Roosevelt News

-- East Coast Edition –

 

-- Printed in Loving Memory of Wanda J. Jackson 1934 - 2011 –

 

News Center

Read old/current issues and send news or comments online at:

http://www.234enterprises.com/RooseveltNews/newscenter.htm

 

Editors:

E-mail: mmay@234enterprises.com

 Carolyn Niebruegge May                      Michael L. May

Vol. 1, Is. 19                                                                                      Nov. 25, 2011

 

 

From the Editor

 

Is it time to bring on the Prilosec or Nexium at your house?  I’d hope not, but I’d put money that it is.  Why we have to over eat during the holidays is hard to explain.  You’d think that we were eating our last meal at Thanksgiving dinner (regardless if it’s a noon or an evening meal).  Family traditions run wild from one part of the country to another and from one ethnic group to another.  One of my Granddad May’s and my Dad’s favorites was a dish called “Corn and Oysters.” It is hard to understand why two “land lubbers” from Oklahoma would have developed a taste for oysters.  Whatever, they did and this “transplanted Okie” likes the dish also.  Not only do I like it, but so do my son and son-in-law.  However, the 3 of us have more of a reason for liking the dish than they did since we all have ties to Virginia where oysters are in abundance in the months that end in “er” (e.g., September, October, November, and December).  An interesting side note is that Carolyn’s recipe for this dish is titled “Mom’s Corn and Oysters.”  The recipe came to Carolyn from my Mother and we assumed that the “Mom” part was referencing my Grandmother May, whom Mother always referred to as “Mom.”  On our trip to Oklahoma in September, Cousin Candace (May) Thurmond let Carolyn look at her Grandmother Freda May’s recipes which included a recipe cut out of a paper and glued to a note card titled “Mom’s Corn and Oysters.”  So, based on this information and contrary to popular belief, I guess the recipe really has no family origin, but came to us from someone else’s Mom.  Regardless where it came from, it is tradition and I think it will be with us on Thanksgiving and Christmas for the duration.

 

I’m sure that your family has a traditional dish served at Thanksgiving other than “Turkey and Dressing.”  Whatever that traditional favorite is, I trust that you are able to share it with the ones you love on this most special holiday.  As I close this editorial, we, the editors of the “Roosevelt News -- East Coast Edition,” would like to wish you and your families the Happiest of Thanksgivings…

 

mlm & cnm

 

 

Content Contributors for the Week

 

Charles Curtis (Class of 1965)

Geary McDowell

Jan (Perkins) Sullins (Class of 1969)

Jack Whitson (Class of 1953)

All those who sent messages to the Email “Bag”

 

Thank you all!

 

 

Thanksgiving

HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING. . .

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your tears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.  ~author unknown~

********

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy have never a lump,
May your yams be delicious,
And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!

 

 

Mom’s New Home

 

Last week I left you with the thoughts I penned on my way back home to Virginia documenting the dramatic changes that our family was faced with and how I was viewing what was to come after placing Mom in Ayers Nursing Home.  The last thing I want to do is leave you with the thought that such a journey into a “new and different life”--although life altering--must be unpleasant.  Mom’s stay in her “New Home” was far from that.  First of all, the welcome that we were greeted with at Ayers Nursing Home was amazing.  Little did I know that for me it was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with a wonderful young lady--Becky Hanna (now Becky Green).  Becky and owner Mike Ayers couldn’t have made any of us, including Mom, feel more comfortable.  The Ayers facility brings to mind the old cliché “Big enough to serve you and small enough to know you.”

 

Mom was fortunate enough to move into a freshly painted room where we surrounded her with pictures, furniture, and other familiar items from her “previous home.”  She was happy.  She was where she thought she needed to be and where I knew she needed to be.  As this “journey” began, seemingly “out of nowhere” came an “angel” by the name of Linda Wright who on a daily basis came to help Mom with her hair, makeup, and dressing.  Additionally, she laundered Mom’s clothes weekly and returned them to her.  Linda was my “Girl Friday.”  She provided ALL the additional support we wanted for Mom but were unable to provide from 1,435 miles away.  You ask, “So why didn’t you take her to Virginia with you?”  My answer, “for the same reason I didn’t take her to Lawton.”  I wanted Mom to be where her friends could come visit her--in Lawton, many of her more elderly friends couldn’t get there and in Virginia, she would have no one but Carolyn, Karen, and me.  I could not see taking her away for her lifelong friends to live out her remaining days.

 

In the big scheme of things, her “stay” was really very short--December 18th of 2001 until June 27th of 2002.  During  time she read, watched TV, and went from room to room of the residents that she knew (and probably many that she didn’t) to offer a friendly smile and a little giggle--which was all she had left of that kind voice that calmed me from the time I was a little boy.  That voice also calmed other “little guys” like Johnny Block and Albert Perkins when they were in her first grade class.  As her health continued to fail, they moved her closer to the nurse’s station so they could better care for her.  The staff at Ayers was so, so kind and attentive to her from the first day to the last.  As mentioned in my last writing, this is a time to take care of business--transfer property, grant power of attorney, discuss selling the house, and disposal of the furniture.  I think she felt better knowing what we were going to do and having a “say” in what was done.  All of this was rough, but as we all knew, our job now was to prepare for the end and Mother was up to the task.  Selling the house was the hardest--it seemed so permanent.  However, let me be quick to say that on the morning of Mom’s funeral, when I awoke, you have no idea how good I felt knowing that all of the things attended to while she was “in the home” were behind me and the only significant task I had left was to “Say Goodbye” for the final time.

 

We came to Oklahoma often during the last six months--about every 3 or 4 weeks.  We had been there the middle of May.  Kevin had an opportunity to go by to see her again the first of June and reported that she was definitely on a down hill slide.  After his observation we initiated frequent calls to Linda and Becky to keep up with her condition.  Around the 24th of June of 2002 we were in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, loading Kevin’s furniture in preparation to move him to Belton, Texas, when I received a call from Becky notifying me that she thought time was very short and that I needed to get there as soon as I could.  We immediately finished our packing and headed for Snyder.

 

At this point, events started to unfold that made us quickly realize that as we were facing the reality of losing Mom, we were also observing, first hand, our oldest, Karen, as a mature young lady.  As a child growing up, Karen was what Dr. Jim Dobson termed a “strong willed child”--an absolute opposite to Kevin whom we had always said, “Could have been raised by a pack of wolves and still turned out.”  Carolyn called Karen, back in Virginia, to tell her of her Grandmother’s condition and on this day, the impact of the “light switch” which had “flipped” a few years earlier when she started her transformation into a caring and compassionate young lady was readily apparent.  Her immediate response was, “I’ll be on the first flight out in the morning, Dallas by 8:30 a.m. and there by no later than 1:00 p.m.  As Carolyn assured her that she just needed to wait and we’d call when something happened, Karen “barked back,” “You obviously didn’t understand me, I said I’ll be there by no later than 1:00 p.m. tomorrow” and hung up the phone.  At 1:00 p.m. the next day as promised, Karen was there.  Not just there, but prepared to take charge and do her part to “lift” an immense burden off the shoulders of her Mom and Dad.

 

At the minute that Mom took her last breath, Karen’s 28 years’ of expert direction from her Mother “kicked in” and she immediately started to tell each of us what was next on the agenda and who was in charge of it.  Yes, the tears started to flow, not only because I had just lost my dear Mother, but because I knew that all those years of raising that “strong willed child” had paid off and she was now “giving back” at a time when her Mom and Dad needed her so badly.

 

Interesting that when “the baton is passed” from one generation to the next that we many times have an opportunity to be blessed by witnessing the generation behind us “step up to the plate” and  embrace their responsibility to assure that the family moves forward--even after such a loss.

 

By the time Kevin arrived (who had been tying up “loose ends” in Ft. Leonard Wood so he could “get on” with his move to Texas), Karen pretty much had everything under control.  Although now having our son with us as further support considerably lessened our “load.”  My wish for each of you is that when your time of need comes--and it will--that you’ll be as fortunate as we were to have a child (or children as it was our case) by your side, lifting you up, and sharing the burdens of the day.  Thank you Lord for blessing us with two wonderful and caring children.  Kids, love you both…

 

mlm

 

 

Thoughts from the Squirrel Lair

 

40 Pieces of Advice

 

Here’s another Junior Curtis specialty.  Junior is a master at finding the neatest videos.  Junior, keep them coming. 

 

Turn on the sound, run in full screen (left click the little box at the lower right of the You Tube screen)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTURmyep0j4

 

 

 

Alumni Website

 

We have renewed the account that Wanda Jackson had set up at the photo sharing website, picturetrail.com for the Roosevelt Alumni:  http://www.picturetrail.com/rooseveltalumni.  She had posted many pictures from past reunions, class panels, and old schools buildings along with write ups about them.  We thought you might find these interesting if you haven’t visited this site in the past.

 

 

News

 

The following message (which I believe Jan included in a family email) was forwarded to us by Geary McDowell.  I must note that the strength and resolve expressed by Jan to what lies before her should serve as an example to us all and exemplify what a strong faith can do for one when faced with such a dire situation.  God bless you Jan.  mlm &cnm

JT Sullins (Husband of Jan (Perkins) Sullins

JT continues to eat less and less each day and sleep more and more, which his hospice nurse says is normal. This will continue until he is gone. He is very confused. Last night I thought he was slipping away from me, but this morning he woke up ready to drink coffee and eat breakfast...he didn't eat, but he was ready.

We know that he is in the active stages of dying from the cancer. Only God knows the minute that will happen, but the signs are falling into place. The RN at my DR visit today said that he might perk up and act like he is much better. His nurse said today that his lung sounds much worse than it has before (he has lung cancer). I don't believe he is in a lot of pain as he has a pain patch, pain pills and morphine if he needs it.

JT was saved in September of 2001 and was baptized. I know he is Heaven bound. Last night I asked if he was ready to go to Heaven, and he said yes, so I am ready for him to pass. It will be very lonely without him; we've been married 39 1/2 years. Pray for our family's comfort as we prepare ourselves for the days ahead. I am going to cherish the time we have left. We thank you for your concern.  Jan (Perkins) Sullins

********

Thanksgiving

 

We know that many of you are celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Some have traveled many miles to be together while others are at home.  Please let us know how you celebrated Thanksgiving and with whom so that we can share the information with your Roosevelt Newsletter friends in next week’s edition.  You can use the link in the feedback section at the bottom of this letter or send us an email at mmay@234enterprises.com.  We look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

We have compiled all of the birthday and anniversary information we could from Wanda’s files.  We are sure we are missing some.  Please send us the birthdays and anniversaries for your family and friends so that we can have as complete as list as possible.  We are going to start with what we have from Wanda’s files so if we miss you, please send us the information so we have it for the news next year.  In addition, should any of the birthdays we list be wrong, also please let us know.

 

Happy Birthday To:

 

November 25 – Kevin McCormick
November 25 – Levi Ervin, Class of 1987

November 25 – Kourtney Foster

November 25 – John Horne
November 25 – Erma Welch Krieger
November 26 – Betty Heskett
November 27 – Karen Beth Johnson
November 27 – Pearl Gibbs
November 27 – Jerry Melton, Class of 1964
November 28 – Chance Taylor
November 28 – Bill Mosley, Class of 1943
November 29 – Jeralyn Ellis
November 29 – Lee Horton, Class of 1986
November 29 – Amy Harmon
November 29 – Steve Lyde, Class of 1982
December 1 – Joel Shockley, Class of 1981
December 1 – Joel Hebensperger, Class of 1992
December 1 – Garret Jennings

Happy Anniversary To:

 

November 26 – Renny & Karla Jennings Jackson
November 26 – Redd & Judy Brown Conrad

 

 

Humor

 

Elder Banking....

Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman.

The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.


Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber lasts month.

By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it.

I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.

My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an OFFENSE under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.

Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete.

I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.

Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.

I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further.

When you call me, press buttons as follows:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH

#1. To make an appointment to see me.


#2. To query a missing payment.

#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

#4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.

#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.

#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required.

Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.

#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.

#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry.

The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English.

While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

And remember: Don't make old People mad.

We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss us off.

 

 

From the Email “Bag”

 

November 17, 2011

 

Mike and Carolyn,

 

Just to let you know I did not graduate from Roosevelt School even so being a friend of Wanda and the friends that I met on trips in and around Roosevelt, I feel a close connection to the town and people there.

 

The Nov. 18, 2011, edition with "When faced with tough Decisions" was very moving.  You expressed thoughts that I have felt but could not put into words.

 

Thank you for your labor of love "Roosevelt News"--East Coast Edition.

 

J. W. (Billy) Burton

 

p.s. I still live south of Gotebo and northeast of Roosevelt

 

********

 

November 18, 2011

 

Mike and Carolyn,

Another great edition of the news. I think of your mother every time I hear from you. She was my Sunday School teacher for awhile. Don't remember exactly which class or how long. Other things remembered about her was that she was always, always, always so neat and pressed (back then, EVERYTHING had to be ironed--no wash 'n wear), a wonderful cook and seamstress. One thing she said has stuck with me to this day and is often brought to my remembrance. My loose paraphrase is, "I feel I must work hard everyday. If my husband is out working, I cannot do any less." There have been many times when my husband was out working hard and I would be piddling. I would hear Gayle May say those words in my mind. You've been blessed to have such a wonderful mother.

The one part of "Roosevelt News. . ." that I'm always glad has been left out is the Obituaries. It's good to know everyone is still with us. However, that said, I AM looking forward to heaven with great anticipation. As you were talking about making preparations for our final years here on earth, we need to keep in mind that it is of FAR MORE importance to make preparations for eternity.

Thanks again for a job well done getting the news to us all.

Marilyn (Morgan) Lester '64

 

********

 

November 19, 2011

 

Mike...thanks so much for the reassuring words.  I guess it is never easy with or without resistance to do what we both have had to do to someone we love....it just is so sad that they have lived such a different life than the situation they have had to end up in.  I hate having to do that yet I’m so sure she’s being taken much better care of than even I could do.  Thanks again for understanding and it really helps knowing someone understands and thanks for inquiring about her status too.

 

Glenda Hyneman, Class of 1968

 

********

 

November 19, 2011

 

Mike,

 

My name is Ginger Harding and I am the daughter of Lloyd Newton and Vera (Goodin) Newton, both who grew up in Roosevelt. My dad met you through Cliff Hutson and gets your newsletter. I am in town visiting my parents and my dad asked me to send the following information to you for your newsletter and database:

 

Lloyd Allen Newton:

Son of Allen and Lelia Newton

Birthdate: January 24, 1933 (Born in Roosevelt)

Married Vera Marie Goodin (also from Roosevelt) December 31, 1954

Graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1951

Lives in Hereford, TX since 1956

Mailing Address: 907 South Main, Hereford, TX 79045

Phone Number: (806) 364-0358

E-Mail Address: newt@wtrt.com

Served in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas: 1953-1955

Owned Newton Trucking & Custom Harvesting until 1994

Now Retired

Siblings: Oleta Glasgow, Elk City (Deceased)

Lester Henry Newton, Hereford, Texas (Deceased)

Margetta Stafford, Roosevelt (Currently in Nursing Home in Oklahoma City)

Elylus Newton, Decatur, Texas (Deceased)

Christine Davis, Paducah, Kentucky

Birttie Barker, Hobart (Deceased)

Robert Newton, Decatur, Texas, Retired

Children:

Ginger Marie Newton Harding, Odessa, Texas - Married Ralph Harding from Lubbock, TX - 1979

Roy Lloyd Newton, Hereford, Texas - Married Jenifer Hoffman from Hereford, TX - 1981

Vera Marie Goodin Newton:

Daugher of Renn and Thelma Goodin

Birthdate: November 29, 1931

Graduated from Cooperton in 1950

Siblings: Patsy Barry, Denham Springs, Louisiana

 

I'm not sure if you need any additional information or not. Please feel free to contact me at harding99@att.net.

 

Thanks for your hard work on your newsletter. I know my dad enjoys reading it.

 

Ginger Harding

 

 

Obituaries

 

Useful Links:

 

Becker Funeral Home of Snyder, OK

http://www.beckerfuneral.com/?page=snyder

 

Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home of Hobart, Mt. View, and Carnegie, OK

http://rayandmarthas.com/

 

Roosevelt Cemetery Layout

http://www.234enterprises.com/Roosevelt%20Cemetery%20Layout.htm

 

Roosevelt Cemetery Markers (Picture Trail)

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/listing/user/rooseveltcemetery

 

Roosevelt Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99397&CScn=roosevelt&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Hobart Rose Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99399&CScn=Hobart+Rose&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Hobart Resurrection (Catholic) Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2246374&CScn=Resurrection&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Mountain Park Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99042&CScn=Mountain+Park&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Snyder Fairlawn Cemetery on Find A Grave

 

 

News Center -- Always Available Online

 

Remember--past, current, and all future editions of “Roosevelt News -- East Coast Edition” can be viewed online from any computer at: http://www.234enterprises.com/RooseveltNews/newscenter.htm.  We highly recommend that you bookmark this link.

 

In addition to viewing all copies of the paper, you can use this website to send comments or news items to us for publication.  Simply enter your name, your class year (if a Roosevelt graduate), your email address, and the comments you want to make or the news item you want to send and click on “Submit Information” button at the bottom left of the page.  The information that you submitted will show on your screen under a title of “Form Confirmation”—confirming that what you entered was sent to our email. 

 

 

Email Addresses

 

This newsletter is an email edition.  The only way for you to receive it and keep up-to-date with your friends from Roosevelt is for you to keep us informed of changes to your email address.  So please be sure to notify us at mmay@234enterprises.com should your email address change.  We also encourage you to send us email addresses for friends and family who might also like to receive the newsletter so that we can include them on our list.

 

 

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