Julie High (Thompson)

Okay, we didn't get a message sent out to remind you all that Friday, April 13th is another Class of '61 breakfast.  I hope lots of you are able to come and say hello. I might even have my guy with me tomorrow.

So, see you tomorrow at Hanover's from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM. We'll be there even if we are late!   Julie

June Boaz (Clair)

Hi, All!

Just thought you might like to know that one of our classmates made the front page of their local paper. Our own Patty High Smith was featured in the Silsbee Bee, in a valentine story about Patty and her husband Steve eloping in 1963 when they were college sophomores. They have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, lending credence to the possibility that elopement might be the best bet for longevity in a marriage!  Happy anniversary, Patty and Steve, and may you have many more!

From June Boaz Clair

Larry V Davison

Not a response. Just some rambling thoughts!!!

Not long after Richard Hayes called to tell me about the website and the class reunion I began thinking... What have I learned in 50 years? In my lifetime I've had just over 20 years of formal education, quite a few hard knocks and a few rough landings. One morning at oh dark thirty our male cat was doing his best to convince me I should get up and get his morning treats. As my feet hit the floor and the fog of sleep cleared away...a thought shot through my brain!! Women are amazing! That's what I've learned in 50 years. I've worked for women, worked with women and been responsible for managing women.

Unlike Todd Akin I do have a degree in Biology. I hope what I'm about to say doesn't offend anyone. If it does I'm truly sorry. Women are endowed with all the attributes that define us as mammals. They bear and nurture our children. Without women we would not exist as humans. True, the male contributes half the genetic material but without the woman nothing would happen; a new human would not be created. Someone wiser that I had this to say..."Give her a sperm and she'll make you a child; give her groceries and she'll make you meal; give her a house and she'll make you a home."  Remember the song..."She can bring home the bacon and cook it up in the pan." She comforts and cares for her family even when she does  not feel well and is tired.  After all else she does she finds/makes time for us. SO...

GENTLEMEN !!  TO YOUR FEET!!

CHARGE YOUR GLASSES AND LIFT THEM HIGH!!!

TO THE LADIES...ESPECIALLY THE LADIES OF '61!!!!!

That's all I have to say about that.

I hope you're all well.        Larry

Linda McPhail (Priddy)

New Photos on my page

Darl Holmes

" M  E  R  R  Y      C  H  R  I  S  T  M  A  S

                                             and   

                                                        H  A  P  P  Y      N  E  W      Y  E  A  R    "

                                             to ........ALL MY CLASSMATES........

                                     I  hope       2015        is your best year ever........

Your classmate and friend............Darl

Robert Newell

Thank you, and back at you.

Kathy High (Ellena)

I "second" Daryl's Holiday wishes for all!!

Happy Holidays and blessings, peace, health and happiness!!

Paul Rebek, Dds

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!  The Rebeks. Carolyn and Paul

Connie Bernhardt (Carson)

Greetings from Queen Creek, AZ

It is colder here this morning (26) than it is in Topeka.  Flowers will be history when the sun comes up.  Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  We sure did.  Our daughter and hubby live out here close to us now, and our son is here for the holidays, so we had a joyous day.  New Year's will be a quiet one at home, too much good football to watch.  Wishing all of you a happy and healthy New Year.  Connie and Ron

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

Dear Classmates!

My dear friend and our fellow classmate, David Barkley, needs our thoughts and prayers.

I visited David yesterday and spent some very quality time with him.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but I was determined to hold my head up high and go tell him what a wonderful friend he has been to me since we were 5 years old.  We lost touch after high school but always saw each other at the reunions and it was as if no time had passed at all.  

He requested that I tell each and every one of you that he will miss you and cared very deeply for you  and wanted to tell you goodbye ~ he told me several times and made me promise I would let everyone know.  If you have a moment, drop him an email or give him a call.  Jackie is right there by his side and will make sure he gets your messages.  His email is dbarkley1@cox.net and his telephone number is 785-379-5336.  Hospice will be with him soon so please contact him as soon as you have time.

We relived our Tecumseh Grade School memories and I even wrote down our school song so that he could smile.  

David, if you happen to read this, "Thank you for being the best friend and classmate anyone could ever want and know that I am praying for you and hoping that you can spend these last precious moments with Jackie and your family very peacefully." 

Classmates, I hope each and every one of you have a happy and healthy new year.  We will be celebrating our 55th class reunion in a little over a year and i can't wait to see you again!

Life is so precious!  Thank you all for being my friend..............

Linda Newton Gilbert

Kathy High (Ellena)

Thank you Linda, for relaying your very personnel note about your visit with Dave..much appreciate!  I will send a note off today!!  He has fought a very brave fight against odds....he WILL be rewarded as he enters the next phase of the plan God has for us!  I am comforted by his strong faith and his deep devotion and love with Jackie...and pray for her peace and strength.  Will keep him close to heart and thoughts.

Patricia Parnell (Bell)

February a month of love and reflection of appreciation to those near and far who have added to each our lives for whatever reason(s). Remembering so many great friends and good times. Back then was so natural in goings on days, activities, maybe forgot to say thank you for adding to my / our lives as we shared our days together at good ole Highland Park, festivities, or just because, ball games, band days, for me was from kindergarden through high school graduation. 50 year reunion was great, sorry unable to be at a event or two, don't want that happen again. To meet yas back on this computer age of technologies and assistance, is great to be able to connect more often for as long as we want, and not cost of doing so w/ma bell, no pun of word intended here. tee hee, just truth be told. But in that even so, miss letters, snail mail communications as well. But face to face tis great opportunity regularly to have the 2nd friday of month breakfast together, looking forward now to going back again and meeting more of you there to catch up, and opportunity to continue doing so.

Patricia Parnell (Bell)

Wanted to wish classmate Donna (Kolterman)  .B. a happy and blessed birthday. We often had lunches together thru our H.S. years, We ought to make some Branson plans one these days

David Haag

HPHS Classmates,

I just read through the messages previously posted and came away saddened by the deaths of several whom I knew well. Life is a gift from God to be enjoyed and shared every day. 

Christmas and New Year's greetings to all who read this. May you experience a new year marked by purpose and joy.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come.

David Haag

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

I am sure getting excited to see all our classmates that can attend the 55th class reunion this year; especially at our farm on Friday evening, September 30th.  

Hope you have all seen the agenda and know that our committee is really working hard to make it a wonderful weekend for you.

GO SCOTTIES!  Hope to see you soon!

Linda Newton Gilbert

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

Hi Classmates!

Counting down the days!  If you haven't signed up, it's still not too late!

If you are worrying about the dress code for Saturday night, please don't.  You can even wear jeans and a nice shirt/top if you want!

Can't wait to see ALL of you that are able to attend.  Don't forget your cameras!

YAY Scotties!

Linda Newton Gilbert

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

Hi Classmates!

Just having some great memories of our high school years today and wanted to drop you all an email and wish you a VERY HEALTHY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!  

Where has the time gone........I'm sure you are all feeling the same way!  It was so wonderful to finally be able to attend the class breakfast this past Friday and I feel so blessed to be a part of our  awesome class.  It's hard not to worry about what we have ahead of us but let's all make the most of it and stay in touch!

Love and happiness to all!

HO! HO! HO!

LINDA NEWTON GILBERT

Helen Davis (Pratt)

Just a quick note from Diana (Helen's daughter). Helen (Davis) Pratt passed away peacefully on November 9, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas surrounded by family and friends. Cremation has taken place. There will be interment June 19, 2019 at a graveside service at the Reading (KS) cemetery. I know although she lived far from Topeka, she cherished her days at Highland Park High.

Please remove her email from the list serve.

Dr. Diana Pratt Fesmire

Carlsbad Early College High School

Carlsbad New Mexico

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

HAPPY NEW YEAR CLASSMATES!

Hope 2021 is off to a great start for all of you!  It's been a very different and difficult 2020 for sure.

I, along with the class reunion committee, have fingers crossed that we get to celebrate our 60th class reunion in October.  We will start soon giving you the information so you can make arrangements for the wonderful weekend.

The following was sent to me from a dear friend and I want to share a grin or two with you:

"May you find time to make your kind of art, read good books, help other people and try new things. May you feel an invisible force field around yourself that lets you know you're safe, supported and seen. May you never lose your keys, always remember what you need from the store while you're still there, and receive only good mail. May you experience more than an average number of of excellent hair days, may flowers mysteriously appear on your doorstep, may you sleep like a baby, love what you see when you look in the mirror and find something important that you thought was gone forever. "

WE CAN STILL DREAM AND HOPE CAN'T WE! (I just found some sunglasses I misplaced 3 years ago! :-)

Wishing you ALL a great year.  Take care of yourself....stay as healthy as you can! WEAR YOUR MASK!  (I have tears in my eyes as I write this as I truly worry about where we are in our life right now ~ where has the time gone!)

I can't wait to see you in the fall! The barn will be ready for you!

LINDA NEWTON GILBERT

Faith (Mary) Evans

Linda, what a wonderful, inspiring, funny, very thoughtful message you sent to us.  Thank you for thinking of us and making time to connect.  It's good to hear your hopes about a reunion as we will all be glad to see each other...there are many stories to share!!  Fingers are crossed for future opportunities and thank you for continuing the vision, along with others on your committee.  Sending love and good wishes for the best of the best in the New Year.  Mary Faith

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

HAPPY NEW YEAR CLASS OF '61!

I'm going to try to do better in 2022 staying in touch with all of you!  It was great seeing several of you at our 60th Class Reunion; still hard to imagine we have been out of school that long.

I am working on getting the reunion photos to Richard so he can post them.  Unfortunately there is not a lot this time as my daughter was not available to attend the events.

As I reflect on this past year and the start of a new one, I'm forever grateful to have each and everyone of you in my life.  Thank you for your continued friendship, wonderful letters, emails and website messages; they mean so much to me.  Thank you for being my long time friend!

Hope you all have a healthy and Happy 2022!

Love,

Linda Newton Gilbert

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

Dear Classmates Class of '61!

I hope that you have received my emails regarding our dear friend, Richard Hayes, and our favorite teacher/coach, Bob Jennings.  A few months ago our classmate, Nathan Dexter, also passed away.  If anyone knows of any others, please respond to this message.  

Due to Richard's passing a few of us are trying to figure out what to do about the class website.  We will find out if he passed information along to Jackie or his children.  If not, we will reserch and try to find out how to get information to you.  We definitely do NOT want to lose contact with all of you.

I hope you all are doing well; getting out and visiting with friends, walking and taking care of yourself.  Even at this age we should be a rookie at something! Try learning bridge, knitting, or learning to use your computer, have movie nights with friends or family.....walk and meet your neighbors.  Don't think it's too late ~ consider being a rookie at something is the best thing you can do for your brain health!

Take care dearest old (long time!) friends.  We had such a good life when we were all together at good ole Highland Park High School.

Love to all of you!  S-C-O-T-T-I-E-S!  

Linda Newton Gilbert

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

BOB JENNINGS CELEBRATION OF LIFE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH.  DOVE CREMATIONS AND FUNERAL SOUTHWEST CHAPEL

5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM

Linda Newton (Gilbert)

Dear classmates!

Just dropping a note about Richards celebration of life yesterday.  It was a beautiful day with SO many attending, especially our classmates. It brought back many wonderful memories of our times together. It was great hearing about Richards accomplishments throughout the years. His brother, Bob, told me how proud he was of him.  I often wondered if it was tough being the son of the school prinicipal.  After the funeral, Larry Shipman and his wife, Barb, joined Gary and I for dinner.  We had so much fun discussing school stuff; I learned a great deal about Larry and all his cars, girfriends, his mom being a teacher and our mothers working together. I'm sure eyes were on us more than we knew.  I wish I would have taken a group photo at the funeral but didn't know if that would have been appropriate.  

I want to give a very special "thank you" to Meredith for her love and caring for Richard.  He adored her and they were wonderful together.  Sending her love and strength throughout these next several months.  

It seems like funerals are the center of my (or anyone our age! life these days.  I remember my parents saying how they spent most of their time in the latter years attending funerals.  It truly makes you step back and appreicate the time we have left (hopefully quite a bit!)  We have been so fortunate to remain close friends with each other.  Thanks to Richard for bringing us together for the monthly breakfast!  I hope he know how much he was appreciated. 

Speaking of being classmates.......a few of us gals have been discussing the possibility of a 65th class reunion.  What are your thoughts?  It could be so much simpler than in the past and, of course, our barn is available.

What we are trying to figure out now is the website!  This is our only way of communication so it's important that we figure it out.  Hoping someone in his family knows what we need to do.

Sorry for being so windy but just wanted to once again let you know how important you are in my life!  Let's try to stay in touch through this message forum

THANK YOU RICHARD for keeping us in touch for so many years.

Linda Newton Gilbert 

Faith (Mary) Evans

Hello All.  Linda, thank. you so much for your message about Richard's service and your questions about what

to do with our website? AND most importantly, how to keep it going as our important class' connection provider! 

I remember that Richard put together a similar website for my brother John's class, 1962, and they have used it well for reunions, etc.  Do. you suppose that the person? who runs that site could help with ours?  Just a thought. I imagine Sharri Shehi knows?  I don't have her contact info.

I would love a simple '61 reunion upcoming...and would do my best to attend.  I live in North Carolina outside of

Ashville, now, and have just finished putting my home back together after Helene.  I was safe and very grateful

considering the extensive damage surrounding me in Black Mt.  For those who knew my brother John, class of '62, I regret letting you know that he passed on New Year's Day, 2025, from a quick 3 week diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.  He lived in Grand Junction, CO and his wife, Svetlana will remain there.  She is like a sister to me and always came with John, and sometimes my sister Annie Evans Gaddy, to his class reunions, which he loved.

My new address is 30 Wagon Trail, #112, Black Mt. N.C. 28711 and you can also find me at evansmaryfaith@gmail.com.  Please take care of yourselves and be well.  love, Mary Faith