Waco Town Crier – August 2020

Wow! Another month has flown by!

Not only did we have to contend with the COVID-19 this past month, but also Hurricane Hanna which hit South Texas. Waco had its share of the virus but we did not get one drop of rain from Hanna. I am sure, if possible, South Texas would have shared some of their moisture with us.

Stay Safe, Stay Sane and Be Kind to one another!

Click here to read the August edition of the Waco Town Crier!

  • History of the Town Crier
  • Regarding the death of Luann Hanna Lund Hunt
  • Regarding the death of Jack Ewing
  • From Our Graduates
  • Updates
  • Birthdays for August
  • A Neat Idea
  • Show & Tell Featuring Charles “Randy” Turner
  • More from the West Jr. Yellow Jacket
  • Pictures
  • Jokes
  • Six Little Stories

60th Reunion!

Classmates! Spouses! Friends!

The 60th reunion is a GO!! Download the registration form.

Please note the dates are October 6th (evening) and October 7th (morning and evening).

After breakfast on October 7th, there are no scheduled events, except for the Golf Outing, until the dinner that evening. (Tim Latta will lead the golf outing. If you wish to play golf, please contact Tim.)

We have a block of rooms at the Hilton Waco, with a price of $125.00 per night. There are several other hotels in close proximity to the Hilton Waco but we have no contract with them for rooms.

We hope that you and your guest will attend this Reunion. We have tried to keep the cost as low as possible and still provide an enjoyable Mixer Welcoming Evening, a breakfast the second day and enjoyable dinner with music by Ralph Sparks. There will be plenty of space for visiting as our dining room is at the end of the hall.

We encourage you to get your reservation in as soon as possible. Reservations are due by September 1, 2020. The first 10 paid reservations will receive a Door Prize the night of the 7th at the dinner.

Any questions or comments, please contact Robert Wilson or Ken Baker.

We hope you will make e3very effort to come to the 60th reunion. We want to celebrate our early years together and continue our friendships.

P.S. If the reunion is cancelled, all reservation money will be refunded.

Jack Mann Ewing – June 30, 2020

Jack Mann Ewing, Bossier City, Louisiana, passed away on June 30, 2020. His faith has become sight and his hope has been realized. Jack has seen the Savior face to face. He suffered strokes in 2014. As he was recovering, he developed Parkinson’s disease. For many months, Jack’s optimism about his health remained constant and he believed he would one day jog again. 

Jack loved everything Texas. He was born in Waco, Texas on February 28, 1942. He grew up there and would have preferred living all his days in Texas but circumstances took him elsewhere. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Baylor University and his first job was staff auditor for Haskins and Sells in Houston. Years following, he worked as an accountant in Waco and for a while, owned an insurance agency there. He moved to Denver, Colorado to work again as an auditor. In 1986, Jack relocated to the Shreveport/Bossier City Louisiana area to work for the FDIC as an investigator. 

Jack and wife, Rosalie, made regular spring pilgrimages to Texas hill country. The wildflowers called and they went! There were travels to many other parts of the country, but chasing bluebonnets was their favorite. They were often accompanied by Jack’s special niece, Dee Dee Grierson and husband, Jan, of Georgetown, Texas. 

Jack had a penchant for writing and, coupled with his strong interest in politics, wrote many a “letter to the editor”. His firmly entrenched moral compass inspired much of these writings. Jack self-published a historical novel, “Land of the Laguna Madre”, which was based on actual events that took place in Texas. Before his health declined, Jack was a steadfast member of the Asbury United Methodist Church Care Team. He was personally committed to God and was salt and light for him. Each week he faithfully visited hospitalized and nursing home patients and made them feel special. Sharing God’s love with these folks came easy for Jack, that’s just who he was. For several years he was the much beloved teacher of the Friendship Senior Adult Sunday School Class. 

Jack served his country as a US Marine reservist. 

Preceding Jack in death are his parents, Ocee and Lois Mann Ewing and siblings, Fred Ewing, David Ewing, Florence Davis and Ava Claire Brogden. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Rosalie Lott Ewing of Bossier City; son, Chris Ewing and wife, Heather of Walker, Louisiana and daughter, Kelli Ewing McFadden and husband, Brian of Erda, Utah. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren, Bailey and Cole Hubbard of Erda and Charlotte and Catherine Ewing of Walker. Other survivors include brother-in-law, Dr. Stan Lott and wife, Johnnye Jo of Alexandria, Louisiana; brother-in-law, Jerry Lott of Sibley, Louisiana and a number of nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 3200 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana 71111.

You may offer condolences to the family and sign the on-line guest book by visiting www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/haughton-la/hill-crest-memorial-funeral-home/4039

Graduate with COVID

Jeanne Harman received a message from Malissa Ruth Starnes Baugh regarding our graduate, Jeannie Dickerson.

Jeannie was diagnosed with Covid19 Monday a week ago (June 29) and taken to the hospital on Friday (July 3) in serious condition! She has pneumonia in both lungs and other problems! The infusion she was given has helped and late yesterday she was moved out of ICU to a “negative pressure ” step down room. Jeannie is very weak and short of breath but they are seeing some progress. She perhaps got Covid at church. Please be safe all and prayers for our classmate Jeannie!!! 

Please keep Jeannie in your thoughts and prayers.  She is in a battle right now but sounds like making a little progress.

Changing of the Guard

Sometimes in life mere words cannot express true feelings of gratitude. That is the case with our thanks to Janet Hurta. Janet is not a graduate of our class but instead the spouse of our graduate, Glenn Hurta, although we made her an honorary graduate many years ago. Janet has kept our directory current for more years than I can remember. I would say she started that task around 1980/1985. We have been a very mobile class and it seems as soon as Janet brought it “up-to-date”, in the next hour or so, we would get yet another change.

The old saying, “All good things must come to an end” is so true as Janet is now ending her artistic and professional work for us. Janet’s computer crashed and she no longer has access to her software. She put our directory into a word document and PDF file making it easily transferable for her replacement. Janet said it is not fancy but it is time for someone else to take over the reins.

Thank you very much, Janet, for all the hours you have donated to our class. Please know that our hearts are full of gratitude for all your efforts. Good luck in your retirement–have fun and stay healthy!

Now, an Exciting Announcement!

I am proud to announce that David Dibb of Florence, South Carolina has agreed to take over the responsibility of our directory. All this “techy stuff” is not new to David at all. He writes two columns for Golden Life, a Seniors’ newspaper in Florence. I have been lucky enough to receive a copy for the past year or so. Rest assured that our class directory is in most capable hands! David was featured in the SHOW and TELL segment of the Town Crier in the January 2019 issue. Also, he is the one with those beautiful Japanese Maple trees!

Please do not hesitate to let us know of any contact changes you have. We are indeed so lucky to have graduates willing to give their time and talents to our class. We have got to have the best class ever.