Karen McCarty (Messina)

Hi Debbie, You are funny! Of all the things to miss about New Mexico, the only things I miss is the FOOD! Thanks for the explanation on the black belt training.... I can understand how a person would gain confidence with more training. Especially in today’s world. I can also understand wanting to be close to daughter and granddaughter. I live only five miles from mine and I love it that way! It has been a joy to have a little one around again and brings back such happy memories of when my daughter was that age. Five year olds said the darnest things as Art Linkletter used to say! I used to love watching that segment of his show when he interviewed children. He always got them to say whatever they weren’t supposed to say! Anyway, I digress... When my husband and I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area (Fairfield and then Livermore)for over 30 years, we would always go on vacation to Hawaii. Been to all the islands and Maui three times over the years. I had no idea at the time there was a classmate living there! We were there one year when the Ironman triathlon occurred (not participating but just watching) and I remember how impressed I was with all the athletes there. I felt I was at the Olympics! So where does someone who lives in the Hawaiian islands go for vacation?! I recall another year when we vacationed on Kauai the week AFTER Thanksgiving. I had a hard time booking tours and when I asked why, I was told,” this is the week the tour companies staff go on vacation so there are limited staff available for tours!” We did manage to score some extra special tours since the ones left were willing to add in some extra trips where we got to do some things they told us “normal” tourists during heavy travel times don’t get to do. Scuba diving to see turtles at their “cleaning station,” petting a friendly Moray eel (with a glove on; safety first! And taking a catamaran sail over to a secluded beach where I found a HUGE conch shell (with no animal inside so I was allowed to keep). These are just a few of the awesome memories I have of the islands. Thank you for asking how I am doing. I know I am not the only person to lose a spouse after so many years (47 for me) and I have wonderful memories so I would have to say I am slowly adjusting. I am busy and active, taking various classes at the Y. It gets lonely at times and I find I am not getting all my 20,000 words said someone once said most women need to get out in a day. (My husband was an excellent listener!) but I am managing alright. It is a process someone else informed me cannot be rushed. So I am also spending some time planning at least one weekend trip a month away so I have something to look forward to. I am also exploring going to the Holy Land in 2020 which is a trip my church is planning to do next year with a group that is well rehearsed at doing so life is good. I hope you are well and if at all possible I hope to meet you in the future someday (future reunions?!). Take care.

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Duhhhh I left the guys name out. I do names in my comedy routines when it is about someone who passed. My favorite comedy stories are about my chidhood best friend, Judy Lynn Shows Brown. We were inseperable throughout grade school. Her birthday was June 11th and mine is May 11th. We got in so much trouble. I will write down some of the routines another day. Ohhhh sorry, the guy was Jim Reed. Most humble guy on the planet, and just kind. I told this story on his 65 Class Memorial page.

My sister, Madge hasn't heard of all my comedy routines about all her boyfriends who chased me after she discarded them. She has very selective memory and swears, well she doesn't swear, but says I am making the stories up. She often says, "And, where was I when all this was happening>??" I save a lot of them for when Auntie Mardi shows up for her children's and grandchildren's reunions....ha

I remember one particular time, she had only one date with this guy who was to die for, THAT good looking....I don't remember his name but I remember that gorgeous head of black wavy hair. He was really bashful at a dance on one particular dance. It was one of those dances out at the armory, where there was virtually no air conditioning. Of course, she and I constantly argued over the mascara and the Aqua Net hair spray. So I asked him to dance with me. As we were dancing, the song felt like it was going on forever. To add to it, it was a slow dance. My plastered aqua net hair was up to our sweating cheek. The dance ended. I almost died when I pulled away from him!! It felt like cotton candy sticking on the side of his face. I.m pretty sure he went to the bathroom to wash his face afterwards!  Did I give up my Aqua Net? Are you kidding....I just made sure I slow danced where the air conditioning was hitting us!! Be safe out there. Luv N Hugs

Deborah Pike

Karen, You sound like you are processing the loss of your spouse OK. OK is good at this time, you will get better but I can tell you that those losses, you don't exactly over them, you just learn to live around it. You start remembering  good times before you start remembering that they are gone. My son has been gone for 20 years come November but I still have times I feel the pain; but the bright spot is that you know that when your time comes, they will be there waiting to hold you again.

Hang in there and it will get better.

Debbie

James A "Jim" White

Happy Birthday to the only "Gold Star" Vietnam widow in our class (that I am aware of), Laurie Shuey Anderson. Blessings to you.

PLEASE REMEMBER CLASSMATES THAT ARE SUFFERING. They are part of your history. If you pray, please do. If you do not, please think good thoughts and send them to the universe. Here are a few situations we are aware of:

- Neuro muscular condition that barely allows this sweet woman to speak, she barely weighs a hundred pounds and is caring her her husband who has alzeiheimers.

- Another classmate, friends to us all who has helped with reunions, has diagnosed alzeiheimers.

- Another classmate with Lyme disease and is in constant pain in all her joints.

- A classmate who recently lost her husband unexpectedly, and is now facing all the decisions and change of life that comes with a loss such as this.

- A classmate who lost his wife several months ago, and has not been back in his house since the funeral. He still will face many, many decisions and many moments or days of sadness.

- A classmate with a history of mouth cancer and may have it again, and is in constant, very harsh pain.

- A classmate with a Neuro condition and sensitivity that even a small wind on her face can be painful.

- A classmate whose wife has a very dibilitating condition and he has been her care giver for may years.

- Another RHS grad who cares for his wife with dementia while struggling with very painful back injury himself.

We could go on and on. These are not the people that send in pictures showing the fun they are having. They rarely, if ever, visit this class website. Please remember them. They deserve our concern, thoughts and remembrances.

______________________________________________

1

JIM WHITE, KAREN PATTERSON NICHOLS and LOUIS BAGWELL met in North Houston on March 13th to share memories of growing up in the Utopian town of Roswell. Life was simple, life was good, growing up in Roswell in the 50's and 60's. Of course, the day seems like yesterday when you have lunch with a classmate that looks like she just graduated a year or two ago. It was nice, since I cared so little about school back then, to share the love with two classmates that were both class officers and very involved in everything, including yearbook, back then. Thank you for your service to our class. You are the best!

On March 8th, several Houston area classmates gathered for lunch. If you are thinking, "Would you have anything to say after 50 years?" Well, apparently plenty. Most stayed for six hours! Even after we left the restaurant table 4 hours later to free it up for customers, we went out front and talked for two more hours.

Those present, from Left to Right, BOB REAM, KAREN HARRINGTON REAM, KATHY WHITE, JIM WHITE, MICHAELE AUSTIN KELLY, MARY VEATCH, BUTCH COLBERT, SHARON COLBERT, HEARKY VEATCH. Another lunch gathering will be this Wednesday, March 13th, and will include LOUIS BAGWELL, KAREN PATTERSON NICHOLS, JIM and KATHY WHITE and hopefully a few more Houston area classmates.

It is absolutely fascinating learning about childhood friends and acquaintences. If you grew up with all our wonderful Roswell classmates, you would love learning the business people, lawyers, chemical engineers, etc. they have become. If you don't, uh ... well ... I worry about you.

Besides the meeting this Wednesday, as Kathy and I travel east on I-10, we will be seeing BOBBY ALLISON in Mississippi, and in Florida hope to catch up with KAREN McCARTY FINK, BILLY SLOAN, CHIP KING and anyone else we find in that state. Don't think we are just chasing classmates. We are also seeing lifelong friends, going to enjoy New Orleans, the Gulf Coast, Mobile Alabama, we even have 10 days reserved on Fiesta Key in the Florida Keys. After Florida, Kathy and I are heading up the east coast. We also hope to make it to TERRY BOONE'S lake home sometime. And, of course, JUDI ADAMS MORRIS and ELIZABETH GWARTNEY LOWNEY always welcome us when we are in Denver area. Thank you, BOYCE McFARLAND for helping make this wonderful trip possible. Keep dancin', yaw'll.

James A "Jim" White

Hey ROBIN LOSTETTER. Happy birthday in a couple days. I hope it is a good one as you have earned it. I your address right on this site? I am coming up the east coast this summer and would hate to be near you without seeing you.

Talking about Kathy's and my travels. We are on the Florida Keys for one more day then we head back to central Florida, to go to the ocean with BILL and MARGIE SLOAN .... then onto the Space Coast of Florida where we will see CHIP and BONNIE KING. I probably need advice from 7-Year RVer, PETE GARTON. We need to reach Connecticut. I am book through FL-GA-SC (yes, Myrtle Beach) and NC. I intended to go east to Nashville (listen to music), then up through KY, OH etc.  But now I may just go north from Durham, NC. Any advice? Anyone?

Take care,

Jim White

Facebook group: Jim & Kathy's Excellent Adventures

Robin E. Lostetter

Thanks, Jim!!  I'm now in Naples, NY, in the Finger Lakes, outside of Rochester NY.  There are 2 wineries in town, as well as many, many nearby.  Working part time at Trinity Federated Church, living at their manse - easy to find, and right across from the best pizzeria around!

Now back to work . . . I'm still a night-owl, and have a few e-blasts to send out . . . 

peace,

Robin

James A "Jim" White

James A "Jim" White

BILL LEGGETT, it is good to see you standing after your recent back surgery. I hope you continue to improve and lose the pain you have had for years on end.

(USMC Colonel, retired, 26-years) BILL SLOAN and MARGIE allowed the Whites to return to the Sloan's Bed and Breakfast in Lakeland, Florida. Billy does cook great meals. Since Billy and I have known each other since the day we were born (same day, same hospital, parents good friends), he qualifies as a lifelong friend. Some classmates may wonder "why" I look up classmates on my and Kathy's adventure throughout the nation (i.e. JIM & KATHY'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURES Facebook group). I think this answers it. Bill and I are both 70 years of age, never know if we will see each other again ('tho we both hope so), and we would have missed this great catch-up time together if we had not gotten together. This goes for all the classmates we have seen, including Floridians KAREN McCARTY FINK (above Tampa) and CHIP KING and BONNIE who we will see the end of this week (on the Space Coast). When else will we be able to see all the friends we have seen this past year? Ten years from now? I would not bet on it. By the way, I was a little helpful in BILL SLOAN and DANNY CARPENTER (Abq.) reconnecting recently after all these years. Are you checking on your childhood friends? 

I believe BOYCE McFARLAND is in Denver this week then returning to New Mexico before another trip he has planned. No telling where TERRY BOONE is, probably his lake home, but he is recoving from his knee replacement so he can go hiking with JIM BROWN again in some far off country. ELIZABETH GWARTNEY LOWNEY and JUDI ADAMS MORRIS are still causing problems together .... two of a kind. I phoned MARGARET NICHOLS KUENZLER this morning to check on her but have not heard back. MICHELLE AUSTIN KELLY, have you heard? Do you have any trips planned, Michelle? Michelle is the one that got us back in contact with BOBBY ALLISON. Now when my wife, Kathy, thinks I am annoying her, she says, "You need to go outside and work; I need some alone time with Bobby" as she puts on one of his albums. PETE GARTON, now that you are settled into your new home, do you have any RV trips planned this summer? SUSAN ENGLISH NOBLES, are you in Colorado or where? PAM BERRY DAVIS, anything new in your life? PEGGY WARE KOGER, are you leaving AZ for the summer to anyplace, like Ohio? How about you, LINDA HENRY CROWDER, is Ohio in your summer plans or Palm Springs to see your mom and sister?  Like BILL LEGGETT said, everyone has been silent. Please write and let us know what you have been up to.

Michaele Austin (Kelly)

Hi Jim, Kathy and everyone. I did talk to Margaret Nichols Kuenzler lately and she sounds better. We wil be stopping to see her and Billy around the end of June on our way home. We are road-tripping in June to Washington state to visit Wayne’s son Randy (you met him that day in Pikes Market and helped him with the Guards) and then on to South Dakota to visit Wayne’s mom and other family that live up there. My annual Florida trip was placed on hold since we went cruisin in January but I’m thinking about making it in September or October. Was so glad our paths crossed for that 6 hour lunch in Houston! Hopefully I’ll get the chance to stop and visit with Karen and Bob Ream again before returning home if my plans work out. I try to go through Houston and on to Aransas Pass to see my brother, then through San Antonio to visit my oldest son (and a side trip to see Mardi Gonyea Nicklin for a little visit) and then head toward home again. If I’m real lucky I’ll get to see Bill and Margie Sloan while in Florida and Bobby and Ernie Allison will be home in Mississippi so I can visit with them too. 

I’ve really enjoyed your trip and the pictures and looking forward to seeing the rest of your travels. You should try to see Kitty Hawk, NC and the Wright museum and where they made their first flight, if you go up that way. I thought it was very interesting and there’s ample running room for Jim to practice his “running man”! Fort McHenry in Baltimore was also interesting and the BEST lobster is found in Maine.

James A "Jim" White

Happy Birthday STERLING GRANT and I am thrilled you were able to make it to the 50-Year reunion. All your classmates hope you are doing well. Take care.

MICHELLE AUSTIN KELLY - thank you for the heads-up travel tips. You have certainly put in the miles. Yes, it was great seeing you in Seattle and Houston and Roswell. Keep taking care of sweet MARGARET NICHOLS KUENZLER.

I see the LAURA KNIGHT ATKINS has a birthday in a couple of days. What an accomplished lady Laura turned out to be, and what a gracious host if you are ever in Santa Fe. The story I loved best was how you met your husband. I do not remember it all, or accurately, but as I recall, you were working for OPEC in the middle east and you wanted this attorney you just met to do something. He told you it could not be done and you snapped back, "Any attorney worth his weight in salt could get it done" or something to that effect. What a way to start off a relationship. I am glad it worked out.

Kathy and I are on the Space Coast of Florida for two weeks and will be seeing CHIP (NOW CHARLEY) KING and Bonnie today or tomorrow. Anyone remember the "Charley J King" show on Roswell radio? MIKE TURNER, we are going to be talking about you, and TERRY BOONE, and JIM BROWN, and many of the rest of you.  

Blessings to all.

James A "Jim" White

Happy Birthday to CAROL ZORN Monday. She is a fun lady to try to keep up with. We have not talked in quite awhile but if memory serves me correctly, which is doubtful, Carol was once in Arizona, then New Hampshire and now Tennessee. What a travling lady. I hope you are doing well, Carol. Take care of yourself.

James A "Jim" White

MIKE TURNER has finally joined many of the rest of us as being a grandparent. Yes, his lovely daughter and her husband have presented Mike and Connie with the cutie below, now six months old.

One proud Grandpa. Welcome to the Grandparent Club, Mike.

James A "Jim" White

CHIP and BONNIE KING are great hosts, IF you want to go off your diet. How are they doing? Well, you tell me. They live on Merritt Island Florida, with miles of white sand ocean beaches all around. Ever go to Coconuts on Cocoa Beach? Everyone should. Oh, and their home? They have a huge Florida room (called Arizona room in Arizona when we were there) next to their deck. Uh, what is on their deck? First, the deck is over the canal. Yes, you can fish from their back yard, in effect, and catch large ocean going fish sometimes. Yes, they have a boat lift and storage too. Did I tell you they also have a large jacuzzi (screened in, of course), overlooking the canal and sunsets every day? Their place is very close to Cape Canaveral since Chip worked there as a computer guru for decades. Have you ever been in Florida and watched a space shot? Thank Chip. Bonnie is a dynamo with visitors and convention bureau. What does that mean? This sweetheart of a lady got Kathy and I Platinum VIP passes to today's ocean boat races (boats up to 180 MPH), "Thunder at Cocoa Beach." Of course, that meant we could go into, actually we stayed in, the sponsors tent with free food and open bar all day long. Bonnie is hoping to get us special NASA passes for the Cape. I know, too bad, you are too late for the same treatment. Bonnie retires June 1. Chip is already retired, but Bonnie will continue with the state Tourism Board, helping bring movies to town. Her stories are amazing.

CHIP - JIM - KATHY - BONNIE

What a wonderful couple. Do you think Chip knows that most classmates have a backyard composed of dirt and rock, then an alley where they live? Is this canal a slice of heaven? And the ocean is close enough to one can kayak or motorboat to.

Jim and Chip in Chip and Bonnie's Jacuzzi Room .... yes, overlooking the canal.

Hmmmm, I wonder what this company does? When I arrived here, this is one of the first businesses I saw. I wonder what they do? I did not Google them but might. Maybe Chip brought it with him.

Carol Ann Zorn

Thank you for the birthday wishes, Jim. It seems that time flies and I'm living in a whirlwind. This is my big 70th birthday and other than having 2 new lenses, I still have all the original bits and pieces, and most of them work well enough.  Yes, I'm still in Tennessee and probably will be for awhile. I never hear from any of my classmates but I enjoy reading where they've been and where they're going. This is the part of our lives where we see our family and friends cross that big bridge in the sky, and wonder when we'll be making that trek.  Stay safe on your travels.  

Laurie Anne Shuey (Andersen)

I should have asked Bill Leggett for a tutorial before I tried to use this medium, but here goes:

We received a lovely card from a very active and sociable 90+ year-old art teacher who "remembered" Andy (USAF, ret.) and our son, David (USMC, ret.) for Memorial Day.    Ironically, our son wrote this piece about Memorial Day last year:

Margaret W. "Peggy" Ware (Koger)

That’s beautiful, Laurie!

Karen McCarty (Messina)

Deborah Pike

Well done. 

James A "Jim" White

On this Memorial Day weekend, allow me to introduce you to Cory Leone Johnson and a song he wrote, "ANOTHER SOLDIER'S COMING HOME."

When Kathy and I lost a clutch going up the Continental Divide in Montana (while pulling the 38' Montana 5th Wheel), one of the good things that came out of it was meeting Cory Leone Johnson. He is a musician and songwriter, orginally from Oklahoma, then quite awhile in Nashville, then went to perform in Montana and liked it so well he stayed. Every year he hosts a songwriter's conference in Red Lodge and brings in producers, coaches and such from Nashville, and it was right after this that we met him in Billings.

To make a long story short, on this Memorial Day allow me to share how even non-veterans appreciate and respect the sacrifice many young people give.

https://youtu.be/ZIPxU_Kakls

If the above link does not work, go to "YouTube, Cory Leone Johnson, Another Soldier's Coming Home." This is about a 5 minute video since he explains how he came about writing this song. We were glad to meet Cory; Kathy and I are glad to stay his friend from a chance meeting at a difficult time.

Karen McCarty (Messina)

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Thank you so much for the pages honoring our lost service man and women on this one day. I would like to say I have no  the strength to go to the ceremonies, to the graves, but the truth is I know I would end up weeping beyond control. My military connections run to my core. The honor and respect in my heart came from even when I was in first grade.

One of my deepest loves, I always call him "My Marine.:" Twenty five years have passed and I still cannot visit his grave. The blunt truth is that he told me more than once that he didn't want me to go there. His values in life were based on how people treat each other while they are living. The poem, "Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep," was engraved in my heart.

The song where he says they were mere children resonates over and over.

So as I struggle through this day, representing so many lost, I stay in reverense for their passing., every single one of them. I am so proud to have known them. And, to each and everyone of them that came home with a war still in their heart, I pray we treat them well.

I love you all.

James A "Jim" White

Starting this Memorial Day weekend with another night out with CHIP and BONNIE KING. 

Chip King - Bonnie King - Kathy White - Jim White. In this part of Florida, it would be difficult to go eat and have it not be at a waterside restaurant. We are loving it and dreading to head to Georgia next week.

Bonnie and I look like we color coordinated our dress this evening. Yes, neither of us are wearing socks. Oh, and did you notice how Bonnie bends her legs so she does not look that much taller than me. How sweet!

Margaret W. "Peggy" Ware (Koger)

Jim, you and Kathy look tan and fit! This lifestyle obviously suits you both! 

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

That's our beautiful...and still beautiful Karen McCarty Fink looking lovely. But, you are going to have to help me out with the guy because even though his face looks familiar to me, I can't think of his name for the life of me...ha. Funny how I have a history of remembering the names of all those guys!! Luv N Hugs

Karen McCarty (Messina)

Oh my goodness! The cat is out of the bag now! I was looking for a picture of my Dad in his uniform for a Memorial Day service and I knew I had one in my childhood photo album. Well, one thing lead to another and along with the photo of my Dad I noticed some other high school memories such as Prom pictures! I went to the 1963 Jr Sr Prom with “Kenny” but I failed to write his name down in my album so I thought I would ask Bill Leggett if he knew him since that was the year he graduated. I had no idea he would go one step further and actually POST the picture on our website! Sorry about that folks! To make a long story short, I now have his full name (Kenny Hasler ‘64) (so Mardi, did you know him?) and it is now written in my photo album for posterity. Bill tells me Kenny is alive and well, happily married and living in the LA area. For those of you with inquiring minds, we met because our parents were friends in the square dancing club in Roswell. My sister Debbie and I joined this group of dancers which also included teens. So, Kenny and I met and enjoyed square dancing together. He was two years older than I was so it wasn’t long before our interests changed and he graduated and I was still in school. He was a very nice young man and I enjoyed dating him at the time. Remember the proms of that era were in the high school gym?! I was on the decorating committee for two years and enjoyed making the decorations for the theme. For 1964 it was called “Sea Fantasy”. We hung netting, shells, fake fish etc to make it look like it was underwater. We hung long Shiny streamers from the ceiling to simulate water. There were a few “Treasure chests with jewelry and “gold coins” as treasure. I saved one of the coins which we made from cardboard wrapped in gold foil. Those were the days, right?! As you all know, our children “graduated “ from that to going out in a limo, going to an expensive restaurant and holding the prom in a fancy hotel! My daughter had her prom in San Francisco at the Hyatt Regency! I hadn’t even been there as an adult! Lol I wonder where the proms are being held nowadays!?? Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Bill Leggett. (Now take down the picture...)