Going the Distance

A small group of ladies from the Class of '66

met today to visit and have lunch with our classmate 

who most likely traveled the greatest distance.

 Sheryl Reich Arnold 

Sheryl lives in Canada.  

It was good to see you Sheryl!

I am looking forward to hearing more about you

when you share your bio with us.

Linda Gallagher Gragg

 

Marilyn Ryker Gilder

 Janice Coplan Little

 LaNell Blackwell Boyer

 Sheryl, Janice, Linda, Marilyn, and Me (LaNell)

Amazing ladies in the CHS Class of '66.

Each time some of us get together I am just in awe

of the friendliness, kindness, fun, and joy being together 

seems to bring to each one of us.

You are missing out if you have never attended one of these gatherings.

 

Lunch with Classmates

Twelve ladies from the Class of '66 had lunch and laughter, Saturday, September 29, 2012.  We had two ladies who joined us for the first time.  It has been over 45 years since some of us have seen these two classmates.  It was so good to have you, Linda Gallagher and Johnna Covinton!

 Maiden names used:  Left to Right - LaNell Blackwell, Donna Caster, 

 Linda Gallagher, Marilyn Ryker, Sandra Koditek, Carolyn Brandon,

 Nina Boen, Mary Dalton,  Beverly Carter, Johnna Coventon, Diana Gulley,

 and Debbie Dunham.

Mona Kidwell Hatfield

Bill and Mona Hatfield with one of their sons and 
grandsons. 

I was so thrilled to receive these pictures and Mona's
writing about her family life since high school.
Thank you so much for sending this to me.

We would love to hear from more of you.

Get brave and just sent your info. my way.

Our own Mona is a "Hula" Dancer - Who knew?

Mona is not just a Hula Dancer - She is a TV Star too!
Enjoy the read below.
 

September 25, 2012

Bill Hatfield (also from the Central High class of ’66) and I have been married for 44 years. (And they said it would never last!)  You have to watch out for those blind dates!!!  Thanks (?) Carla and David.  We have 2 sons:  William and Steven and two grandsons:  Will and Ben.

William is married to Robin, lives in Katy, Texas, and works in marketing and public relations.  Will is 7 and Ben is almost 5.  Steven works for the government in Washington, DC and is currently on assignment in Afghanistan.

After a Masters degree from Northeastern State University and another one from OU, I became a school librarian and spent 9 years at Muskogee High School.  Then I was recruited by Cascia Hall Preparatory School as director of their library.  I won the Polly Clarke Award as the outstanding school library media specialist in Oklahoma in 1991 and have also received the Special Projects Award from the Oklahoma Library Association.  I retired from being a school librarian in May of 2008 after 9 years at Muskogee High School and 25 years at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa.  Bill and I are now entering the traveling phase of retirement doing “driving tour of America.”  We love to take the travel trailer or the tent and just take off.  If you tell me where you are I may show up on your doorstep.

When we are not traveling, we are in residence at Lake Eufaula taking advantage of all the water sports like swimming, sailing, pontoon boating, and canoeing.  We raise bees, too.  The honey is great.  If you are ever at Lake Eufaula, you are invited to show up on our doorstep.

I stay busy with activities around Eufaula.  I am in a line dancing group and a hula dancing group.  We perform at community events and fundraisers here and in McAlester as well as at the local nursing homes.  It is important to keep moving.  I stay involved with church teaching the class for adults and serving as president of the altar society.  And I keep my hand in library activities serving as president of Friends of Eufaula Memorial Library and also on the board of Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma.

I recently had a grand adventure being a contestant on Jeopardy!  People ask me how this came about, so here is the scoop.  I took the online test on a whim and evidently scored pretty well because they contacted me later to come for an audition.  They hold auditions in a number of cities across the nation involving tens of thousands of hopeful contestants.  So I went to Kansas City where I took another test, played a practice game and did my “interview” like the ones you see on the Jeopardy! program.  I was told that my name would be placed in the applicant pool with about 35,000 other people and from that pool approximately 300 contestants would be selected.  Imagine my surprise when the phone rang and I was asked to come to Los Angeles to tape the show.  It is all a game of variables.  What categories will they have?  What questions will they ask in those categories?  The most frustrating part of playing the game is trying to ring in faster than opponents from the “video game generation” whose thumbs are way more limber than mine.  The hardest part is trying to predict what your opponents will wager on final jeopardy.  That part is impossible.  But it was all great fun and a personal challenge.  I encourage everyone to take the online Jeopardy! test.  You have absolutely nothing to lose and it could lead to a grand adventure for you too.  Watch Jeopardy! on November 22, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. on KTUL (Channel 8) in Tulsa. Get yourself a ball point pen that clicks and use it as your signaling device.  Play along and see how you do and how I did.  However, that is Thanksgiving Day so the program may be pre-empted for a football game.  We’ll have to wait and see.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Class of ’66 Ladies luncheons and love seeing all the ladies who have been able to attend.  But there are still a lot of you whom I have not been able to see yet.  I hope that all of you can make it in the future.  Thank you so much to LaNell and Beverly for organizing these events and for maintaining the blog and the email announcements.

Fun Times with Classmates

 Hamlin's in Muskogee - June 21, 2012

Another great time together!

Front Row:  Nancy Shelton, Diana Gulley, Beverly Carter, Gigi Bishop,
                 Alice Schilt, and Carol Baker.

Back Row:   Mona Kidwell, Nina Boen, Janice Coplan, Patty Katakozinos,
                 Donna Caster, Diane Thompson, Julie Merryfield, Debbie Dunham,
                 Cindy Baker, LaNell Blackwell, and Carol Baker.

  (Maiden Names Listed Only)

I love laughter!

Yep, we allowed a man in...good to see you
Bill Hatfield!  Thanks for bringing Mona.

We always have a fun time together.
We would love it if you would join us.
We want to see more of you ladies.
Yes, 1966 was a very good year.
Don't miss the fun!!

Jody Lippmann

In Loving Memory

of

Edwin Joseph "Jody" Lippmann, Jr.

1947-2011

 

 "Gone But Not Forgotten"

 

Obituary as shown in the Muskogee Daily Phoenix

June 16, 2012

Edwin Joseph “Jody” Lippmann, Jr.

1947 - 2011

Edwin Joseph “Jody” Lippmann Jr., of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away on December 2, 2011 in his home. He was 64. Jody was the eldest son of Edwin J. “Joe” Lippmann and Patricia Ann Kershaw Lippmann Montgomery, who both predeceased him.

Jody was born on November 16, 1947 in Norman, Oklahoma. He graduated from Muskogee Central High School in 1966 where he was the Senior Class President and Captain of the 1965 Muskogee Rougher Football Team. He was the first team starter at the position of offensive center and tackle. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Petroleum Land Management in 1970. Jody was a member of the social fraternity Beta Theta Pi at the University of Oklahoma. He was the Cadet Brigade Commander at the University of Oklahoma Army R.O.T.C. during his senior year. He served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Riley, Kansas and in West Germany with the First Infantry Division (Armored). He was employed as a commercial lender in the energy lending divisions of two Oklahoma City banks from 1973 through 1985, First National Bank & Trust Company of Oklahoma City and United Oklahoma Bank.  Since he left banking he was engaged in the oil and gas business.

He is survived by two sisters and four brothers. A Memorial Service will take place at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma on Friday June 22 at 2:00 PM with Chaplain Forrest Kirk USN, Ret., officiating.

Arrangements were provided from John M. Ireland Funeral Home, Moore, OK.

Wadie Louis Morton

In Loving Memory
of Our Classmate
1948-2012

Wadie Louis Morton, 63, of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Muskogee with his loving family at his side.  

He was born April 29, 1948 in Stilwell, Oklahoma to Joe Morton and Rosemary Parker Morton, the 2nd oldest of 5 children.  Wadie grew up in the Woodall and Muskogee areas graduating from Central High School in Muskogee.  He served his country by joining the Marines in March of 1967.  Wadie met Joean Baker in 1969 at Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Oceanside, California and they were married one year later at the Camp Pendleton Chapel.  He was honorably discharged from the Marines on March 5, 1971.

Upon returning to Oklahoma, Wadie furthered his education by attending Bacone College and Northeastern State College receiving a Master’s Degree in Criminal Science. He also attended Texas A & M where he became one of the first licensed polygraphers in Oklahoma.  He served on the Muskogee Police Department for 32 years and retired as Assistant Chief of Police.  Everything he did had a purpose and a reason.  He was very dedicated and the training facility and gym at the police station were named after him in appreciation of his dedication. He always had his shoes shined, his clothes pressed and was always put together.  He loved his Police Family dearly.

Wadie later moved his family to Fort Gibson where he resided.  He loved being outdoors playing golf, hunting, and working in his yard.  On a sunny day, you would always find him outside enjoying the day.  He taught Sunday School at Calvary Baptist Church and previously Shiloh Baptist Church. He loved his church family.  Wadie was a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do as well as an instructor.  He served as a board member for the Muskogee Public Library.  Wadie loved spending time with his family; lifting weights, and working out every day. He also was a gun collector and enjoyed working on them.  He took pride in everything he did and everything he had, and it showed.  On the day he passed it was raining, the heavens were crying because they knew they had received an exceptional angel.

Wadie was preceded in death by his mother, Rosemary Morton; father, Joe Morton and stepmother, Leona Morton; grandson, Christopher Kunze Wade; and cousin, J. S. Atchley.

He is survived by his wife, Joean Morton of the home; son, Dr. Terry Wade and wife, Susan of Cedaredge, CO.; daughters, Donna Roberson and husband, Roy of Muskogee, OK., Mundy Seabolt and husband, Chris of Muskogee, OK.; grandchildren, Jeremy Kunze and wife, Kelley of Colorado Springs, CO., Matthew Wade of Englewood, CO., Elizabeth Shelton and husband, Randy of Hickory, NC., Haley Vanderveer and husband, Jon of Muskogee, OK., Dustin Roberson and wife, Jenna of Edmond, OK., Austin Seabolt and Myranda Seabolt of Muskogee, OK.; great grandchildren, Chayce, Jayda, and Christopher Kunze of Colorado Springs, CO., Alyssa Wade of Englewood, CO., Sawyer Shelton of Hickory, NC., Alexa Vanderveer of Muskogee, OK., and expecting Leighton Vanderveer of Muskogee, OK.; brothers, Perry Morton and wife, Dottye of Glenmora, LA., Tony Morton and wife, Mary Jane of St. Roberts, MO., Timmy Morton and wife, Candy of Broken Arrow, OK., sister, Mary Whitfield of Ft. Gibson, OK., stepsister, Kathy Morton of Stilwell, OK.; godson, Andrew Wade Simmons of Muskogee, OK; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom he loved.

Shirley Royse Burnes

In Loving Memory 
of

Shirley Royse Burnes

1948-2012

 I found this sweet picture of Shirley on her blog. 

Shirley went home to be with the Lord today.  She was so courageous during her long battle with cancer.  Shirley loved the Lord and she loved her friends and family.  She will be missed.  We all loved you Shirley.  Until we meet again.

The Passing of Another Classmate

In Memory of

William (Bill) Thomas Witt

September 5, 1948 - December 23, 2011
Albuquerque, New Mexico

WITT - William Thomas, "Bill," 63, died December 23, 2011 in Albuquerque, NM where he had made his home since 2004. He died unexpectedly as the result of complications of surgery.

Son, brother and uncle, Bill often regaled family and friends with elaborate tales of life lessons and adventures at family gatherings, campouts, around the office or wherever he had an audience. His stories ran the gamut from early elementary school adventures in the North 13th Street Neighborhood where he grew up in Muskogee, OK to casino and campfire tales of his last home in Albuquerque, NM

Born September 5, 1948 in Lake City, FL to Richard E. Witt and Frances Long Witt, Bill's family moved to Muskogee, OK shortly after his birth. Bill's father was chief of surgery and later chief of staff at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Bill attended Franklin Elementary, West Junior High and Central High School in Muskogee. As a boy he was active in "Big Field" sports in the neighborhood, band, Boy Scouts and the YMCA. He was aquatics director at YMCA Camp Takatoka near Chouteau, OK and worked at the YMCA in Muskogee. He attended college at Oklahoma State University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and later finished his undergraduate degree at Oklahoma City University. Bill served in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1967 to 1973 as a medical service technician and research assistant and also worked as a medical technician at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and VA Hospital in Muskogee.

Bill earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tulsa School of Law, and practiced criminal law at Pryor and Anadarko, OK and St. Petersburg, FL. He later began working in the gaming business and was an Inspector/Auditor for the Tribal Gaming Commission of the Pueblo of Sandia at the time of his death.

An avid fan of Oklahoma Sooner football, Bill also enjoyed golf, scuba diving and camping.

He is survived by his father, Richard E. Witt, M.D., (retired) of Tulsa, OK and four siblings, Nancy Witt Whitman and Susan Witt Ludeman, of Tulsa, Richard H. Witt, of Edmond, OK and Robert J. Witt, of Albuquerque, NM. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews and five great nieces and nephews. The family suggests that friends remember Bill through contributions to the Salvation Army, YMCA, Environment New Mexico or a favorite charity.

No formal services were planned. At Bill's request, his remains were cremated and he asked his remains not be interred. "Rather, I have explained to my brother Robert that I wish to be taken camping so that I may fall in one last campfire, as this was something of a trademark move of mine during my life."

His wishes will be met.