CONDOLENCES

As you all know by now, Walter and Diana Thomas have lost their first born son, Greg. Some of you have already sent condolences through me. And someone asked about his illness. 

We were first informed of Greg's brave battle in 2008, and the last we heard was in October of last year. In case any of you missed the blog posts sent during those years, here are the sites that contain information about Greg and his valiant fight:

http://bhs1957classact.blogspot.com/2008/10/from-my-journal-and-my-scrapbook.html

http://bhs1957classact.blogspot.com/2008/12/post-thanksgiving-greetings.html

http://bhs1957classact.blogspot.com/2009/03/travelin-man.html

http://bhs1957classact.blogspot.com/2011/10/request-for-walter-diana-thomass-son.html

If you wish to send prayers or your personal condolences, you may comment on the blog itself or you may email Walter and Diana personally.  Their email as well as their home address is in the back of your Class handbook.

Our prayers are with you, Walter and Diana, as well as Greg's family.

Peace and love,
Marilyn

A REQUEST FOR WALTER & DIANA THOMAS'S SON, GREG

Walking in honor of Greg Thomas

Help me spread the word & share this email with your friends & family!

Often times when we hear of a loved one having cancer, we don't know what to say. We don't know what to do. Here's your chance....donate and/or walk with us in pride and in honor of our "Superman". Join us in San Antonio, Texas on November 5, 2011 in the walk for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness. If you are unable to walk with us, please make a donation to our team.

Join Greg, our children, and me in his battle. Walk with us and make a difference!! Donate and make a difference!! Go Bucks!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Imelda Thomas

PRAYER REQUEST

This morning I received this request from June Harris Koch (BHS '56):

"PEGGY (VIRDEN) and Bobby SHARP's 32-year-old granddaughter from College Station, age 32 -- who is scheduled to be married for the first time shortly -- recently developed fluid on her brain. She is scheduled for surgery today to put in a shunt to drain off the fluid. Please pray for God's hand to guide this procedure, and for the healing of this condition. PEGGY is a sister in Christ from Bethel Community Church."

And while we are in a prayer mode, please pray that the course of Hurricane Irene changes, and misses the eastern seaboard.

The Prayer of Protection:

"The light of God surrounds you. The love of God enfolds you. The power of God protects you. The presence of God watches over you. Wherever you are, God is. And all is well."  Amen

Peace and love,

Marilyn

MORE "GREATS"

Scotlyn Kathleen and big sister Londyn

I cannot believe I forgot about JUNE (HASH) CURRY'S newest great-grandchild. I remember when this cutie was born in June and I saw precious photos of her.  Scotlyn Kathleen is the daughter of JUNE'S granddaughter, Karen and her husband, Erik. She was born this past June. 

I guess the race is on to see who has the most "great-grandchildren".  Let's see... that's seven for JUNE, three for PEG, and I'm not certain how many for JERLENE (PIEL) STEEL. NANCY (THOMPSON) BAKER has three (I think).

I think our class took to heart the directive to "go forth, be fruitful, and multiply"!

More peace and love this Sunday in August,

Marilyn

GOOD STUFF!!

Miss Stella

I received this in an email from Peg (Branham) Krumlinde:

"This is our new great-grandbaby - Adam, Guenter's grandson and his wife, Sarah (proud parents). I wish I had one! (Only for a couple of hours, though, LOL). That makes three 'greats' for us!"

Isn't it wonderful to see our legacies while we are still young enough to enjoy them for the precious gifts they are? Miss Stella is a real beauty, Peg!

It's nice to send this kind of news out. Want to share more? Who has the most great-grandchildren in our Class of '57?

Peace and love,

Marilyn

PRAYER REQUEST

Many of us in the State of Texas are suffering from a dreadful drought, the horrendous heat, as well as wildfires that are popping up all around us. Recently there was one about 2-miles from my home that I didn't hear about until the late evening news. I watched online for updates for a couple of hours. They evacuated about 1,000 residents in the immediate area of the fire. In case it came this far, I thought I would prepare to leave in a hurry. So... I got a small bag and placed in it my medicine, a toothbrush and toothpaste, cash I had hidden, and as I crawled into bed, I thought.. "I better put in a clean pair of underwear just in case!" Funny what one thinks of at times like this.

Today I received the following email sent from the summer place of Peggy (Branham) Krumlinde:

New Mexico Forest Fire

"Well, here we are, sitting and waiting on the latest news and the fire reports for New Mexico.  The latest fire is about 80 miles from us - it is in Pacheco Canyon, 6 miles north of Tesuque, which puts it at the Santa Fe Ski Basin and about 20 miles north of Santa Fe.  Some of the residents here in Pendaries are evacuating, pulling their 5th wheels and driving their motorhomes out of the area.  The smoke has been here since late yesterday afternoon.  We will go if they make the announcement or if the smoke gets too thick for us to breathe safely.  We will have to leave our 5th wheel and all its contents.  No pickup to pull it out.  It is so sad - all the beautiful forests of Arizona and New Mexico are being wiped out, not to mention the deer, elk, bear and small animals.

I am asking you all to pray that we get enough moisture to help us and our beautiful state get through this with as little damage as possible. Our last rain was 1/4"  the first part of December." Peg

The beautiful Hill Country where I live is no longer so beautiful due to the lingering drought. Lake Travis in Austin is down about 24 feet, and all the other lakes around are drying up as well. There are similar sad stories all over the Southwest. Add in the wildfires and tornadoes and floods, and it is easy to understand how some folks think this might be the end of the world!

Lake Travis - Drought of 2009

So, as we honor Peggy's request for prayers, we might add all the other areas that are suffering this spring. Pray for rain, pray for the animals, pray for the victims of the tornadoes and floods and wildfires, and pray for all the farmers and ranchers who are losing so much.

If anyone knows how to do a rain dance, that would help as well!

Peace and love,

Marilyn

SOME MORE "GOOD STUFF"

I received the following email from Dottie Bishop Rogers this morning. I thought all of you would enjoy hearing what she's been up to! I tried to get her to send recent photos of her and her special friend, Larry. If she does send them, I will publish them here. I hope all of you have lots of good stuff happening in your life as well. If you wish to share, just email me... Marilyn

Hello, All,

I appreciate so much the news of the passing of our dear friends and classmates. What memories are recalled! I know each of us sends prayers to the families, and we add our own prayers for our loss.

I wanted to tell you something I think was just great for an old lady of 72. On March 30, my very special friend, Larry, and I started on our great adventure in his motor home. We left Arizona with our first stop in San Diego; we went to Disneyland and Universal Studios, and we rode as many rides as we could get in. I felt like such a kid again! At the Blues Brothers Revue, I was chosen to dance with the Dan Akroyd character and Larry sang. I have never laughed so much in my life.

We left San Diego and chose to skirt L.A. in the motor home, so we stopped in Bakersfield on our way to Hearst Castle in San Simeon. We had a small delay - I was in the emergency room at a trauma center for a day and a half after picking up the super glue instead of my eyedrops. (Don't laugh - I truly did that!) Fortunately, the second day an opthalmologist pried my eye open with no major damage and we continued on our trip. After Hearst Castle, we continued up the west coast to Portland, then on to Ocean Shores, WA where Larry had some beach property. We rested for a week there and on to Bremerton, WA (across Puget Sound from Seattle), and stayed a week there visiting with Larry's relatives and friends. This was his hometown and where he worked on nuclear submarines and carriers at the shipyards for 30 years.

We could not get into Yellowstone because of the snow, but we traveled across Montana into Idaho and South Dakota. We visited Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial, which was awesome. On across Wyoming, Colorado, and into Utah to Moab. We saw the Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Folks, if there is anyone out there who does not believe there is a God, take a look at the beauty of our nation. Wow! We continued into Monument Valley and the Navajo Reservation, and on to Holbrook, AZ and home. This adventure took six weeks and 5,000 miles.

We know how blessed we were to experience this trip and know at our age, seldom, if ever, will we be able to do it again. I plan to take him on a trip around Texas next year, but it will probably be by car and stopping at many golf courses. We would have loved to do that on this trip, but we were met with rain, sleet, hail, and snow, and terrible winds in several places. I loved it, but my driver was not too thrilled at the weather. Have you ever played golf in WA? Well, you have to have webbed feet, I promise you.

This epistle has about run its course, but I just wanted to share that there is still beauty, love, and peace in our world. As Marilyn always says,

Peace and Love to you all.

Dottie

THE CYCLE OF LIFE

Although our hearts are saddened by the loss of friends or loved ones, we can all rejoice when new babes are born into our families. Two of our classmates have recently been blessed with great-grandchildren!

Jerline Piel Steel proudly sends a photo of her newest great-granddaughter.  Randy Mack Tischler, her  grandson, and his wife, Sheila, who reside in Flower Mound are the proud parents of this beautiful, "BIG" little girl. 

Ali Rae Tischler

9lbs 4oz

21 in

Born March 22, 2011

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June Hash Curry sent the following:

I have a wonderful new great-grandson named Garrett Wayne Braun.  He was born earlier this month (April) to my granddaughter Danielle Braun and her husband Joe in Rosebud, Missouri (outside of St. Louis). 

Big sister Jolene and Garrett Wayne Braun

Now these certainly should warm the cockles of your heart! Congratulations to the proud great-grandparents!

Something good always happens..

Marilyn

ANOTHER LOSS SO SOON...

I received the following from Peggy Branham Krumlinde yesterday morning. Her brother, Zane Branham, was 76 and a BHS and Texas Tech graduate. 

"... I realize we are all nearing the end of our journey here, but it is still sad and hard to see it come to those we know and love.  I lost my brother yesterday after having been hospitalized for over four months.  I would like to share something from author, Mary Frye":

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,

I am in the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,

I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,

I am in the graceful rush of

beautiful birds in circling flight,

I am the star-shine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room.

I am in the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

I am with those I love,

I am with Him in Heaven above.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I do not die.

I know what it's like to lose a sibling, and I also know that thoughts and prayers from friends and loved ones are a comfort after such a loss. Please join me in sending your condolences and love to Peggy. May her brother Zane rest in peace.

Peace be with you all,

Marilyn

A MEMORY FOR BARBARA SHARPES BROOKS

I didn't have an obituary to run when I advised everyone of Barbara's loss. I thought that this would be a nice thing for Barbara to refer to in the future. If any of you have something important you would like for me to place on this site, please send it to me. Or send me information where I can retrieve it. I can access most newspapers. The following was in the Port Aransas newspaper.

Barbara and Tom Brooks of Goldthwaite, formerly of Port Aransas, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple married in Abilene on Feb. 6, 1961, at the home of the bride’s parents, Homer and Emma Sharpes. Brooks, former Port Aransas city manager, was in the Air Force at the time. His career involved assignments from Nebraska to California, Washington, Texas and Guam. He retired in 1976 and went into public service. He served as city manager in Port Aransas for 11 years, retiring in 2003. She worked in civil service, but primarily was a housewife and mother. They have four children, Cindi (K.W.) Thomas of Georgia, Marshal (Judy) Brooks of Illinois, Rob Brooks of Texas and Tommy (Mayra) Brooks of Australia. They have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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Tom Brooks served Port Aransas from 1992 to 2003. The longest term and one of the most respected of city managers in Port Aransas, Tomme Melvin “Tom” Brooks, died Sunday, April 3, 2011, at his home in Goldthwaite after a long battle with COPD. He was 72.

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Goodbye and good luck, Barbara.

Peace and love,

Marilyn