The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Classmate Louise E. Ferguson Sheridan passed away on January 11, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio.   Her given name was Elva Louise Ferguson Sheridan.

Louise was a kind, caring shy girl.  RIP Louise.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Classmate Michelle Holman Woodand was born on January 27, 1943 in Mesa, Arizona to Albert and LaVina Norman Holman.  The Holmans moved their family to Pocatello soon after where Michelle was raised along with her five siblings.

Milchelle was a very cheerful, energetic child.  In Junior High at Alameda s he participated on the tumbling team, the Drill team, and the Cheerleading team.  She also loved to sing and began performing duets with her twin sister at the age of three.  She continued to be in demand as a vocalist throughout her life.  She taught private voice lessons, includidng teaching  several of her children and grandchildren.

Michelle attended Pocatello High School graduating in 1961.  While in High School she was involved in Drama and Gate City Singers.  She attended Ricks College, Brigham Young University and Idaho State University before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She was called to the West Mexican Mission, where she learned to speak Spanish, serving from 1964-1966.  

She married William Henry Woodland on November 23rd, 1966 in the Idaho Falls Temple.  They raised seven children.  She held many church callings, and enjoyed working in the Idaho Falls temple.  She and Bill have forty-three grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

Michelle passed away peacefully in her home after a four-month fight with ovarian cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 28,.2020 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 4600 Victory Road in Chuubbuck, Idaho.  A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W Chubbuck Road and one hour prior to services at the church until 10:45 a.m.  Interment will follow services in the Mountain View Cemetary in Pocatello.

                                                       * * * * * * * * * * *

You can read the full obituary on Wilk's Funeral Home website.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * * 

Michelle and Mary Nelle attended our monthly luncheons two or three times in the last couple of years.  It was so good to see and visit with them.  RIP Michelle.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

"In loving memory of Jana Gay Lords Harris was born in Pocatello, Idaho July 6, 1943.  She passed away on September 1, 2020 with her family by her bedside.  She was 77 years young.  The daughter of Spencer Lords & Verna Marvena Hall Lords (Pocatello, Idaho).  Jana joined her deceased husband Tommy Harris and her brothers Dennis Lord, Darwin Lords.  Jana is survived by her sisters Dovey Ames, Karen Klemm, Shella Johnson and her children Robbie Davis, Jodi Rehm, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.  Jana posted this on her Facebook just a month before she passed away.  "My family is my greatest treasure.  Even if we aren't alway perfect.  I love them with all my heart".  Her Friends and Family meant the world to her in more ways than you will ever know.  Jana will be missed by her family, friends and anyone that has ever met her.  Jana didn't go away.  She still walks beside us everyday.  Love you more Mom. "

RIP Jana 

RaNae Green (Palmer)

"Classmate Francy Marie Paul Patchett, 77, passed away on November 5, 2020.  Honoring her wishes, Francy will be cremated under the care of Downard Funeral Home.  There are no public services planned at this time.  An obituary will be in a future edition of the Joournal."

Francy was married to classmate Dick Patchett, who passed away in 2019.

RIP Francy

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Classmate Carol Jean Hertel Camphouse passed away on November 11, 2020.  RIP Cadrol.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Classmate Clariel Ann Jepsen Morris passed away on November 1, 2020.  RIP Clariel.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Classmate Richard Gassman passed away January 5, 2021.  He retired last year from his dental practice.  Richard lived in ElCajon, CA and is survived by his wife Vi, of fifty years, and three chidren.  Richard served in the Marines.  RIP Richard

Kathleen Chandler (Parrish)

Richard was such a good person.  I wish the best for his family and wish goodwill for his progress forward.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

                                                   60TH CLASS REUNION

Karen Halford and I have been discussing our 60th Class Reunion and have run into a few snags.  Originally we had planned to combine it with "The Over 50 Reunion" scheduled for September 10, 11 and 12 to be held at The Clarion Inn.   The Clarion Inn has shut down and had been sold.  Later it was reported the sale fell through and the owner was going to update it and planned to reopen it.  Karen went to The Clarion, it is still locked and no one was around.  The former Red Lion does not have any food service at this time.  "The Over 50 Reunion Committee" has not begun to plan for this year due to the virus..  

We need your input so we know whether to proceed.  We don't want to waste our time or the class money if most wouldn't come this year.  So, please give us your feedback on the following choices.

1.  Continue planning for September 10-12 hoping Clarion or Red Lion will be up and running.

2.  Plan September 10-12 at the casino/hotel at Fort Hall, they have big banquet rooms.

3.  Plan for 1 day only, Saturday September 11th at the covered pavilion at Ross Park.  This would be more         casual and less expensive.  We could have the food catered by Del Monte or The Sandtrap.

4.  Delay the reunion for a year and have a 61st reunion.

PLEASE respond either here or text or email.  THANKS

Karen Halford      208-521-9181    khalfordd43@gmail.com

RaNae Palmer     208-339-6608    palmersnest@yahoo.com

Linda Maguire (Stanly)

Thanks for your efforts with this. Postponing a year - #4 - is the safest choice I think. 
Linda

Mary Wilkerson (Boyter)

Appreciate all your work, agree with Linda, opt for #4.  Mary Wilkerson-Boyter

Kathleen Chandler (Parrish)

My choice is postpone for a year but there my be many more gone in a year so second choice is the pavillion at Ross Park.  Kathleen Parrish

Jack B. Williams

I don't know if this is the right venue to respond to the ongoing discussion on our next reunion, but here are my thoughts:  With our age and the increasing availablility of Covid 19 vaccines, we should hope for the best and certainly can expect a safer environment by this fall.  So I opt for a gathering at Ross Park.  I think that is option number 3.

Jack Williams (Las Vegas)

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Tim Welch called me this afternoon and with his permission I'll share some of our conversation.

Tim said he won't be coming to our reunion but if he were he would choose number 3, having it at Ross Park.  Tim informed me that he has advanced cancer and is doing treatments.  He said he still drives and goes for a Sunday drive each week.  He has also had diabetes for years which has resulted in several parts of his body not working properly.  He said it is hard to think about dying, I agreed and added that none of us know when our number will be up or what we will go through at the end.  He wanted me to give his regards to all of our classmates, he said he wishes the best for each of you.  I wished him the same.

If you would like to contact Tim or drop him a card, here is his information

Tim Welch

1029 37th Avenue Southwest

Albany, OR 97321

twelch1@yahoo.com      541-619-9795

                            *  * * * * * * * *  * * *  * * * * * * * * * * 

We haven't had much feedback on the reunion choices.  You can respond here or via the numbers - emails listed  in yesterdays message.  Thanks to those who have responded, much appreciated.

As a reminder . . . . . . . if you know of any other classmates who are ill, or have new addresses please share so we can keep our mailing addresses up-to-date.  Thanks

Stanley Zweigart

If we still want to have our reunion the closure of the Clarion is not a problem, if the Fort Hall banquet rooms are available and they are serving food.

          I don’t believe you will get many from out of town of any distance to come for a one day picnic but it is still an option if most want to go that direction. It’s not much time to see one another if you come from a long distance.

          To delay one year may be better if the COVID pandemic is over or mostly over, but there is no guarantee that will be.  However it is also an option if most want to do that.

          It seems like our class mates are dropping from life like leaves from trees in October, so the more time that goes by the less will be there.  I guess I will go along with the majority so the majority will be pleased.

Gary Hoff

I agree with Stan 100%, Personally I would prefer a schedule similar to our past reunions so if that requires a delay or Fort Hall, so be it, depending on state of Covid.  Since I live in Blackfoot now, makes little difference to me and I'll go along with majority rule.

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Classmate Mike Stratton passed away, unexpectedly, on February 16, 2021 in Vancouver, WA from a pulmonary embolism.  Mike served in The Air Force, worked as a teacher and as a mail carrier  He is survived by his wife Christa, three sisters and several nieces and nephews.  

The full obituary can be viewed in The Idaho State Journal of February 28, 2021.  There will be a private family gathering in Idaho at a later date.  Should you wish to make a donation in Mike' memory, please pick a charity of your choice.  Please share a memory at www.columbian.com.obit.

RIP Mike

RaNae Green (Palmer)

                                            HELP        HELP     HELP

When you get an extra minute, would each of you look at the page "Missing Classmates" on this site and let me know if you have addresses for anyone listed..  I had not looked at it in years and was informed by Janice Bird Bicker that her name was on there, when we have her Boise address.  I removed her name and also Carol Murray Peck as we have her California address.  

Two other names were removed as they are now on our "deceased" list:  Jana Lords Harris and Carol Hertel Camphouse. 
 

We need to update our mailing list for the upcoming reunion.  So, if you have information on any classmate listed as missing, or if your address has changed, please advise me.  Thanks for your help.  RaNae.

Jack B. Williams

Hi everyone,

More thoughts on our reunion.  By this summer almost all of us should have been vaccinated, so we defintely should go ahead with plans to see each other.  I will reiterate: Ross Park remains the best option.  It's outdoors and will bring back so many memories of our childhood days there.  I disagree with Stan, many of us who live out-of-town wouldn't mind that proposed location.  However, I can't think of a good reason why I would come all that way and go to a casino in Fort Hall.

Best wishes to all....Jack Williams

Craig Callaway

Hi --

Regarding the Missing Classmates list ...

Howard Nichols is alive and has a Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/howard.nichols.98

Craig C.

Hi Craig, I sent a friend request to Howard and haven't heard from him.  As you are already friends, would you get his address and advise me so I can update our mailing list.  Thanks, RaNae

RaNae Green (Palmer)

Thanks Craig Calloway for the information.

Mary Nelle Holman (Gertsch)

I’m getting onto the Jack Williams’ team for a Class of ’61s 60^th Anniversary Picnic to actually be in the 60^th year. Duh! For all you lurkers out there…you know who you are…who have not yet commented, I’m supporting Jack B. Williams and meeting at the incomparable Ross Park, this year (I’m putting this out there at the beginning, because most of you won’t read past the first 20 words in any post). At the rate our classmates are dropping like flies, there may not be a next year, even if you were(n’t) so inclined to attend. Having lost two of my favorite classmates just this past year, my darling, beautiful, talented twin sister (Michelle Holman Woodland) and her equally talented boyfriend Melburn Stocks, I am fully cognizant of time passing me/us by. And am still fully bummed about losing my very most favorite classmate, the darling, most handsome, most athletically gifted classmate of us all: GUY GERTSCH (dang it, I miss that boy!!). Forget that you’re old/fat/wrinkly/arthritic/ugly(er)/broke(er) and give into the glory that was once Poly High, proud class of ’61. YAY for us! We survived the year of Covid19! Let’s celebrate! Get your dang shot. I have been an avowed antivaxxer, but for the comfort of my kids/g-kids, I caved, and lived through it. If the conspiricists are out to get us, we will all die together, if not dead yet, let’s do this, Team. Go Indians (can we even say that anymore? oops)…sincerely, mostly…Mary Nelle Holman Gertsch

Glenn McMinn

Well said Mary Nelle,

I am not one that has been drawn to the reunions in the past, but they are needed.  I agree with you and Jack--others have also voiced on this thread.  Karen and I both have now received both Moderna vaccinations.  I encourage alll to get it.  We have seen Polio almost totally disappear in our lifetime because of vaccines.  Small Pox was nearly genicidal to nations of native peoples. Now it is nearly eradicated!   Ross Park sounds good--and do it SOON.  Two of my idols are now deceased--Gus Gertsch and Mike Stratton.  Hope to see you all class of 61 (and some other classes too) soon.  

Glenn

Carolyn Davis (Cox)

I have a Zoom account.  Anyone intereted in connecting via Zoom just email me, and I will set up a session sometime next month.  We have been doing Zoom meetings with various groups, and it has been very interesting and a great way to connect.

Carolyn Davis Cox

stevecox1527@comcast.net

Dennis Neifert

Class of 61 reunion at Ross Park!  This year. Get vaccinated and stay safe. Second choise, Don's Artic Circle

Denny Neifert