James A "Jim" White

Margaret W. "Peggy" Ware (Koger)

Jim and Cathy,

Thank you for being the BEST ambassadors we could ever have! This is an amazing place to keep our members alive. You two have seen to it that we are all connected. Thank you! 

Becky Lynn Gwartney (Smith)

My husband L.M. (Smitty) Smith from our class was surprised to learn I had married Steven Smith. Darn..did you have to tell him.  We actually live in Lincoln, NM.  Since you're supposed to downsize for retirement we moved to the nearest small town.  It is a lovely place to live with not only our animals but abundant wildlife. Note the raccoon inn the barn, bat on the porch who flew into the house, and squirrel in the dryer vent were not highlights of country living.

I do check this site on occasion but am always saddened by those who are suffering the indignities of aging and those who have passed. Where did the time go? I would like to hear from you the things that bring you humor and joy. Tell us about the silly things your grandchildren or yikes great grandchildren have said or done. Same for the pets who have become our companions. Send funny pics. Make us laugh. This is Mia! She's a very liquid dog..meaning she just spreads out and it's up to you to go around. Not the brightest girl but we love her (except when she rolls in horse biscuits).

Pamala Ann "Pam" Liston (Ricks)

James A "Jim" White

Thank you BECKY GWARTNEY SMITH for correcting me. I dislike giving out incorrect information. I was in a hurry, did not look up anything, just typing from my demented mind on my phone. Yes, I do know Smitty, just was not thinking. You gave good advice for everyone. Classmates, let us know about your family, your health, your prayer needs, your dogs and, of course, jokes. Just no partison politics please.

Kathy and I went through Roswell this week. Forgot to get a picture of DICKIE DAVIS but remembered CRAIG SUTHERLAND and BETTY McCOMBS PATTON.

CRAIG SUTHERLAND  was a great help to me in finding an RV space to park my rig. CRAIG and MARIANNE COONS McCULLOUGH are working hard this weekend on a golf tournament to raise money for Veterans. Hooray for you two and others I do not know about.

We caught BETTY McCOMBS PATTON  at lunch as we were leaving town. Some people just don't age, do they?

This is where Kathy and I are at present, her sister's winery in NW New Mexico. We will be here for another week then fly to New Jersey for our son's Change of Command ceremony (not to mention he has 5 of our grandchildren), then back here, hook-up and drag our 5th-Wheel to Seattle area for the summer. We like to see classmates so let us know if we are passing by you. It may not be comfortable to drag our trailer through your town so, depending upon our time, you may have to meet us at a truckstop near the highway. LOL Our overall plans are to leave Seattle, travel back here (thru parts of WA-OR-ID-UT-CO for the Wine Festival the last week of September; then to and thru AZ, then Palm Springs (yea, BARBARA BUZBEE, we get to see you again), then to YUMA, other parts of AZ, then all across all of Texas (West to East) on I-10  back to Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island for Feb-Mar-Apr.

More senior enlightenments:

• Our luck is just like a bald man who just won a comb.
• Do you remember when you could stand up without sound effects?
• When you do squats, does it sound like a goat eating an aluminum can stuffed with celery?

Pamala Ann "Pam" Liston (Ricks)

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Marla Gibson (Frey)

Jim if you come my way come see us I am still in San Clemente Ca.  We have a couple of trips planned Tomorrow leaving for Santa Fe, Roswell and Ruidoso. I will be in Hilo Hi mid August for an outrigger event and visiting New Caledonia late September.

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Bill Martin

https://www.breitbart.com/border/2024/06/19/new-mexico-wildfires-force-evacuation-of-thousands-1400-buildings-destroyed-one-dead/

Ruidoso Burning...??!!!

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Robin E. Lostetter

Mardi, has anyone heard from Molly Orr Crockett? I don't know if she was still living in Ruidoso.  I haven't heard  from her since the fire, though.  She did post about disaster assistance on Facebook, but no personal note.

Patricia "Pat" Scott (West)

I visited with Molly the week before the fire.  She lives in Artesia.  We spent a day in Ruidoso where some of Molly's children and grandchildren live.  One daughter's home was destroyed.  Extent of damage to others not determined yesterday because roads still closed.  Molly is physically fine, but heavy emotional load.

Molly Orr (Crockett)

Thank you Robin.  I am fine & as Pat said we were just there looking at all the places we could remember that were important to us as we grew up.  My daughter & family lost there home, but the grandkids were lucky & did not lose there house or the business property.  

My dsughter had changed banks a little bit before the first fire & forgot the move the insurance draft to the new account.  When she realized what had happened she took care of the draft.  Insurance company canceled her anyway.  Due to the Blue 2 fire being active & not 100% contained she had to wait for that to happen before she could get insurance from another company.   The Blue 2 fire was was 93% contained when the SouthFork fire burned her house.....so no insurance.  

Molly Orr (Crockett)

Thank you Robin.  I am fine & as Pat said we were just there looking at all the places we could remember that were important to us as we grew up.  My daughter & family lost there home, but the grandkids were lucky & did not lose there house or the business property.  

My dsughter had changed banks a little bit before the first fire & forgot the move the insurance draft to the new account.  When she realized what had happened she took care of the draft.  Insurance company canceled her anyway.  Due to the Blue 2 fire being active & not 100% contained she had to wait for that to happen before she could get insurance from another company.   The Blue 2 fire was was 93% contained when the SouthFork fire burned her house.....so no insurance.  

James A "Jim" White

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)

Debbie Kuchar (Larsen)

Danny McFadin
December 21, 1947 — August 1, 2024
Danny Lee McFadin age 76 passed away August 1, 2024, in the VA nursing home in Bonham, Texas.
Danny was born in Graham, Texas on December 21, 1947. After living briefly in Post, Texas and Artesia, New Mexico, he moved to Roswell, NM and graduated from Goddard High School in 1966. After graduating he joined the US Marine Corp and served in the Third Marine Division. He served in Vietnam as a Corporal mechanic from 1966-1969. He was wounded in 1968 and discharged in 1969 as 100% disabled.
Danny married Debbie Rasco on November 29, 1969. They remained married until his death for 54 years.
Danny is survived by his loving wife Debbie, two sons, Dallas McFadin and wife Perla of Dallas, TX, Damon McFadin from Celina, TX, and four grandchildren, Avery McFadin Dansby, Sydney McFadin Dansby, Caden McFadin Dansby, and Wyatt McFadin Dansby, He is also survived by one sister Michael Parten of Houston, TX, two brothers Wayne McFadin and wife Nita Bob of Panhandle, TX, and Daryl McFadin and wife Sandy of Hobbs, NM.
Danny was preceded in death by one grandson Hunter McFadin, one sister Sandra Strawn, and parents Robert Mcfadin and Mother Venita.
We would like to thank all the great Doctors and Nurses that took care of Danny for eight years, V.A. nursing home in Bonham, Texas.

Walton Taylor "Wally" Reynolds

I wish to express my condolences to each and everyone of the family members of Danny. I graduated with him from Godard in 1966 rest in peace Danny

Donna Birkenbuel

Hello everyone,

It's been a long summer. My home in Ruidoso is a total loss from the fire. I have lost everything in and around the house and garage except for the clothes in my suitcase, my laptop, briefcase, and the usual toiletries.

I had left that morning about 10:00 for a doctor appointment in Las Cruces and didn't know about the fire until someone asked me that afternoon, "Have you heard about the fire?" My response "What fire?"  My route was through Hwy 70, and it was already closed at Apache Summit by that time. The only road left open was Hwy 70 to Roswell. I wasn't able to go back and save anything.

 After staying in motels and hotels for a while, I am now staying at a house in the Upper Canyon my insurance found for me. Huge improvement in accomodations! You don't realize how helpful a pair of kitchen shears are until you don't have them. That goes for a lot of other things, too.

A church group called Samaritan's Purse that travels to disaster areas all around the country helped me in my first search. They made me sit as they looked through the rubble and ashes. I was astonished to see that all the Corningware they found was still intact and unscathed. Then another lady found my mother's collection of small ceramic vases, and every one of them  was intact, too!!  They told me "what is forged in fire (a kiln) will survive a fire." Maybe the ceramic clock and some small things my mother and I made together are still there. It gives me hope. I'm planning on going back with other helpers. (Read: Strong men and women with shovels and necessary equipment. Please let me know if anyone has any leads.) Weather permitting, I'm going to continue to look for anything we can find. 

My insurance company has been very helpful, but they have had some personnel issues and we are still going through the process.  They are not only dealing with fire claims, they are now inundated with flood claims, too. 

May God bless and be with all of you. 

I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.

William Samuel "Bill" Sloan

Dear Molly and Donna, So sorry to hear of your losses during the Ruidoso fires. I have a nephew who lives off Hull Road near the intersection of Gavilan Canyon and they were very fortunate to avoid any damage, lease let us know if there is anything we can do for you.

Sincerely,,,

Charlotte Howell (Nix)

Donna and Molly,

So sorry to hear about your losses.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.  I am glad that no one, in your families,were injured during such devastation.  The Lord bless and keep you always.

Blessings,  Charlotte Howell Nix

Margaret W. "Peggy" Ware (Koger)

Donna, you have endured such a horrible loss, not to mention all the memorabilia  Thinking of you and praying for you .

Peggy

Mardi Gonyea (Nicklin)