Attached is the May issue of the Crier. Contents this month include:
Hope everyone is doing okay. Texas and other parts have had some bad storms lately.
Please stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch.
jeanne
Here is the April “Waco Town Crier.” Please do not forget to contribute input to our Newsletter. It takes all of us to make it interesting.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in touch.
jeanne
I think spring is on the way for Waco. Our warm temperatures seem to have come earlier this year. We have already had weather in the 80’s with this week expecting to be in the upper 80’s. We still need RAIN!! That always seems to elude us. My feelings are: The long hot summer arrives too quickly and stays too long.
Attached is the March 2026 Town Crier. I hope no one has any difficulty in opening it. Remember to send items of interest, pictures of yore, and let us know about a good book you have read.
I have not received any updates on anyone who has been under the weather. We hope Larry McMurray is still receiving relief from his recent health issues.
Everyone, … please stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch.
An Irish Blessing :
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.
jeanne
David D. McPhail, a beloved husband, father, and educator, passed away on January 31, 2026, in Alvarado, Texas. Born on December 17, 1941, in Providence, Rhode Island, David dedicated his life to his family, education, and community service.
David was proud to serve in the military and was an active member of the Cleburne Lions Club, where he contributed to various charitable endeavors that made a lasting impact on the community. His intelligence and passion for education led him to teach at both the community college and university levels, where he inspired countless students with his knowledge and dedication to their learning. He was a proud veterian, serving in the US Airforce.
In addition to his family and professional achievements, David was a big sports enthusiast, particularly passionate about the Green Bay Packers. His excitement for the game was infectious, and he found joy in sharing that passion with family and friends.
David was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Janie; his son Brian Holzmeier and his wife, Georgina, his grandsons Alex Holzmeier and Logan Holzmeier, and his nephew Richard Russell and his wife Annell.
David D. McPhail will be remembered for his unwavering love for his family, his contribution to education, and his commitment to making the world a better place. His spirit will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him.z
For more memories and pictures of David from our Reunions, please click here.
David told his story of life after graduation in the May 2019 Town Crier. Read it here.
BRRR….It has been cold in Waco! I bet a whole lot of graduates can say that about their locations. Send us some pictures or experiences. I surely hope there have been no falls or frozen pipes that burst. I like cold weather…but this spell has been worrisome.
Remember to share with us some good reading that you have done. With having to stay at home, perhaps you have read
a good book, watched a good movie, or completed a fun project. Maybe even some of us decided to do some house cleaning—
I was not one of those to do the latter.
Enjoy the February issue of the Town Crier. Cannot believe we have already completed one whole month of 2026!
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in touch.
jeanne
This month’s contents include
Michael Richard Tansey died unexpectedly on November 8, 2025, at his home in Bell Trace. Michael was an award-winning educator with a great love of teaching and his students. He was always seeking more knowledge, and his active mind was a treasure trove of information.
He is survived by his son, Rowan; daughter, Sarah and husband, Herman; ex-wife, Linda; stepsons, Chama Henry and his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Roxy and Zack Henry and his wife, Elizabeth Ross; grandkids, Belle and wife, Brittany, Liam and wife, Miyuki; brother, Kevin and wife, Leni; Kristen and Kiley; and friend, John Johnson and his wife, Elizabeth.
He had friends all over the world and we will miss him for the rest of our lives.
Pat Payne has sent me a short story that he wrote and wants to share with our class. Pat believes people our age should actively pursue activities to maintain our cognitive capabilities. He has selected writing.
We all need to do something that interests us in order to “use it or lose it”. I do not feel Pat will lose it because he stays interested in so many different things. Someday it will be “lights out” but it will not be because Pat did not try everything to keep old age at bay.
Pat wants to point out a few things:
1 A month or so ago I decided to begin writing fiction which exercises the brain much more than non-fiction since the writer has to create the story from a blank page. I also decided to write dialog.
2 Both of these initiatives were learning opportunities for me. I used numerous YouTube videos to educate myself.
3 Howard really did eat potato chips with pickles when we waited on our mothers to pick us up at West JH.
4 The last page is actually a picture of my father at his Dr Pepper business in Tucson, AZ. It was a failure and he and my mother returned to Waco after one year.
Hoping our classmates find this a fun story.
Click on the image above for Pat’s story.
Happy 2026!!!
Here’s wishing that everyone will experience good health, good energy, peace, and happy memories for the year ahead.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in touch!!
jeanne
Attached is the January 2026 issue of the Town Crier. Do not forget to recommend a good book, to send any photos or items of interest that you think might be of interest to our classmates.
The Town Crier is attached…..
If you have read a good book, do not hesitate to recommend it to your classmates. If you run across a picture, item of interest, or even a favorite recipe….please think of the Town Crier so all can enjoy.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. A very Merry Christmas is wished to everyone. I cannot believe 2026 is almost a reality. 2025 surely seemed to pass quickly in my estimation. Do not know if time is passing as quickly for others as it seems to be for me.
Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay in touch.
jeanne
Here’s what you’ll find in this edition: