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Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

Diane Wann said the church is providing some food and so is Beau's son.  If she sees they need anything, she'll let me know.

Teddie Jordan

I was raised in Oaks Presbyterian church, and Francine and I were married there by our Dear friend Reverend Hudson McNair in 1966. The church was founded in Oak Forest in the early 50's. We originally met in the Fire Station on 34th toward Shepherd. Then moved to Oak Forest Elementary , before growing to a size that would support the building of our first Building, which is now the Payne reception Hall. My mom was employed as the Church secretary from the mid 50's until about '65. And my dad was an Elder and on the session board in the early years.
 

And Mama's  grandfather was an early Presbyterian minister in the late 1800's  sent down here to recruit and teach the Gospel to our early settlers ( William Malcomb Conoley)

Interestingly my dad's great grandfather was also sent to Texas in the late 1800's as a Baptist minister to preach the gospel and recruit members! William Martin Jordan. 

 

Ronna Brand

Thanks, Jimmie!!!

Steve Puckett '65

Speaking of Oaks Presbyterian, our kindergarten class met at a church which was, I *think*, Oaks Presbyterian.  We met there because Oak Forest Elementary was overflowing.  The teacher was Ms Kuykendahl which I thought was Miss Curtain Doll.  I know I went to summer bible camps there and some Sunday services though we usually went to St Matthews.  I now live in the Virginia mountains and have a close neighbor & friend who is a Presbyterian minister who retired from the Houston area.  He spent some time at Oaks.

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

Diane Wann called to say you can find Beau's obituary in several places:

Pat H. Foley Funeral Directors - Recent Obituaries (lots of photos included)

BRENHAM BANNER PRESS

LEADER - tomorrow and Thursday

HOUSTON CHRONICLE - not sure day it will be in print

Johnny Sheffield will be posting later in the week to get a count of those who will be attending the gathering On The Hill March 19.

Susan Howard (Bowman)

Patricia Williamson (Williams)

When I was in the second grade, we moved from Saint Paul Minnesota to Houston Texas. My dad was with the Hormel meat company and was transferred here. Our first home was a rent house on Chantilly about a block from Oaks Presbyterian Church. I remember asking my parents to let me go to Sunday school until they relented and I went and they eventually join the church. Hudson McNair what is the minister at the time. I sang in the church choir through high school and in my junior year I went as a delegate for the gulf coast presbytery to a Worldwide Christian conference at Purdue university. I remember riding the train from here to Lafayette Indiana and spending time sleeping and reading in the Pullman car. I attended the University of Houston and lived at home with my parents on Viking Drive until I was a sophomore. Then I moved to the dormitory at U of H where I met my husband Ernie. We were married in Oaks Presbyterian Church on November 29, 1968. I have so many fond memories of Oaks Presbyterian Church. My husband Ernie passed in 2013, but as I attend Beau's memorial service, I'm sure many of these memories will come flooding back. I look forward to seeing all of you. 

Johnny Sheffield

A celebration of beau's life with a party on the hill.

When: Saturday March 19th 

time: 12 noon till 5pm

location: 4040 Marshall lane chappell hill Texas 

Food to be catered by Kevin Wann and family 

water and tea to be provided 

bring your on beer 

we ask if you plan on attending , 

to bring your favorite potato salad , beans are dessert.
 

please rsvp by Wednesday March 16th if 

you plan on attending. This will enable us to have plenty of food. 
 

rsvp: to Johnny Sheffield by text 979-203-7209

Or e mail johnnysheffield46@gmail.com

look forward to seeing you all.

Johnny

Scotty Croom

sharon and i plan to attend on march 19th...will visit my mother in georgetown in am,so may arrive in early pm....

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

I want to attend, Diane, thank you for all of the pictures, tells me of your lives together, special couple.

Johnny Sheffield

Everything is looking good for Saturday's celebration 

Of beau's life. Looks like we will have 60 to 70 folks there 

for the party. If you have not rsvp as of yet, please do so, 

or just show up. We will have plenty of food and drinks  

see you all Saturday 

johnny

Johnny Sheffield

What a beautiful day for the celebration of beau's life.

I want to thank all the waltrip alumni and Diane and beau's family

And friends for there contribution of food and drinks. Also, like to thank

Kevin and billy for the preparation of the meat. All the food and desserts 

we're delicious. I believe we had 60 to 70 folks that showed up to support Diane 

On a wonderful party in remembrance of beau. 
thanks to all 

johnny

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

A beautiful Beau's party, given to abide Beau's wishes.  Diane and his son's showed such love and care for his party wishes.  It was a beautiful day, and the food, you couldn't ask for more....there was so much, his HS partner's showed up,   I met one of his long-time telephone workers, biker, and loyal friend.  It was a most beautiful day, I enjoyed talking with so many, but most of all, I was there for Beau and Diane and their family, thank you so much for honoring your father.  I can only imagine if Beau could view us all, enjoying his place he built for all of us.

Wayne Lake

Sweetie Marbury text me that Ronnie Peters, one of our ‘Cooley Elementary Elite’ had recently passed away. From google, I found the following obit clip on ancestry.com:  

“Ronald was born March 20, 1945 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and died September 5, 2021. Ronald is buried in Magnolia Memorial Gardens in Magnolia, Texas, USA.”

I remember Ronnie to be an easy going guy from early on.  His family invited me for a boat ride on Galveston Bay when I was about 11 years old on their mahogany planked 28’ Chris Craft from Seabrook Shipyard. I vividly remember the boat and it started a lifelong appreciation for wooden boats, especially Chris Craft. I try to go to in-the-water boat shows every summer as there are many of these wooden classics on the Northern lakes.

I think Ronnie attended a recent Waltrip64 get together which regrettably, I missed.  

RIP Old Friend.

Attention Jenny Taylor: Chuck Gavin was a good friend of Ronnie (maybe roommates at Sam Houston) and I have not heard or seen Chuck since those notorious early days at Sam except for buying parts at his family business U-Plumb-It about 25-30 years ago. Is there any way you can search/locate Chuck as you seem to be very good at finding info on classmates?

All: Sorry I missed Beau’s celebration of life party on the hill, but had been visiting parks in Utah and Colorado for several days and was totally out-of-gas. While in Durango CO, Lora and I had an enjoyable evening with Sweetie Marbury, a longtime friend and Brook Woods neighbor. Sweetie is a strong, accomplished Rocky Mountain Woman with a very interesting/full life as after retiring from teaching school with one-way daily commutes as far as 45 miles (one way) while raising her son, a stint on city council and two term mayor – so happy to know Sweetie and proud to be her friend!

Speaking of accomplished, hard-working Waltrip class mates, we have two individuals that are giving back full tilt in demanding roles of a benevolent organization. Both Bradley Seals and Richard Meeks are the current sitting, major city Rotary Club Presidents, Austin and Houston respectively. The more I learn about you people, what you have done and what you are still doing, the more I appreciate being associated with the group.  

Dancin’ with Dolphins, wtl           

Jenny Taylor (Williams)

Wayne- so sorry to hear about Ronnie. His birthday was Sunday and I thought about him. Didn't know we had lost him.    I will see if I can find Chuck for  you.  

Johnny Sheffield

Sorry to hear about Ronnie peters. 
Last saw him at our 2019 waltrip fling. 
prayers go out to his family  

Johnny

Teddie Jordan

I always thought a lot of Chuck Gavin too. The last time I saw him that I remember was at Klein Forest High school when daughter Lisa was a student there. She graduated in 1986. He was a counseler there. 

Teddie Jordan

Fran and  I both wished Ronnie a happy birthday last week and, read on that actual day that he had passed away. We always thought a lot of him and he and Fran's cousin Sharon Smith dated At Waltrip and we used to do things together with them. . 

Jenny Taylor (Williams)

Teddy and Wayne.  Think I found Chuck Gavin.  Call me and I will give you his info.   

Teddie Jordan

Dear Classmates, for the last week or so when I get bored I go back and read posts back on the first 10 or so pages back in 2008-2009 when our Dear Jackie started this class gift. It is fun reading our perspective when we were first able to speak to and hear from those long lost friends from 40-50 years ago that we had no way of catching up with until this gift . Francine and I have sure enjoyed it!!

Beverly Hengst (Allen)

Well said, Teddie.  Jackie really pulled our class together with this website.  I am sure she is smiling when she looks down and sees that we are still carrying on with her gift.  Thank you, Jackie.

Diane Cunningham (Wann ('72))

Good morning everyone,

I am so glad to be a guest member of your website.  I feel like I am a part of the class of 64 even more than my own class (72). I am so grateful to all of you who read all of Beau's post over the years.  He enjoyed all the conversations and writing the stories.  Writing was therapeutic for him. All of you who called, put messages on the forum, sent cards, and made visits to the house this past 14+ months have no idea how much it meant to him and to me.  Thank you to everyone who came to visitation, graveside, memorial service and The Celebration/Party on the Hill!  Your support and presence meant so much to me.  The boys (men) Billy and Kevin have truly learned so much about their dad that they didn't know or understand until they met all of you! When Wayne and Frank told Billy about the writings and how much Beau's postings meant to everyone, he was truly surprised.  He immediately shared that with Kevin.  The postings Frank is sending have been a blessing to Billy, Kevin, their wives Juli and Kellie and the grandchildren Taylor and Haley.  Not only have all of you impressed and blessed them, but my dad, sister and other friends have been blessed by meeting all you.  They understand now when I said we have great support system and great friends!

Beau always told me, if I need any help let the Class of 64 know and help would come. A few special thank yous: So thank you to everyone. Thank you Jimmie Lee for being support on the phone so many times, to Jimmy Hilscher, Teddy Jordan, Dennis Hansel, Jimmy Stockton, and Johnny Sheffield for helping set up on Friday.  Thank you to Paige who came out and washed clothes, swept, dusted and ... many times this past year.   Thank you to Lynn Berry and Richard Meek who sent text messages almost daily to Beau and me just to say hello. Okay, I could go on for days. I guess Beau is still telling me to write more!

In case anyone missed the graveside or memorial and would like to see it, Beau's nephew recorded both services

Gerald Young

Robert Clooney's name should be added to the In Memoriam list. He died of cancer during the spring of 2021.

Thanks,

Gerald Young

Diane Cunningham (Wann ('72))

Hello to everyone,

Several people have asked me to post a story about how Beau and I met, especially since the lady who introduced us came to the Memorial Service and to the Party on the Hill. I'm not as creative a writer as Beau, but will do my best. In case you didn't meet her, Joyce Snell was the lady in the wheelchair.  She was the secretary at Allen Elementary, which is the school I taught at for 32 years. 

Saturday, July 17th 1982, I got a call from Joyce.  She started by saying she knew that I had dated a couple of guys with beards and wanted to know if the beard was why those situations didn't work out. I said "No, it was their personality, not the beard that was the issue"  She responded okay and then explained that her son-in-law's best friend had a beard, looked a little like Dan Hagerty, the TV mountain man, and she would like to give him my name and number.  She thought we might enjoy going to a movie or dinner sometime.  I knew Joyce well enough that I said "okay". I didn't think she would hook me up with a serial killer or crazy person.  (I'd had some terrible blind dates!) So an hour later she called back.  She said he had been at her house and couldn't talk when she called.Joyce then told me his name was Beau Wann and he had 2 sons who were the most important things in his life.  He had been divorced for a long time and was just interested in going out to dinner from time to time and that we might enjoy each other's company.

About an hour later Beau called, introduced himself and asked if it was okay that he called.  He used this very deep bass, sexy radio voice.  My first thought was he would either look like a nerd, weirdo or maybe for once a voice and person might match.  After explaining how he knew Joyce, he asked me to dinner that night.  He came to pick me up an hour later.  When he rang the doorbell, I looked through the peep hole and thought "Wow, he looks like the voice!)  We went to Sam Wilson's in Town and County Village.  After talking and ordering, Beau explained how Billy and Kevin (12 and 13) were more important than anything else to him.  He explained his ex-wife had been married and divorced twice since their divorce 10 years before.  He had been in a couple of 1 to 2 year relationships that didin't work out.  He did not want the boys to go through another breakup of his. So he had no intention of ever getting married or in another serious relationship.  He hoped I wasn't looking for anything serious. So honest, sincere and spoke so gently about the boys, that it had the opposite effect he wanted. Too late, little did either of us realize, I was already hooked and wanted to see him more and see what would happen. Thanks for asking and listening

Trying to follow his advice to Ride Boldly Ride! Diane

FYI I added a photo to my profile that was taken of Beau two weeks before we met. 

Wayne Lake

Diane, thanks for sharing and thanks to Joyce for making the ‘bold’ introduction.

Dancin’ with Dolphins, wtl