Mom's High School Reunion
Once upon a time there were two young women, Jean and Vernetta, who were best friends in high school, and who graduated with the Class of 1949 from Morton High School in Morton, Washington.
Vernetta introduced Jean to her Uncle Earl and they were married on August 11, 1950, making Jean her best friend's aunt. From that marriage came my older sister Erla, me, my younger brothers Dale (who passed away at six months of age), Arne and John. Daddy passed away of cancer on November 4, 1966, when Mom was only 36 years old.
On August 6, 1999 Mom called to say that Vernetta and Duane had arrived from their home in Spokane, Washington, and was staying with her while attending her and Vernetta's high school reunion. It has been 50 years since they graduated!
On Saturday, August 7th, not only did Mom, Vernetta and Duane attend the reunion, but so did Erla and I. We met many people who we've heard about for years, and saw a lot of old freinds, also.
Gerald Wilfley was the Class of 1949 spokesman, while Esther Hope was in charge of putting the all-school reunion together.
There was a good turnout, but there weren't too many people from the Classes of 1955 and above. There was one lady from the Class of 1965, Erla from the Class of 1969, myself from the Class of 1973 (although I didn't graduation), and about ten people from the Class of 1974 as they were celebrating their 25th year reunion.
It was nice to see former teachers Warren Dunlap (Driver's Ed), Charlotte Muir (Home Ec), Mrs. Noel-Gleason (counselor), as well as former high school principal Gib Greiter (who Mom attended school with, but in a different grade).
Erla's husband Tony is related to at least two people in attendance, Derl Allen (from the Class of 1949) and a St. Clair who was a cousin of Ralph St. Clair who Erla dated in high school. He said that Ralph is now a minister, and his brother Ron just retired from the Army.
One lady told Erla and I that she remembered seeing us when we lived in Bandon, Oregon when our oldest brother was born there, so we told her that the two of us were born in Bandon (Dale, Arne and John were all born in California). She then decided that it must have been when I was born!
We enjoyed a nice lunch while visiting with different people, and it was nice to see Bob and Lois Benton, Al and Birdie Coburn, and many others that are too numerous to list. We then went back to Mom's where we continued to visit for awhile, and then I came back home.
Vernetta and Duane stayed with Mom for a week, and on Friday August 13th we took dinner up to Mom's so we could again visit with them. Frank and Duane had a nice time talking to each other, and Jericho and Jasmine (our's and Mom's dogs) had fun playing with each other, too.
Duane and Vernetta returned home on Saturday, August 14th. -- A fun time was had by all, and it was nice seeing them again.
The Class of 1949 -- 50 Year Reunion
Mom's Nametag (left) and Vernetta's Nametag (right), with their Senior class photos
Mom and Vernetta (left); Mom, Vernetta and Gail Ramsey (second from left); Vernetta (middle); Vernetta and Mom (second from right and right)
From left to right: Derl Allen -- Then and Now; and Marie Goodwin -- Then and Now
Derl Allen with wife Virginia (right) and daughter Suzette Cooke (left)
