Updates from Classmates

Lee Ermey and Jack Ermey

Jack Ermey

Ok, so the photo is 10 years old. I still look the same only without the moustache. Who would have ever known how lucky my life has been. Never sick, wonderful wife, retired 10 years ago as telecom exec., famous brother, Lee (in photo) and living the dream in Southern Cal. 5 grandkids, traveled the world and can't wait to see all of you to share your wonderful stories. Ran into Ken Davido on a trip to Mexico a number of years ago. He looked the same as he always did.



Beverly Holzheimer-Schliep

Update since my last class reunion appearance:  I retired in 2006 after 28 years in the legal field.  My husband and I still farm cherries and apples. Our family consists of daughter Susan and her husband Scott and two grandchildren, Emily and Tyler, both attending college, all from Zillah, and our son Randy and his wife Shelly, who live near Southern Pines, North Carolina. 

Jerry, Beverly, GD Emily, GS Tyler, Daughter Susan, and Son-in-law Scott 

Jerry, Beverly, Daughter-in-Law Shelly, Son Randy

I enjoy gardening with flowers, trees and shrubs.  However, thinking about the immediate future and my age, my thoughts drift about transforming my high maintenance yard to low maintenance (my husband says it should be less).

Volunteering to honor our fallen troops through the Wreaths Across America organization has been a gratifying experience for me.  When my friend Ginger, a Gold Star Mother whose son was killed in Iraq, asked me (Gold Star Sister) if I wanted to join her to organize a wreath laying movement in Grandview, I gladly accepted.  It was our mission to have a Lower Valley participation emulating the Wreaths Across America national wreath laying ceremony held each year in December at Arlington National Cemetery.  In each of the past three years, we reached out to our local community to get sponsorship wreaths to be placed on our local veterans’ graves.  Our efforts to Remember, Honor and Teach about those who have served their country in the military and to support the Gold Star Mothers of Washington organization were well received in our community.  Our goal this year is to have a wreath for each of the 460+ veterans buried at Grandview Cemetery. I have included a couple of newspaper articles below.  More information about WAA is available at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.  If you are interested in sponsoring a wreath to either the Arlington National Cemetery or the Grandview event (or both) this coming December, let me know.  Thank you.

One important life-changing event for me was when in September 2010 I had a cochlear implant in my left ear.  The out-patient surgery at Seattle’s Swedish Hospital was successful.  Four weeks later the sound processor was activated.  At first I was nervous because of the mapping procedure of the sound processor.  But since that time I continue to learn new sounds and speech signals.

A final note to say:  it was a pleasant surprise to learn a few years ago our new neighbor, Bruce Johnson, is a retired Toppenish High School teacher.   Some of you from the Toppenish area may know him.  He is married to the mother of one of our son’s high school classmates, and we know her well.

Audry Hass-Builderback

Hi Clay"ton" :-)

I have been waiting to see if I could make it to the reunion and finally decided I won't be able to make it.  My husband has Alzheimer's and it is getting to the point I shouldn't leave him for a long period of time. 

I got to visit with Theresa about a month ago.  We had a mini reunion.  She will not be there as her husband surprised her with a birthday trip to California to visit her daughter that weekend.

My sister Margaret is having their 55 class reunion that weekend also.

I sure will be thinking of everyone and the walk down memory lane at the highschool.

Audry Hass - Builderback

Bill Barnett

I will not be attending our 50th. Health and family are o.k. And all is well.

Still in Logan, Utah with some wintering time near Phoenix or SanDiego in an RV.

Best wishes to all,

Bill

Dianne Layman/Parks/Williams

Still living in sunny California and enjoying being near my kids and grandchildren. Stacy is still driving truck for CR England and home on weekends. I had left total hip replacement in April and 2 weeks ago had right hip total replacement. Recuperation is going well and soon should be back out on the dance floor. Have a great reunion and I will be thinking of you.

Stacy and Dianne Williams

Pam DeGroot-Grasley

Good Morning!

                I’m sorry I have taken so long to respond regarding the reunion.  I have finally made a decision.  As many of you may know, I have Parkinson’s Disease and have lived with it now for 24 years.  I have functioned quite well up until about a year ago.  The medication has become increasingly difficult to regulate – I find myself either ‘freezing’ (very difficult or unable to walk) or dealing with dyskinesia (involuntary movement).  As a result, social functions have become more difficult.

                Upon the advice of my doctor and with strong support from friends and family,  I am choosing to have ‘Deep Brain Stimulation’ surgery on Oct. 8^th.  This is a promising treatment and will hopefully provide me with several more years of quality living.  In preparation for this, I am working at staying strong and well beforehand to improve the healing process after the surgery.

                I’m sorry I will miss the reunion and visiting with classmates.  It would have been fun to see the old high school, too.  I hope you will have a fun reunion and will post some pictures.  Hopefully, I will make it to the next one!  I would be happy to send a current photo and greeting to everyone.  Please let me know the email address for that.

                Thank you for all your effort and time in planning this event!

                Sincerely,

                Pam (DeGroot) Grasley

Dick Waggener

Hi Clay (and John),

Time does goes by fast.  Yes it does look like I’m not going to make the 50th.  Actually, my decision point is probably at the end of next week, after a PET scan, and consultation with about four doctors, but either of the two likely outcomes (liver surgery, or further chemo) will probably keep me at home.  I’ll give you a further update before the reunion date rolls around.  I did about ten days of travel in July, and that went well, but this time around I’ll probably have to pass.  Maybe we’ll see you at the 55th (or 60th), but you’d probably better put me on the “not attending” side this time around.  J

John, I still see you on the registered list, hope you’ve had a good and full recovery after the heart surgery, pneumonia, and MRSA.  Seems that you’ve had a pretty tough year yourself, but at our age, those kind of things are getting a little more commonplace.  Right, Clay?  Wish you the best, guys!

Give all the classmates my warm greetings.

Dick

Wes Crowell

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be able to attend our 50th
We have pressing matters that must be addressed. Have fun everyone!!!!
Wes Crowell

Ronna Kramer-Chandler

Thanks for keeping me informed on our 50th class reunion.  Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the celebration.

Thank you and all the other classmates who have worked so hard on this reunion.  Please tell everyone hi for me.

Stay in touch,

Ronna

Kris Sliger-Garland

Very quick summary of my life - -

I attended UPS for 2 yrs then transferred to the UW.  I was there for one year but the last semester I was in the hospital for nearly one month with a severe strep infection - - obviously it really screwed up my classes and I had to take incompletes.  I was majoring in education and hated it.  So I decided to transfer to Seattle University and started there in the Fall…changed majors in my junior year (not a good thing) and added an additional 2 years; graduated in 1970.  Got married when I was 27, moved to LA where my husband worked for JPL and I worked as a social worker for young women 13-18 who were wards of the LA court (that was an experience) and they lived in a private home in Pasadena where I worked.  It was called Rosemary’s Cottage. Then we moved to DC where he worked for NSA.  I worked for Senator Dick Stone from Florida on the Hill - - great experience.  Then we were divorced.  And here I am …still in the DC metro area.  I started my current job in 1985!  

Note:  Kris is Executive Vice President of the Composite Can & Tube Institute in Wash. D.C.