PEM

Hello everyone:
I just returned from a wonderful trip to Florida where I visited many friends and family.
Among those were some of our classmates. While in Ormond Beach, I stayed with Patsy (Reese) Ellis and her husband, Phil (class of '60). Even though they were on the brink of having a new grandson, and having to take off on a moment's notice for the western side of FL, they were VERY gracious hosts. We had a GREAT visit, and I thank them so much for their hospitality. I also had lunch with Chris Adkins Murray. She looks great and is a godsend to Joyce. Both she and Patsy do all they can for her. She even paid for lunch and we stayed MUCH longer than it took to eat it! It is so wonderful to visit with old friends. On Monday night, I went to Jacksonville and visited Joyce at the Mayo Clinic.
She was there for a battery of tests and to get her medication adjusted. Joyce had a very difficult time while she was hospitalized. Her lung collapsed and they had great difficulty getting the diagnostic testing catheters inserted. I know that some of you would like to let Joyce know that we are thinking about her and keeping her in our prayers. She went home on Wednesday, but ended up with a cold. For someone with Pulmonary Hypertension, a cold is very difficult. It interferes further with their ability to breathe. If you want to let Joyce know that you are concerned, you may email her at: joyceinob@aol.com. She cannot do much, but she can get email. For "snail mail", her address is:
20 Pine Trail Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Hope this finds you all well in 2009. I know that our country is in turmoil, but my prayers are with our new President. No matter what your political leanings, we are all Americans, and our country needs our support. May God Bless America.
Fondly,
Linda (Meadows) Hodges

P.E.M September 08

Charleston Gazette on August 17th. She certainly was a lovely lady. Our prayers are The following is the obituary for Becky Bunn's (Rick's wife) mother. It appeared in the with Becky, Rick and family....
email address is: bunnsfl@bellsouth.net

Ruth Mildred Jarvis Mollohan

Ruth Mildred Jarvis Mollohan, 91, of Dunbar, passed away peacefully on Aug. 14, 2008.

Ruth was one of nine children born on April 18, 1917, at Camden-on-Gauley to the Rev. Curtis C. Jarvis and Mary Susan Shawver Jarvis.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Hampton Mollohan, to whom she was happily married for 56 years. Ruth dedicated 37 years to the teaching profession in West Virginia. She was an outstanding educator and was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in 1966. Her enthusiasm for teaching was an inspiration to all whose lives she touched. In her 91 years of living, she represented a truly remarkable woman - a woman who exemplified dignity, honor, deep religious faith, and beauty in every sense of the word. Ruth gave so much of herself to her family, her friends, her church and her community. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Dunbar.

Ruth is survived by her brother, the Rev. Clair Jarvis of Charleston (Elsie); her sister, Wilma Stump of Grantsville; her three children, George Mollohan of Beckley (Judy), Rebecca Mollohan Bunn of Pompano Beach, Fla. (Rick) and Susan Mollohan Saxe of Culloden (Timothy); seven grandchildren, David Mollohan (Tammy), Lisa Repasky (Alan), Kelli Bunn Strawder, Jamie Bunn (Shannon), Ryan Saxe, Joshua Saxe, and Ashley Saxe Wallace. She was also blessed with seven great grandchildren - Dakota Paul, Sierra Brook, Regan Alexis, Sophie Grace, Jonathan Cole, James Ryley and Brayden Tyler.

Special thanks to a devoted friend Susan Day, and the staff of Sweetbriar and Midland Meadows for all their kindness and loving care.

Ruth will be greatly missed by her family and many friends, but we know this “special angel” has gone to be with her heavenly Father.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the First Baptist Church, Dunbar, with the Rev. Thomas E. Stevens Jr. and the Rev. George R. Pauley officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Memorial Park. Friends may call at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to: First Baptist Church of Dunbar, 16 Street and Myers Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064, or to: Community Development Outreach Ministries (C.D.O.M.), 900 Washington Street E., Charleston, WV 25301.

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On August 16th, there was a huge turnout at the Chinese Buffet at that Mall. Yes indeed, it was the HHS Lunch Bunch. We were thrilled to see Pat Zimmerman Edmunds post
surgically in the quiet mode! She had thyroid surgery, and the results were that it was
BENIGN!!!!! Way to go! email is:
Dan Bane was also there, looking good, but soon starting another kind of treatment ....he will be able to do it at the VA hospital, so traveling to Vanderbuilt will not be necessary for routine things. He says that other than fatigue, the worst issue with the treatments that he has had before, is the loss of taste. It came back before, let's hope it will again! Prayers go with him!
Susan Simmen Gillette was looking very perky after her gall bladder surgery. Our group certainly does bounce back!
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This next information is from Brooks and Margaret regarding what exciting things are happening in their lives. Congratulations on the grandchild and good luck to Margaret in her recuperation. Brooks is an excellent nurse!

Our classmate and my wife, Margaret Mullins Drake, had her second successful foot operation of the year yesterday. She is resting as comfortably as can be expected at this time and will be recuperating for a month to six weeks with her right foot elevated.

We are still in a suburb of Detroit waiting for Margaret’s house to sell in order that we move to our new home on a lake in Madison, IN. My first grandchild, Albert Brooks Drake, IV was born in January, christened in May and is now sitting up on his own and ruling the roost…his anointed and appointed position in life. Margaret’s daughter, Megan, graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Psychology at age 19 and has embarked on a career with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Michigan.

Deer season opens October 1 and at the break of dawn that day I will be perched in a tree with my Woods Harp (bow) ready to do my civic duty in keeping auto insurance rates down by reducing the number of quadrupeds available for car crashes while seeking to harvest whitetail deer #81.

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I have been traveling extensively lately. In July and August, I was in Texas for a week, in Michigan and Wisconsin for 13 days, and in WV and PA for 12 days. All the trips were wonderful. Got to see lots of great sights, and visit with good friends and family. I even got to drop a few bucks(on penny slots!) in various casinos all over the country! For those of you who knew that I went to Texas to help take care of a dying friend, he finally passed away on August 23rd. He had been in a residential hospice for 3 weeks. (ever since the day after I left) My time with him and his family was a blessing, I think more for me than for them! We can't always be there for our friends and family when they need
us, but when we CAN, it is a gift..... Thanks to those of you who knew, and prayed. I'll be going back in Texas to help his wife, from the 16th-23rd of Sept.

Thank goodness for Hurricane Fay! Now, I KNOW that some of you Floridians had more of her than you wanted...she kept coming back to drench you all, over and over. But, for us here in GA and NC and SC where we have been so horribly dry, Fay's remnants brought us some welcome relief from the drought. Our plants and lawns are actually a little bit GREEN for the first time in ages. I left my daughter's house this evening, and it was raining pretty hard. I had to walk a way to get to my car, and I just took my time and enjoyed getting wet! (No lightening and thunder, fortunately!) We are supposed to continue getting rain for a couple more days. HOORAY! The remnants of this one storm will not BREAK the drought, but it will help the ground water levels, and help raise the lake levels a little bit. We have to stat somewhere..... (8/26 update----nearly 3 inches so far!)

Becky Phillips Payne's daughter Melissa and her husband Vincent are finally moved to Wilmington, NC from the Netherlands. We were all so glad that their cat (who is ancient) made the trip safely. It involved air transportation and Uhaul travel....not easy for "seniors" of any kind! Becky(and Bill if he can) and Vincent and Melissa are planning to visit me in Athens the end of Sept. I will show them the sights!! Can't wait!
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In case some of you missed the information on the yahoo website....Judy Kaylor has been diagnosed with breast cancer (early detection) and is undergoing treatment that is expected to take care of the situation nicely. Best of luck and prayers to Judy!
Rick Stiener reports the following, of his family,

Well, I think that is about it for now. I will forward this on to Jim Kyer the WEBMASTER for distribution I have the easy job...I just WRITE the PEM!
Email me directly with information you would like included. Lhodges44@yahoo.com

I hope this finds each of you healthy and happy and enjoying life to the fullest. Be grateful for each day!

Love to all my classmates,

Linda

Damon Cooke, our class president, wishes to announce that Danny Bane has accepted the position of Official Chaplain for our class. I talked with him today and he is doing well and was excited in accepting the position. Actually, he was already the accepted Chaplain by all of us and this just makes it official.

Most of you may not know that after 2 and 1/2 years in remission my Multiple Myeloma returned in Dec. I have started on a new chemo pill (Revlimid) in combination with the steroid (dexamethasone) . This combination has had some success in clinical trials from the Univ of Pennsylvania. Although Multiple Myeloma has been one of the rarest forms of blood cancer, it is one of the fastest growing while other blood cancers are on the decline. Therefore, it is getting a lot of research. I finished 21 days on Revlimid with one week off and yesterday I started my second round of 21 days. I get checked periodically at the Huntington VA and will go back to Vanderbilt in April after I've gone through 3 cycles. Preliminary results have been encouraging with much improved kidney functions.

Side effects are loss of taste (maybe 50%), fatigue and shaky hands but my Dr assures me that these are normal. I have managed to play a couple rounds of golf in the last 2 weeks. Watching 3 grandsons 4 days a week keeps us busy. We also have a 10 year of grandson and 13 year old granddaughter get off the school bus at our house for a couple of hours each day.

I believe that God has a purpose for all things that happen in our lives and I don't look upon this latest setback as a discouragement. I want to use this as an opportunity to be an encouragement to others who may be going through similar circumstances. God has given me the the peace of mind to never ask "why me"?, but rather to ask the question "what would you have me to do"?

Dan Bane

Rom 8:28

The Rev. Alice Leonor Thornton M. Div., departed this life on December 2, 2007 at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown; after a rapid but

hard fought battle with pulmonary fibrosis. She was surrounded by her family, lots of love, singing of hymns, and prayers.

Alice was born October 30, 1944 in Huntington, WV. She was the youngest of three children born to Grayson Dashiell Thornton Jr. and Adele

Kershaw. Alice grew up in Huntington and Proctorville, OH. She attended Penn State University, where she met David Darlington Bicking

whom she married on December 11, 1965. In 1967 she graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelors in Spanish. She entered the

Virginia Theological Seminary in 1974 and completed her studies at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1976. On May 26, 1978 she became

the third woman ordained in the Episcopal Church of West Virginia at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Charleston. From 1977-1980 she served as an

associate rector at St. John’s, where she ran many education and outreach programs, including a daily soup kitchen. In 1980 her family moved to the

Eastern Panhandle of WV. On September 21st that same year she opened Christ Church, locally called Morgan’s Chapel, Inwood WV until the church’s

closing in 1989. During this time period she continued her education at the Washington School of Psychiatry and the Institute for Pastoral Psychotherapy P.C. & C.C.

graduating in 1980. She worked for P.C. & C.C. in Hagerstown and Bethesda MD until 1983, afterwards she opened Shenandoah Pastoral Counseling Service serving the

Eastern Panhandle and surrounding areas. While continuing to run this service for the community she served as a supply priest for area churches

both in Virginia and West Virginia. Last August, she returned to teaching as a Spanish teacher at Martinsburg High School. Even though she became ill

shortly after she began, she loved the challenge and students. She is survived by her sister, Adele Kershaw Thornton- Lewis and brother, Grayson

Dashiell Thornton III, and wife Jan. Also surviving are her daughter, Alice Kathryn ‘Katy’ Schain, and husband, Jeremy, of Winchester; son, Nathan F.

Bicking, and wife, Misty, of Charles Town and five grandchildren: Allison Adele Schain (9), Kathryn Virginia Schain (5), Hannah Skye Bicking (9),

Megan Elizabeth Bicking (7), and David Aaron Bicking (5)Memorial services are to be held at Zion Episcopal Church, Charles Town WV at 11 o’clock

a.m. on December 11, 2007. A later memorial service will also be held in Huntington, WV where she will be interred at Spring Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and in

memory of Alice, please send donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

CONNIE GAIL "C.G." MARCUM COYLE, 63, of Largo, Fla., formerly of Barboursville, W.Va., died Saturday, November 10, 2007, at Hospice House Woodside in Pinellas Park, Fla. She was born on August 25, 1944, in Huntington, W.Va., the daughter of Hugh Edward "Buss" Marcum and Bonnie Marie Thompson Marcum, and the daughter-in-law to the late Raymond and Lucille Coyle. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Lindal L. Coyle, of Largo, Fla.; her son and daughter-in-law, Randall "Randy" and Bronya Coyle of Barboursville, W.Va.; her daughter and son-in-law, Melinda "Mendy" and Troy Taylor of Seminole, Fla.; five grandchildren, Justin "Bo", Tyler and Allyson Coyle of Barboursville, W.Va., Ryan and Jacob Taylor of Seminole, Fla.; and one great-grandchild soon to be born. Her family survivors also include her brother, Ronald Bruce Marcum of Barboursville, W.Va.; and two sisters and brother-in-law, Sandra Marcum of Huntington, W.Va., and Mary and Louis Elam of Largo, Fla.; her sister-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Marcum of Chesapeake, Ohio; nieces and nephews Doug Marcum, Theresa Marcum, Sarah Price, Kim Perry, Melissa Mamula, Veronica Hughes, Melody Bulso and Mike Elam; and many other family and friends that loved her dearly. Connie graduated from Huntington High School and was employed by HCA for the past 16 years. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and was an avid Marshall University football fan, as well as a loving wife, mother, sister and a very special MaMa. Special thanks to Dr. Abid and his staff and the caregivers at Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. Visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with services at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2007, at the Reger Funeral Home; burial will follow in Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Huntington. Her nephews, Doug Marcum, Steve Price, Chris Mamula, Mike Elam, Joe Bulso and Nathan Elam, will serve as pallbearers.

Karen Vannoy Smittles writes:

Dear Friends:

We have survived the move to Morgantown, but just barely. I have found muscles that I had forgotten that I had in the last 5 or so days.

Lloyd's came to finish packing up our belongs (stuff) on Tuesday and the loaded up on Wednesday. They were at our house until 10PM. We were going to drive to Morgantown, but decided to stay over at a new motel near by. We were up and out early on Thursday to drive to M'town in the rain with the sun appearing soon after noon. We got a few of our chores done and the closed on our house here. Our daughter, Robin, arrived from Murrysville and we had a nice dinner to build up strength for the unloading day on Friday.

Up early and to our new home to await the arrival of the moving truck. Everyone arrived at the same time. Lowe's with the new refrig. washer and dryer and the moving truck. Movers wait until the appliances were installed and the guys gone and then they started. They unloaded from 9 until 5 or 5:30. Everything is in and the garage is loaded from top to bottom. Karen did not do a very good job of down sizing. She will have to start the process over again. Hopefully that will keep her busy for the winter months so she can not go out and buy more frilly s---. As Dick says.

Dick got his office done, because he is leaving for a business trip on Tuesday and I will be here to unpack on my own which is probably for the best. The guest room is done to some order because Robin and Tom needed some place to sleep for the weekend of helping. The TV room is done and ready for the granddaughters. Everything's seems to fit and that takes care of the second floor.

My friend from college, Mary Feldmeier, came over to help on Saturday morning. We got all the spices and food stuffs unpacked and in order to my liking. Robin and Tom helped with all the TVs and computers. As you can see, we are up and running in fine style. I now have to work on all the bathrooms, our room and closets, and the remainder of the kitchen. This is going to be a great move for Dick and I. We already are enjoying the new home and it is not even in order. Just taking our time. This, too, will pass and things will return to normal in a few weeks when we will host Thanksgiving dinner for the family. This is what it is all about.

New information for Karen and Dick Smittle as of November 1, 2007

Karen and Dick Smittle

12 Turtle Creek Drive

Morgantown, WV 26508

304.594.0080

ksmittle@comcast.net

October 2007

Linda Meadow Hodges reports the following:

I retired from being a Registered Nurse in March of 2006, My husband, Richard, retired in

Jan of 2005. Unfortunately, in May of 2007, he passed away due to a heart attack after

surgery. For that reason, and because we had been planning to do this for a long time, I

am moving to Athens, GA, by the 1st of Jan, 2008. I have purchased a house and

our youngest daughter is moving there also. Our oldest daughter and her husband and

our grandson have lived there for 12 years. Now we will be within 8 miles of each other,

instead of 55 miles.

My new address is: 277 Lake Vista Way

Athens, GA 30607

Phone: 706-583-9616 (home)

Camp Dekanawida

Hi Joyce,

I'm so glad you contacted me. I'm also searching for some of the original information I found on the camp when my husband and I first bought the property in 2004.

The Highlawn Baptist Church bought the camp from Campfire and operated it for a few years before it was sold to a private individual. The areas where the swimming pool, mess hall, the bridge, etc were sold before we were aware of the property.

We bought the remaining 48.55 acres which was on the right side of the road (as you come in) and built our house on top.

My husband has done a lot of cleaning up because one of the previous owners had sold some of the timber and it left lots of unused trees that were cut down but not removed. Thankfully, the property is still heavily forested and Gary is working to clear old brush and wood remnants.

I'll see if I can scan some of our before and after pictures to send to you. To us, it's like living in a park, it's so peaceful and serene.

It has really been exciting to hear from people who actually attended camp here, since I am trying to write a history of the camp. I am not a writer, but the history is so interesting that I'm willing to give it a shot.

Gary and I are both native West Virginian's - he was raised on Upper Heath Creek Road just about a mile from the camp. Our oldest daughter and her husband live in Jacksonville, FL - what a small world.

Thanks again,

Debbie & Gary Adkins
Rt 1, Box 214A
Salt Rock, WV 25559
304-736-5022

-----Original Message-----
From: joyceinob@aol.com
Sent: Oct 18, 2007 7:21 PM
To: adkinscampfire@peoplepc.com
Subject:

My name is Joyce Manus Hill I live in the Daytona Beach Area in Florida. Was born in Htgn. lived there about 30 years. Went to Camp D. remember it very well. Is it not a camp anymore at all? We all attended the camp for many years it had pump water from a well, outhouses, we slept in tents. I was a camp fire girl till age 16. My Mother taught swimming lessons at the camp, her name was Emmy Manus. Will write again am looking for pictures for you. Thanks for writing to us. Joyce

P.E.M. == Pony Express Mail (Brooks asked that I clarify that for those who didn't

"The correction is that Sherry and I now have a new "great" grandchild instead of new grandchild. Jeremiah Peyton is now 8 mos old." I said that they were WAY too young for that!

"The doctor said that I "smashed" my left elbow. That was 7 weeks ago and I have gone from a cradle cast to a range of motion brace to nothing. My range of motion is nearly 100%. Dr. Russell told me last week that I had 2 weeks to gain full range or he would put me in therapy. Since I had been swimming over a mile every morning until the accident, I hit the pool with a vengence and nearly have accomplished what the Dr. ordered. Both Walt and I are amazed at the progress of recovery. I get the evaluation in another week and I will know the outcome, but I am hopeful. LESSONS LEARNED...do not wear golf cleats in the house, if you have ceramic tile floors. Gee, what a quick study I am!" (SHE SLIPPED ON HER TILE FLOORS WHILE WEARING GOLF CLEATS! You are now forewarned, golfers!)

Bobby Wysong will sponsor the shuttle bus on Friday night to get people over (from the Radisson) to the Tweel's and back. Our deepest thanks, Bobby!

Shiela Kearns Kincaid informs me that I forgot to include Carl Berry among our deceased classmates. She said that she thinks he died around June of 2005. Anyone else that you all know of?

(Below) Karen told me about this in an email quite some time ago, but since I wasn't doing PEM's at the time, I had not asked her permission to use it and I just forgot to include it in the last one. I told you all that I was sure I had forgotten to include some important things! PLEASE let me know if any of the rest of you have stuff to share that I neglected to pass on. Mea culpa!

Washington, D.C., July 7, 2006 - Karen V. Smittle was awarded the Lifelong Alumnae Service Award at Chi Omega’s biennial National Convention held June 29 through July 2 in Washington, D.C. This award recognizes years of volunteer service to Chi Omega.

Mrs. Smittle joined 1200 other Chi Omegas from around the country in a four-day convention celebrating leadership and sisterhood. She attended numerous educational workshops throughout the conference on topics such as strategic leadership, brand management, values and ethics, and the Chi Omega member experience.

" I enjoyed my time at the convention greatly. To work with the young women of today is very rewarding. To watch the next generation is action in an organization that gives them values, ethics, leadership skills, friendships, scholarship, and a strong sense of well being is very rewarding. I have worked for Chi Omega Fraternity as an alumna since I graduated in1966. I am rewarded everyday by my work in Chi Omega, but the Life Long Alumnae Service Award was a great surprise and very rewarding to be chosen by my peers to received this award," said Karen

Karen, graduated in 1966 from West Virginia University with a BS degree in Physical Education. She has retired from teaching and is now a full time volunteer. She a member of the Opequon Presbyterian Church, Life Member of Friends of the State Arboretum, and Old Fredericktown Garden Club. For Chi Omega, Karen has served in many capacities as attendee to several Conventions and Firesides, member of the Northern New Jersey Chi Omega Alumnae Association, Recruitment Information Chairman for the state of New Jersey and Area Recruitment Information Chairman for Winchester, VA, President of Chi Omega Home Association for Theta Chapter at West Virginia University, and attended The Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute of Chi Omega in March, 2006. Karen has been and continues to be a VERY busy lady!

Dick and I plan to leave tomorrow afternoon (10/25) driving part of the way to Huntington for the weekend. It is Marshall's Homecoming. We will be back on Halloween night.

Our youngest daughter is still recuperating from sinus and deviated septum surgery that took place 3 weeks ago. Let me just say....every possible orifice of my body would have to be sealed shut without a breathing possibility ANYWHERE before I would go through that surgery. It was AWFUL. You are all forewarned.

Becky and Bill Payne just had a 2-week visit from Becky's daughter, Missie. She was visiting from Amsterdam. It went by too quickly and Becky is suffering from separation

Brooks Drake just returned home to Indiana ("Back home Again in Indiana") after being in Ona caring for his Aunt Katie for several months, before her passing. He is preparing to have his other hip replaced the first week of December. I imagine, in the meantime, he will try to kill as many defenseless creatures of the wild as possible.

Jim Kyer recently was presented with a new grandson. He is the son of Jim's son, Aaron, who was in Iraq for several months last year. He is positively adorable. Congratulations.

Jim also went on a "big game" hunt (gophers, field mice, etc) out west this fall. I haven't heard the outcome of that "great adventure" but it was a "father/son" affair so I am sure they had a good time, whether they "bagged" anything or not.

FYI, I read an article in our local paper about a man who was white and lived in a commune in rural south Georgia during his high school years. His father was a pacifist minister, and he went to the local high school. When the school was being integrated, he marched with the African American kids and protested the way things were going. His life was made MISERABLE by the local white kids. He nearly dropped out. His brother did. He was beaten and taunted and called horrible names....but he never fought back. He now lives near Lewisburg, WV and is successful in real estate. He graduated in 1965 and recently, there was a reunion held at his high school. He was surprised to find an invitation sent to him, asking him to come to the reunion. In addition, many of the classmates who taunted him (and even beat him up) or who stood by and did nothing to help, wrote personal letters to him asking him to come, and apologizing for their actions. This article was inspiring to me. I know that many of you remember bad things about high school. Cruel words, ugly actions,

many unkind things that were said and done to you by thoughtless classmates. Hopefully we, as those high schoolers in south Georgia, have grown up to be good citizens and caring people. Maturity is a wonderful thing. I would like to offer my invitation to all of you.

Please come back .....come to the 45th Reunion. It's not like it used to be. At the 40th reunion, I made so many new friends. People I really didn't know well in high school. Now, through the reunion and the internet, we have connected. Give yourselves the blessing of that

OK...that's it for now. If you have news you would like to share, send it to me, and I'll include it. I am going to try to start doing a PEM every month....IF I can get enough news to make it worthwhile. I can't just make stuff up, so help me out here.

The following are the updated emails and addresses that we have received since the effort to RElocate our classmates. If you know of any changes, please email either Brooks Drake, Jim Kyer or me at the following email addresses: (we are keeping multiple files in case there is a computer crash) We will share the information with each other. Our thanks to Patty Zimmerman and Shiela Kearns for their ongoing efforts to contact our classmates.

Lhodges44@yahoo.com <mailto:Lhodges44@yahoo.com> abdrake@verizon.net <mailto:abdrake@verizon.net> or

Please update your personal address book if you care to. And don't forget to visit the website. Any problems (or suggestions/corrections/additions/pictures/updated info) you have concerning or accessing the website should be sent to Jim Kyer at the above email address. (Thanks for your efforts, Jim)

End of list

It has been so long that I don't even know where to start. Let me begin by apologizing. For some reason, Yahoo "rearranged" my P.E.M. mailing lists (on my PERSONAL yahoo site) and made it so that I had to cut and paste over 28 times to get a P.E.M. sent out, and THEN, some of the addresses were missed (for whatever reason...I still don't know). SO, I quit doing the P.E.M.s until Jim Kyer could get all the information on to the Yahoo GROUPS HHS site. This was not easy. My address book did not readily transfer to the new site, and had to be "piece mealed" over to him. It took us awhile just to figure out how to do it in a format that would work. I am sorry that I am not more computer savvy. However, having said all of this, I THINK that we have done it now. So, this is going to be the "test P.E.M.". Hopefully from now on, I can just write the P.E.M.s and send them to Jim, and he can quickly send them out to everyone. We'll see how this goes!

Since it has been so long....there is much to catch up on. The last P.E.M. that I wrote and that didn't get sent was in July. I am going to take some of the information out of it, and pass it along. THEN, I will write about the more current stuff. Hope it is not too confusing.

Class "Newsbites": In the past couple of months some things have happened. Clark Reynolds and his wife are new grandparents, as are Lee and Cheryl Mossman. The Mossman's grand daughter, Ava, has some health problems, and we wish them the best. She will likely require surgery soon. ("Ava update", Lee?)

intestinal bug. She is doing well now. I was up in WV with her for about 5 days. Had to "supervise" everything! Also, my husband has finally had both eyes operated on for cataracts (one was done twice due to complications) and his eyesight is GREAT. It has made all the difference in the world. Seeing is a wonderful thing that we take for granted (used to!) We went to Wisconsin for over a week. Got out of the heat and had a great time!

Jim Kyers' wife, Sue Dickerson's father died in May. He had been ill and going downhill for some time. Sue and Jim and the rest of the family had been taking turns going back and forth to Indiana, dealing with the problems that arise when an elderly parent is failing. Our sympathy to them.

Brooks Drakes' Aunt Katie has had a bad turn. Her pain has worsened to the point where she is in the residential hospice in Huntington for a pain control "tune up". He continues his dedicated caring for her.

Joyce Hill has recently undergone a cardiac cath procedure. She has not been feeling well for awhile...even on her IV drugs.

After having renovations to their house in FL for MANY, MANY months, Rick and Becky Bunn have taken off for WV for a few weeks. They are praying (as is everyone in FL and other coastal states) for an easy hurricane season.

One other sad note. It has not been put out on the internet that I have seen, but I read about it in the Atlanta paper. You remember how Joe McVey told us about Nelson Pace's (class of '60, I think) wife having been on disability for a long time, and then just before the hurricane (Katrina), she was denied her disability? Well, her family is originally from south of Atlanta, and in May, I read that she had died suddenly in New Orleans. This is so sad, particularly after all they had been through. Joe, if you can send me an address, some of us might want to send Nelson and his son, Duncan, a card.

And FINALLY...on a happier note, thanks to Jim Kyer for his work on the website...getting it updated. Check it out! And, PLEASE check your information on that site so that we can make sure it is correct...BEFORE we mail things to incorrect addresses. You can email Jim Kyer, me and Brooks to give us updated information. Lhodges44@yahoo.com clkyer@comporium.net abdrake@verizon.net

(we want multiple people to have the updated list in case of a computer crash!)

First, the sad news. Brooks' Aunt Katie died a couple of weeks ago. Brooks is still in Htgn getting the house ready to sell and taking care of things. He did a yeoman's job of taking care of his dear Aunt, and I personally presented him with the "Volunteer Nurse of the Year 2006" award while I was in Huntington. Because of being needed by his Aunt Katie, Brooks never took proper care of himself after his surgery in December, so he now has some unwanted issues going on. Well, now he is going to have the other hip done, on Dec. 6th, and he assures me that he is going to concentrate on his own health after that is done! He plans to be back in Indiana the first of Oct...hunting season, you know.

We hear that Chris Adkins Murray broke her arm. I have no details, but we send out our best wishes for a speedy recovery to her. We want her to get all these 'breakage" issues out of the way before the reunion in 2007!

On Friday night, the 15th of Sept, the first "full" Reunion Committee meeting was held at Becky Phillips Payne's home in Huntington. We had a great turn out. Attendees included: Lucinda Gerber (Columbus, OH) Emmy Ruffier Carnohan (Longs, SC) Linda Meadows Hodges (Lilburn, GA) Brooks Drake

(Madison, IN) Shiela Kearns Kincaid, Becky Payne, Anne Minton Dragovich, Patty Zimmerman Edmunds, and David Harris (all locals). Kay Thornbug Lewis, Larry Tweel, Jim Kyer, Brenda Sue Cook Burford and Fuzzy Harrold were unable to attend. Much was accomplished and many of us went away with our assignments. We plan to meet again the end of January. Some things, we need input from the classmates about. Like, for instance, we want to make sure we know about everyone who has died since out last reunion. We know about Harvey, Linda Osborne, Billy Turnbull, Pat Rice, Arlyna Simms. If you know of others, please let Brooks, Jim and me know. (email addresses above)

The date(s) for the reunion have been chosen. It will be held June 29th and 30th, 2007. YES I KNOW IT'S HOT!. But, the committee had to take many things into consideration, such as Marshall home games, lack of hotel space, vacation time availability for those still working, etc, so summer it is!

The plan is to have the Friday night gathering at Larry and Cheryl Tweel's house (side yard under the tent)---our thanks to them. We have a few things planned that are bound to make that a memorable evening. More on the specifics later. Then on Saturday, the dinner and dance will be at the Radisson.

Now, about the money. IF you are pretty sure that you are coming, PLEASE go ahead and send in your money. I'll tell you why. When Harvey sent us those wonderful reunion booklets, they were very expensive, and in addition to all the cash in our treasury, he added money of his own to get the job done. Therefore, we started this reunion planning with NO MONEY. There are mailings being done, and deposits on the room at the Radisson, and other expenses that are being "fronted" by some members of the committee. We would very much appreciate being able to pay them back ASAP with incoming funds. Please make your checks to:

There are 40 rooms being held for our graduates and "friends" of the class. If you want to make a reservation, please call the Radisson, tell them that you are with the HHS Class of '62. The room rate is $89.00.

"REUNION SPECIFIC" information that is extensive and detailed will be sent out to you separately from the PEM's. This above info is just to get us thinking about the upcoming event!

OTHER NEWS: We had a GREAT picnic on Sept. 16th at the park on the river in front of Susan Simmen Gillette's house. PERFECT weather! Of course, the food was fabulous, and the fellowship was even better. Hope to get some pictures on the website of the group who attended.

That's it for now. Please send ME any news that you have that you want included in the P.E.M. lhodges44@yahoo.com

If I have forgotten anything that anyone has told me...I am so sorry, but it has been so long since we have had 'updates', I just can't remember everything. I PROMISE to try to do better. I have missed hearing from you all. Keep in touch!