45th Class Reunion: Remembrances/Plans

Hi Classmates,
It was great seeing all of you Saturday night. I had a wonderful time reminiscing about our time at EHS and learning about what everyone is up to now. I talked to the owners of Savannah Oaks after the reunion and they commented on how great the place was decorated. I promised them a photo for their scrap book. A big thanks to Janis Bivens Brock for organizing and leading the decoration effort.

On my drive back to Atlanta on Sunday I replayed the whole reunion. I found myself laughing at times and also tearing up when I replayed the Memorial Ceremony conducted by Margaret Cheek and Joanne Garner. That was a very touching moment. I also came to the conclusion while replaying the event that several of our classmates probably have a second career. For example: Rebecca Reed, Oscar Host and Comedian(was she not hilarious); Janis Bivens Brock, consultant to Martha Stewart; Loretta Cate, Game Show Host; and Lynda Lewis has to work for the FBI..she can track down anyone.

After the reunion several of us were trying to decide our next luncheon date. We came up with the idea to go ahead and establish a specific day and month for the rest of this year and into 2012. How about the 3rd sat in every 3rd month starting with Aug of this year. That would be August 20th, Nov.19th, 2011... 3rd sat in Feb, May, Aug, Nov of 2012. For those that can make this year's Aug luncheon we will meet at the Gondolier in Athens at 11:30.

I've attached several photos and the following link will allow you to view the entire album through Walgreens photo center. There should be approximately 30 photos in the album.
http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=12658820007/a=794452007_794452007/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=walgreens/

Don't forget to check out the blog Bob Taylor set up for us. It is etowahhighschoolclassof66.blogspot.com. Thanks Bob.

To our classmates that couldn't make the reunion, we missed you and hope to see you at our next luncheon.

If you can't open the pictures or have questions about the Walgreen site please email me.

See you in August.

Jo Ann Bryan
EHS Class of 1966

Lee Ona Young

After finishing high school I moved to Atlanta and went to work as a secretary in a loan office. My job was very miserable (not what I wanted to do). Later I moved home to Etowah and went to work at Steel City and worked there about a year. While at Steel City I met my future husband Freddy McCulloch. I worked days and he worked nights. After our marriage in 1968, we moved back to Atlanta. I started beauty school in Atlanta while my husband worked for Southern Airlines. After several years we moved back to Etowah. My husband started working at Bowaters paper mill and I opened my beauty shop in East Etowah. I also operated a beauty shop in Woods Hospital in Etowah and NHC and LifeCare nursing homes in Athens as well assisted living Morning Pointe in Athens. After 10 years our son Freddy Jr., our pride and joy, was born. We built two houses in Etowah. In 2000, Freddy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I was so blessed to be able to care for Freddy at home. I took early retirement to care for Freddy. During his illness for eight years, we traveled many places and countries. Freddy passed away in 2008. Freddy Jr. became a very successful financial advisor with Wells Fargo in Atlanta. I married Maurice, whom I knew many years at our church and his wife Linda has died two years prior to Freddy. Maurice and I have traveled much and visited our families in Georgia, West Virginia and Texas.

Maurice Lynn and Lee Ona Young
2336 Highway 30E
Etowah, Tennessee 37331-5351

423-263-2794 Home
423-462-5212 Maurice
423-368-7902 Lee Ona

Our wedding picture site:
www.burleson-brownphotography.smugmug.com

"Welcome to this brand new day. This day has never been lived before. It’s a blank canvas. If you will it so, it can be your masterpiece. As you wake up this morning think of three things you’re grateful for and then get out there and live this day with all the joy, wonder and enthusiasm you can muster"...HHH

Karen Watkins Newman

Resides in Delano with husband, Steve.
email: sknewman02@comcast
BS Degree, Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, NC and worked for Tom Benson's Management Co. prior to returning to Delano in 1989 to take care of my mother. Lived in several different locations in Texas including San Antonio, Corpus Christie, and McAllen.
I run a daylily nursery called, Delano Daylilies and the Food Bank Director for Polk County and keep active in my church, Delano Baptist.

Pat Yarber Vincent

In a relationship with Jeff Albritton. Has 3 children, Scott, Kelly, and Chrystal and 4 grandchildren, Andrew, Olivia, Kayla, and Kate.
Presently retired from Sales Management position to enjoy hobbies which include gardening, square dancing, and bowling. Receives much joy from helping others in need.
A cancer survivor of 8 years. Praise God!

Janis Bivens Brock

Janis Bivens Brock
Spouse: Doug "Dud-Do" Brock
Married 40 years on June 30 and reside in Englewood.
Two daughters - Paige lives in Pensacola, FL and is 37. She has two children - Grace, 12 and Aidan, 7. She is married to Lee Irving and is an 8th grade Language Arts teacher. Kerry is my younger daughter and is 35. She lives in Somerset, KY and is married to Allen Brimer. They have two sons - Ben, 9 and Eli, 3. Kerry works for Red Cloud Indian School on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She is a grant writer and development officer and works from home except for a few visits a yr. to SD.
My husband retired from Alcoa after 40 years and I worked for Tennessee Wesleyan College as Secretary to the Academic Dean for 15 years, retiring in 2006 from Athens Utilities Board. Through the years we enjoyed camping, trips to our favorite vacation destinationi - New Smyrna, FL, and other family activities. We took our family vacation traveling the Western States in 1989. In 1995, I went on a study tour of Northern England and Scotland with TWC and both my daughters also went. This was one of our best trips ever. Last fall we went on a bus trip to the Northeastern states--something we had always wanted to do.

Douglas Bryan

Added by Jo Anne Bryan Hooper
Doug was born on December 25th 1948 and passed away April 9th, 1963, our freshman year. He attended Goodsprings School from 1-8th grades. He was my cousin and best friend. Doug loved history and politics. If Doug was alive today I'm sure he would be a good, honest political leader.

Jo Anne Bryan Hooper

I attended Goodsprings School from 1-8 grades. After graduating in 1966 from Etowah High I worked at Alverson's drug store for several years before moving to Cleveland. In Cleveland I attended and graduated from Cleveland State Community College while working at Gibson's pharmacy. After Cleveland State I attended Lee University while working as a Lab tech at Duracell Battery Company. I received a BS degree in Natural Science from Lee. Duracell transferred me to Lagrange Ga. I stayed with Duracell until 1988 and then accepted a job with Belden Wire and Cable in Richmond IN. After 15 years of very cold winters I decided it was time to move back South. Moved to Chattanooga and then to Decatur GA. I am semi-retired but do consulting work from home and I also have my Real Estate License. Plan to stay here for a long time. I am glad to be back in the south and closer to my family and friends.

Margaret Culpepper

Margaret Culpepper Doar married to Robert S. Doar We live in Kernersville,N.C. Married for 43 years.

Daughter Tia Doar Emmite, husband,David Emmite Portland Oregon

Two grandchildren, Grace Margaret Emmite, and James Joseph Emmite

Favorite vacation places: Cape Hatteras where we have a cottage and St.Thomas

I taught school for 19 years teaching biology and chemistry. The last ten years I was a Middle
School Assistant Principal. Bob and I are both retired. We travel a lot including Delano where Mother lives and Portland where the kids are. We have remodeled several homes for rental My bucket list is good. My life has been a very happy one.

Janis Harris Morel

Janis Harris and Gary Morel married August 2nd 1975 at Goodsprings

Children: Janna age 33 married John McGregor they have daughter Alana, age 5 years and son James age 8 months
Paul age 30 married Brooke and they have 2 daughters, Ava age 3 years and Alexandria age 3 months.

I retired from the VA Medical Center as a Medical Technologist Supervisor in 2004 and Gary works for the VA Regional Office.

I feel very fortunate and blessed to have not kicked the bucket yet. I thoroughly enjoy my family all living in Nashville, nearby and getting to see the grandchildren often. There is one thing that I have realized again and again this past year (especially after losing my dad and infant grandson in the span of 3 months). The fact that God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. I pray that each of you will rely on the Father to see you through any and all situations of life.

Bob Taylor

Bob Taylor
My Address: 2306 Providence Ln. NW
Cleveland, TN 37312
email: InMyRV@aol.com
wife: Harriet
Son: Rob Taylor and wife Courtney. Married Oct. 2010.
Daughter and family: Tamara Taylor Humphres, Ellis and 1st. and only Granddaughter, Hattie.

After graduating EHS Class of 66 I continued to work at Doug's IGA and eventually enrolled at Lee College (now, University). But after finishing my first year there, I was drafted into the US Army and left for Basic Training along with Bobby Slack in July of 1968. My Army career, 3 years and 6 days was basically uneventfully although, I do have some stories I could tell.
About 3 months before I left the Army, I married Harriet French (Bradley County High School class of 66). Harriet finished her requirements for her degree at Tennessee Technological University just before we were married and began working at Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville, NC after our honeymoon to California. We stayed in Fayetteville and additional 5 months after I was released from the Army and worked at Dupont.

An opportunity to become a Letter Carrier became available and I took advantage of it and we moved to Cleveland, TN in late November of 1971. I stayed a letter carrier for 32 1/2 years but did perform some other functions, such as Local Union President for 12 years, Health Benefits Representative for 16 years and other functions.

As a family we found out that we liked to be outside. This led to camping, first in a tent, then pop-up, a couple of travel trailers and now a 5th Wheel. We also found out that, except for Harriet, we enjoyed skiing. Rob has tried about everything from guiding on the Ocoee River, kayaking, mountain biking, selling Land Rovers, working in ski resort. Rob and Tamara are great friends there has been some competition. Their favorite ski locations is Utah but Tamara has skied in the Alps and in Reno, NV and Rob has skied at Whistler, BC near Vacouver, Canada to keep the competition going. They both spent a semester in Cambridge, England while in college but Tamara did a Missions trip to Bulgaria and to Istanbul, Turkey. Tamara has been the Director of the After School Programs for Cleveland City Schools for several years now.

Since retiring, Harriet and I have spent 3 summers in Yellowstone National Park working there and living in our RV. We have also managed to finish our goal of visiting each of the 50 states and 26 of the 54 National Parks. I have also encouraged the RV Lifestyle by selling RV's in Florida and N. Georgia. I worked 2 winters in Park City, UT as a driver doing Airport runs and driving people during the Sundance Film Festival and a Celebrity Hockey Shootout.

For the past year, I have spent most of my time visiting with my Granddaughter, Hattie. She spent her 1st night in the RV last Halloween. She is now 15 months old and you can view her picture on my or her facebook page, Bob Taylor or Hattie Humphres.

Van Blair

Van Blair
818 Bridle Court
Seymour, TN 37865

Occupation: Retired, Knoxville Utility Board
Spouse: Debbie - Retired Seymour Family Physicians/Summit Medical Group
Children: Shannon - 38, Scott - 34
Grandchildren: Aidan - 4 years, Alex - 22 months
Pet: Brady - My Red Dachshund and good buddy

Comments: I retired from Knoxville Utility Board in January 2010, after working as a foreman, in the Transportation Department for 32 years. My life has truly been blessed. I have a great wife (married 39 years) two wonderful children and two precious grandchildren. Shannon is married with two children. She graduated from Maryville Collage and earned her masters and EDS from LMU. She is the Librarian for Seymour High School, in Sevier County. Scott is married, he graduated from ETSU with a degree in Mass Communications, he is currently working for the North American Mission Board and living in Alpharetta, Georgia. We have lived in Seymour,TN for the last 36 years. We are all healthy and happy.
In our retirement stage, we are enjoying babysitting our youngest grandson Alex, three days a week,
doing some traveling and enjoying the Smoky mountains. I would enjoy hearing from former classmates.

David Miller

David was killed just before graduating from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and getting married.

Ronald Atkins

Ronald was in a local nursing home when he died. My memory of Ronald was that he was a big guy and was also gentle. He liked to have a lot of fun and tell stories. One I faintly remember was about being in Coach Stalin's US History class and upset the coach. I am hoping that some of you can add stories in the comments to make up a better history of Ronald and others who are not with us.

Gary Arms

Gary was married to Pat Watters, (class of '66) at the time of his death due to cancer.

Kenny Smith

Kenny was killed in a wreck shortly after we graduated

Lloyd Clark

Lloyd's first marriage was to Martha Lewis (also EHS Class of '66), son Allen Clark and grandchildren: Maeve (4) and Spencer (2), divorced when Allen was young and remarried several times, died November 2, 2009 in Nashville area

Jerry Turner

Jerry Turner was shot and killed when answering a call to the VFW in Etowah as an Etowah Police Officer

Allen Yount

Allen died April 7, 2010, married to Jane Hutsell Yount, one daughter--Megan Price, and one grandson--Waylon Price. He had worked for Athens Insurance and was an agent with Shelter Insurance for 14 years. He graduated from TWC.

Lynda Lewis

I can tell you about me: graduate of UTK, taught school in GA and SC for a total of 28 and 1/2 years, married to Joe for 13 years, divorced when he died making me a widow in the eyes of the law as neither of us had remarried. We had no children, so no grandchildren. Mary Grace Starnes used to tell us senior girls that a man would not coming knocking on our door--we had to get out and get involved in community activities to meet men. Joe knocked on my door one evening and invited me to his apartment to have a glass of wine in front of his fireplace and we were married nine months later. I do have a Great-nephew, Hayden McCormick, whom I keep several days a week and love like a grandson--if not more. I currently have a six pound, white Persian, female cat named Snuggles. I love to read, cross-stitch, and go on bus trips with the Senior Travel Club of a local bank or with the Decorative Arts Society of Atlanta.
Myrtle Beach would have to be my favorite place to return to time after time as I have so many friends there. I got to spend 10 days last December touring Morocco--had never been a place I planned to go but it was a great trip. I am going to Graceland with the bank group next month and to Boston with the Atlanta group for two weeks in September. I would like to see more of this country before leaving it again. The only places I really want to visit outside the US are the British Isles--not during the royal wedding!
I have also worked as a seamstress at the sewing mills in Etowah to earn money for college, as a hostess/cashier at a Holiday Inn in Chattanooga and the Sheraton in Athens, food service management for Morrison's, sold shoes at the Shoe Port in Myrtle Beach, managed a time-share resort, executive housekeeper for the Myrtle Beach Resort in Surfside Beach, worked for the govoner of SC accessing DSS files of abused and neglected children, church secretary, day camp counselor for the City of Myrtle Beach (8 summers), and care-giver for my parents (less than 2 years). I currently work approximately 3 days a week as a baby sitter for my Great Nephew for almost 3 years.

Bobby Slack

I met Bobby in the 9th Grade, when I met most of the EHS Class of 66.  Later, Bobby quit working at Doug's IGA and I applied for the his job.  Doug knew me from working at the Etowah Restaurant because I went there to pick up stuff for the restaurant.  Doug hired me.  Bobby came back wanting his job back and Doug rehired him and from there our friendship grew.
After graduation we continued to work for Doug because we made about $40.00 a week more than most factory workers but worked a lot more hours.  Because we worked late we would run around together after we got off.  That led to some escapades.  In the Fall of '66 I met a family who the father was attending Lee College and had a son, daughter, and another girl who lived with them because of difficulty at home.  There was always young people at their house, especially on weekends.  So we became part of that gang.
Neither of us went to college that year and just rocked on enjoying life.  In the fall of '67, I enrolled at Lee College and began the first year of college and worked at Doug's 3 days each week.    Bobby stayed at Doug's and we were still running around together.
We received draft orders effective July 9, 1968 and were sworn into the US Army on that date.  We were taken to Ft. Campbell, KY for Basic Training.  We were in the same Platoon.  After Basic, Bobby went to Ft. Eustis, VA and I went to FT. Lee, VA for advanced training.  I was near Richmond and he was near Virginia Beach.  I took a bus over to visit him one weekend.  That was the last time we saw each other until we were civilians.  We both received Orders for Vietnam but mine was changed and I was kept at Ft. Lee for another training class and then sent to Korea.
Bobby was at DaNang, S. Vietnam for a 12 month tour of duty and then extended for 6 months after a 30 day leave with the intention of staying another 6 months and then getting out about 3 months early.  (We both extended our enlistment in Basic for 1 year to get the schools we wanted).  Bobby decided not to do that and was assigned to Ft. Hood, TX.  After a few months there he received Orders for Germany where he spent the remaining 8 or so months of his enlistment.
I was married about 3 months before my enlistment ended and stayed at Fayetteville, NC working at DuPont for a few months but moved to Cleveland, TN at Thanksgiving and reconnected with Bobby and he was in our home several times and we went to his wedding in Tellico Plains but arrived late and Bobby and his bride were coming down the aisle.  Life was getting more complicated and time consuming with job, children, etc. and we lost contact.
I found out that Bobby had passed away while we were working in Yellowstone National Park in 2005 and that gave feelings of regret that we didn't reconnect again when we might have had more time to enjoy the time together.

Cluster Bearfield: 7/11/1948 to 01/14/1969

Cluster Lee Bearfield Private First Class A CO, 2ND BN, 22ND INFANTRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV Army of the United States Etowah, Tennessee August 11, 1948 to January 14, 1969 CLUSTER L BEARFIELD is on the Wall at Panel 35W Line 087 See the full profile for Cluster Bearfield

" " "

Cluster Lee Bearfield
Private First Class

PERSONAL DATA
  Home of Record:  Etowah, TN
  Date of birth:   08/11/1948

MILITARY DATA
  Service:         Army of the United States
  Grade at loss:   E3
  Rank:            Private First Class
  ID No:           53758238
  MOS:             11B10: Infantryman
  Length Service:  00
  Unit:            A CO, 2ND BN, 22ND INFANTRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
  Start Tour:      10/26/1968
  Incident Date:   01/14/1969
  Casualty Date:   01/14/1969
  Age at Loss:     20
  Location:        Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam
  Remains:         Body recovered
  Casualty Type:   Hostile, died outright
  Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
  Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire

URL: www.VirtualWall.org/db/BearfieldCL01a.htm

ON THE WALL        Panel 35W Line 087

I was in Korea when my dad wrote me about Cluster.  I did visit the Vietnam wall in DC and 

see his name there.  That was in the 80's.  Bob Taylor

Trying Something New

I am going to try to get a Blog started so that Etowah High School Class of 1966 can see and post what they and Class Mates are currently involved.  Hopefully, it would be another way for members to reconnect, see News, and other things as this Blog is developed and maintained.

What I have hoped to do in the beginning is to have a post from each member with his or her history of the last 45 years.  Since it is on the computer, it does not have to be static.  We can start off with one page stating basics and then add as you have more things you remember that you would like to share about yourself.  Another area, is humorous or light hearted things you remember about other class mates or teachers.

This is not an exercise in perfection.  I have never done anything like this before and am only doing so with the encouragement of my daughter.  I wish I had more information about my parents era, called The Greatest Generation.  Maybe collectively we can leave some insight from our early years for our children, grandchildren, and others who follow.  I am not leaving out any who do not have children because you have nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

I am asking for your help and input as we develop this.