuccessful. He eventually lost his battle with this horrible disease on July 7th, 2018. I never heard Jack complain about his situation….he would only say he was tired and that his back hurt. He explained to me that the cancer was taking all the nutrients from his body.

There have been so many comments from our graduates that I am doing a special edition of Remembering Jack. I have cried buckets and I am going to miss him so very much. Thank you all for your many consoling cards and comments to me. It really helps to know others are thinking of you during times like this. Also, thank all of you who came to the Memorial Service in Waco and to the graveside in San Antonio to show your respects for Jack. I was truly blessed to have known Jack and to have gotten reconnected with him back in 2013. He was an incredible man and he leaves such a positive impact upon my life.

Jack’s family put together a wonderful slideshow that was presented during the luncheon that followed the Waco Memorial service. The link is below. It gives a little insight to Jack’s wonderful life. As one of Jack’s friends said, “Heaven will receive no finer Christian than Jack.” Truer words were never spoken.

Click HERE to view a slideshow that commemorates Jack’s life.

To read comments from our graduates, please click on the blurb button at the top of this post.

— Jeanne Harmon

Picture of Jack with some of his running buddies at our 2015 reunion: (l-r) Allan Myers, Hugh Wilfong, Jack Martin, Pat Payne, Hal Johnson

 

Jun 11 2018

Stephen Thomas Brown

This is not the first time I have had to post more than one obit in the same day. It is also not the first time that we have had funerals for two graduates on the same day.   I really hate to be the bearer of more bad news but I guess it is just a sign of our ages.

Here is the obit for Stephen Brown.  I do not know any of the particulars on Stephen’s death, either.

Jun 10 2018

Bill Walselben

I regret to report that we have lost another graduate- Bill Walsleben.

I do not know any of the details but last night Pat McGlaughn Dooley informed me of his passing. I was able to locate his obit this morning.

The picture on the left is from 1960; the one on the right is from 2018.

Jun 10 2018

Anne Montgomery (Nagle) Hart

Fellow graduates,

Always, when researching our graduates to inform them of a reunion, we learn of deaths.  Unfortunately this was the case with Anne Nagle.  Here is the link to her obit.

I have included her 1960 WHS pic along with pictures that were on the obit website.

Following the death of her husband, it sounds like Anne made quite a life for herself and quite an impact on others.  Her last known address was a 2015 Pensacola, Florida residence.

To quote David McPhail:  “I believe it significant that one of our school mates is buried in Arlington Cemetery.  Also, the fact that she had six children. Her husband was missing for years and she ‘worked’ for years to ensure that he was found.”

Jan 21 2018

Waco Town Crier – January 2018

An adapted version of “The Town Crier” sent by Jeanne Harman on January 2, 2018.  

I hope everyone was able to have some wonderful holidays and I hope this coming year will be good to us all. We, of course, are aging—and more often than we like, we are going to be receiving some bad news now and then. That bad news can rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times. I hate to be the one who reports it … but better to know than remain ignorant.

Again, I want to say how very blessed our class is to have Elizabeth Bentley taking care of our website and for the generosity of Pat Payne’s financial help towards its continuation. I hope each and every one of you will go to our site and take a look. If someone you know is not receiving the Town Crier, Elizabeth is putting each issue on-line; therefore, our graduates will have the opportunity to read an edited version. She is editing out certain personal information in order to protect us from the forces of evil in cyberspace who would love to get ahold of our information. We were so lucky that Elizabeth “stepped up to the plate” for us after Rayburn’s death. She has done an AWESOME job.

Also, thank you Tim (Lasseter) Latta for taking on the task of organizing our 58th reunion. It is a huge undertaking! She will need your help- it is not a one-woman job. And Sissie Blair– thank you for organizing our WHS 60 quarterly luncheons. It is so great to see 35+ graduates get together every 3 months to laugh, reminisce, and break bread with classmates of long ago. We are a special class….no brag; just fact.

Let me give each of you something to think about. We have many graduates who live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area….in the Austin area….in the San Antonio area…and in the Houston area. Maybe someone in each of those areas would be willing to find a restaurant- once or twice a year- that would be able to seat several of us for a luncheon….just like what is done in Waco. Those individuals from other towns who are unable to travel to Waco for the quarterly luncheons or the reunion would at least be able to attend lunch in their own area to meet up with some graduates from their own area. Just a thought. We have a close-knit class and thank heavens for the internet, others who live far away can enjoy vicariously some of the memories and adventures our graduates are able to make. Just let me know if you plan one of these luncheons and I will get the news out to everyone. There is no telling who might be able to attend. Also, ALWAYS send me photos for the Town Crier so we all can enjoy.

Please, everyone, try to stay healthy this year … and I am speaking to myself as well as everyone else. I know several of our graduates have been struggling with some health issues. I do so hope you will plan to come to our reunion on October 16-17 of this year … maybe we can again get a picture of everyone on the steps of the old WHS building. Wouldn’t that be a hoot some 58 years later?

Thank each of you so much for your participation in sending me items and pictures of interest to post in “The Town Crier”. YOU are the success of “The Town Crier”. Without you and your input, I would have nothing of which to share with others. Let’s have a wonderful year, stay healthy, and make some happy memories.
Jeanne (Holland) Harman

From Our Graduates

Norma (Cissell) Smith
Wayne and I had our 56th wedding anniversary on November 11, 2017.
For Thanksgiving, we went to Atlanta, Georgia for about four days. There was so much good food. It was an unforgettable trip.

Russell Keeling lives in Redlands, CA and had this to say about the fires around the Los Angeles area. I worried that Russell might be in some danger. Below is Russ’s report to my inquiry:
Redlands is about 65 miles from LA, so, for now, we’re in no danger from the present blazes. More importantly, the Santa Ana winds blow from east to west, which means we still have good air. However, brush is all around the community out here; so, anyone could start a fire and change matters quickly.
Merry Christmas and blessings to all WHS friends.

Phyllis Brooks
Went for my yearly checkup with the cardiologist and pacemaker check at Baylor in November and found out I had a heart attack March 2. Glad the defibrillator is working. Otherwise, I am doing okay. Spent Christmas Eve and Day with nephews, nieces, and great nieces and nephews in Plano and Frisco.

Phyllis Brooks reports on Mickey Ann (Lade) Perkins
Mickey is doing okay. She still has some pains in the back and rib area but after having an attack and being administered CPR while in the hospital the early part of the year, it took the starch out of her.

Ken/Scoot Baker and Janie/David McPhail recently made a trip to El Paso, Texas where Ken’s son is UTEP’s ladies basketball coach. While in the city, the couples decided to go to the original Rosa’s Cantina. Marty Robbins sang a song about El Paso and this Cantina … (click on the photo to hear the song.)

WHS 60 Quarterly Luncheon

December 5, 2017 – The weather was a little “iffy” – damp and cold – but there was still an ample group for the December quarterly luncheon.

We welcomed a new face to the group this time: John Thomas Davis. So wonderful to see John … We hope he had a good time and hope he will return.

A new feature was added: a drawing, this time for a cash prize. Sissy says it will be continued. The inaugural winner was Tim (Lassiter) Latta.

Tim announced the reunion for October 16th and 17th, 2018 and encouraged everyone not only to attend but consider volunteering to help. The venue is The Phoenix Ballroom with plenty of room for lots of tables (and chairs!!). Delicious hors d’oeuvres will be served on the 16th and dinner on the 17th. The caterer for both nights will be TCP Catering, as they have served us well in the past. There will be a cash bar both nights. Costs will be kept as low as possible to make it easy on everyone’s pocket book. If anyone desires tours or other events such as golf, card games etc., please let Tim know.

Memories

This picture was taken at Fishpond in the early 1950s. These are the ones who can be identified:
l-r Pat Payne, Jack Martin, Ann Kimbriel, Tom Mayfield, Noah Appleton (in the center looking at us), Patsy Stevens dancing with Harold Jobe? Looks like Sue Golden might be behind Harold Jobe… Do you recognize any others???
JoAnn Carson (Gene’s wife) ran across this picture from 9th grade at North Junior High School.
I recognize a few….can you? I think some of the folks are:
1st row–Betty Craig, ….Delind Kirkpatrick, Sandy Urich, Paulette Todar, ……….Kay Phillips..
2nd row–Don Matkin, …………… Judith Hamff, ..Jane Rogers
3rd row–Stan Lennard? Al Ctvrlik, Ralph Klatt, …. John Anderson, Joe Ratliff,….. Larry Thomas, …Gene Carson
Help fill in the blanks…..
Bob Easter sent in this picture—North Junior 1957. He is the Monster in the middle. Can anyone identify any of the others?
Maybe one person is Sissie Blair (second from the right)? Help, please!
Dec 31 2017

Noah Appleton

I am sad to report the death of another one of our graduates.  Although Noah died in November, it was only published in the Waco paper today.

I do so hate to report deaths during the holiday season, but there really is no good time to report the passing of any graduate.  However, we can look back on the fun times and memories that were shared so long ago when we were all young.

Noah attended our reunion in 1985 – I have included a photo taken of him at that time.

Back in 1960, Noah was the Scarecrow in the Senior Chorus Production of  The Wizard of Oz.

Rest in peace, Noah.

— Jeanne Harman

Dec 27 2017

Betty (Buckler) Thompson

Friends…..Christmastime does not always bring jolly news to everyone. Unfortunately, I have bad news for the Buckler family/friends and our classmates.

Our dear classmate, Betty (Buckler) Thompson, lost her battle with MS on December 22, about 9:00 a.m. Her loving husband and family were by her side. Tim, her husband, was holding her hand as she drew her last breath. Betty knew how much she was loved by him because as he was telling her of his love for her, she was able to gently squeeze his hand. What a way to go! Betty is being cremated and there will be a memorial service the first or second week of January. I will post the obit and details as they become available to me.

Since Tim (Lasseter) Latta moved to Ft. Worth, she had been able to visit with Betty and Tim about every other week. Those visits were enjoyed by all.

Please keep Betty’s dear family in your prayers.

— Jeanne Harman

Below are a few pictures with Betty that might bring back some memories.


5th grade May Fete at Crestview Elementary-
Betty Buckler is first row, first on the left 

6th grade at Crestview elementary: October 1953
Betty is third from the left on the top row
Others in the picture are: John Pearce, Anna Louise Logan, Margaret Baker, George Compton, Bob Willingham, Gaelyn Corbin
Sharon McCarthy, Ralph Gray, Leon Meadows, Karon Shinault, Donna Grisham, Randy Turner, Mary Ann Wilson, Barbara Williams, Randy Farrar 

5th grade at Crestview- Betty is at the blackboard on the left.
Other classmates pictured are Bob Willingham, Charlie Sligh, Mrs. McCarthy, Betty Luedeker, Poppy Early,
Sharon McCarthy, Linda Shelby, Roy Marlow, Gaelyn Corbin, Robert Boatman, Ralph Gray, John Pearce, Barbara Williams, Mary Ann Wilson 
Aug 11 2017
Image

Remembering Our War

For the Waco High School Class of 1960
Author: Pat Payne

Recently I completed a short video for my sons, David and Greg, with images of those who I served with in the Vietnam War. I shared it with Jeanne Harmon asking her to forward to just the military vets within our class. Jeanne replied, “war affects us all” and suggested these memories may be appropriate for our entire class. After some thought I agreed with Jeanne.

Most likely this war had an affect on each of us who graduated from Waco High School in 1960. Regardless of whether we served in the military or ever set foot in Vietnam or our gender, this ten year war impacted us personally or a member of our family or our friends. I care about my family having first hand images of the young men who served. I care about preserving their memories as long as possible because history is important. History defines the time in which we lived, our early years in Waco, our young adult lives, our families, our careers and now our sunset years.

This is why the great work by Jeanne Harman (Town Crier), Rayburn Taylor (Website) and Bob Easter (Finding Classmates) has set our class apart—we care about each other and preserving our memories. Recently the call went out to find the resources to carry on Rayburn’s good work with our website. A number of our classmates responded and I was happy to join them. The reason was to help keep our classmates memory alive via the website. Until the very last one of us closes our eyes for the last time we should be able to flip through the web pages and remember our younger years in Waco. Dr. Seuss said it best, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” As we look at the WHS pictures hopefully we all realize we came from a special town in the middle of Texas, have lived a good and meaningful life—and have so very much to smile about. Then we can go to sleep.

As previously noted, this video is for my two sons who appear in the last frame. About a third of the young men you will see were killed or wounded between September, 1965 – August, 1966. The song accompanying the pictures was written and sung by Jim Moore, a Vietnam veteran, who is the father of the performer Pink. She is singing harmony. The lyrics are worth paying attention to. They ring true for any soldier regardless which war they fought in. This video is meant to be relevant to both our WHS years and today as the world struggles with terrorism and rogue countries. Hoping this video is meaningful to you which can be viewed by clicking here.