February 18, 2010

Hi, Classmate!
----- Reunion Planning Committee Meeting Feb 18 -----

Reunion dates are 24, 25 and 26 September 2010.

Friday, September 24, social mixer at Marilyn Lewis Holsworth's.

Saturday morning, September 25, golf event headed up by Dan McLaughlin. Click Here To Let Dan McLaughlin know you want to participate or to ask him questions.

Saturday afternoon, September 25, tour of Chrisman and hopefully Truman. We hit a snag trying to rent an Independence School District bus for the tour. Other busing options are being evaluated.

Saturday evening, September 25, main reunion event:
Doors open at 6:00 pm.
Dinner begins at 7:00 pm.
Program begins at 8:15 pm.

The theme in general will be the 50's and 60's. Dress is casual and period clothing appreciated but in no way required. BYOB is an option. Due to city ordinance - all smoking will be outside of the main building. This event - so we can have music - will be a "Private Party" limited to Classes of 65 classmates and their significant others.

Now that we've aged a bit - we have a real need to know anyone who will be attending the Saturday night event who has special access needs to include handicapped parking. The whole event will take place in a one-story level floor building. Steps won't be a problem. If you have special access needs - let us know now so we can do our best to accommodate you. Click here to tell the committee your special access needs. Thanks for helping us.

A real plus this reunion is going to be our access to a quiet room where you can hear, listen and chat to your heart's desire without music or other noise.

Sunday afternoon, September 26, the traditional Class picnic will be held at George Owen's park.

----- PAT RAGUSA -----

Pat Ragusa, of Weldon Spring, Missouri, died on Monday, February 15, 2010 at the age of 62.
Dearest husband of Ronna Ragusa (nee: Marshall); dear son of the late Carl and Theresa Ragusa; devoted father of Christopher Joseph (Tyra) Ragusa, Michael Pat Ragusa and Gina Marie (John) Wagner; beloved grandfather of Nathaniel Rickerson, Trystan Rickerson and Daphne Ragusa; dear brother of Nancy Motsinger and Joe (Nancy) Ragusa.
He was a devoted family man and an unwaivering friend. Pat loved to travel as well as play host to anyone visiting him. He truly loved food - especially authentic Italian feasts. He was a faithful member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cottleville.
Pat spent his life in the grocery business, working his way up from bagger to senior executive. The last 12 years of his career were spent as Vice President at Save-A-Lot Foods.
The family is being served by The Baue Funeral and Memorial Center, 3950 West Clay Street, St. Charles, MO where a gathering will be held Wednesday, February 17, 2010 4:00-8:00 PM. Memorial Mass 10:00 AM, Thursday, February 18, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1355 Motherhead Road, St. Charles, MO.
A second gathering will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, 2:00-5:00 PM at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th Street South, Independence, MO 64055. Memorials may be made to BJC Hospice. Share your condolences and memories at baue.com.
Published in Kansas City Star on February 17, 2010

----- Alreda Foster Adams' Husband -----
Jerry Adams as of 28 Jan 2010

We're home from the hospital and I'm playing nurse for Jerry. I have to set up his antibiotics on this pole and flush his IV's (he has two) with saline solution and Heparin Then, I do the infusion with the antibiotics and etc. I do it at 6:00am, 2:00 pm, and 10:00 pm. I never would have believed I would have had to do this. This is all confirming that I had a feeling I should retire as of Jan. 1st and there were several good reasons for me to do it. Jerry is feeling so much better, but not normal yet. We went out to the Mall after his 6:00am infusion and walked this morning. Jerry wasn't able to do much, but I went around several times. He wanted to get in a little exercise since he has been laying in bed for a week. Although, he did walk down the hall early in the mornings after his shower in the hospital. My life has definitely changed. ha
l
ove, Alreda

As of feb 18, 2010

Jerry is recovering quite well. Pain is gone. Appetite is improving. He is able to walk about 2 miles a day now and that is quite an accomplishment from where he came. It is not his normal 4 miles, but he is doing so much better. He still has some trace of infection in his blood and he is being monitored for that. He has about 3 more weeks of infusions of antibiotics. We are hoping for a complete recovery. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. God does answer prayers.

Alreda Adams

----- Cheryl Coffman -----

From: Cheryl
Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 4:14 PM

Saw the radiation docs today, who were so apologetic and sorry for what happened, but it wasn't their fault, just my stupid body chemistry. Guess I will begin the remainder of my radiation on Monday, since they said it would take 2 full weeks before I began experiencing any negative results from the radiation (mostly pain). They had even come to see me, the oddity that I was, in the hospital, even. Doing it this way, I will surely have time to rebound, which is of great concern, since I am stilll weak as a kitten. If I get this over with, I might even make it back to Tennessee in time to see all my daffodils and buttercups still in bloom.

Life is a blessing, especially with good health. God bless you, all of my friends.

Cheryl Coffman

----- Anita Petrovic Fletcher's grandson -----
Update on Jon Jon

Family awaits the inevitable
By Michael Glover - michael.glover@examiner.net
The Examiner
Posted Feb 06, 2010 @ 01:41 AM

Eastern Jackson County, MO � Always smiling, Jonathon Fletcher seems happier than most 5-year-olds.
�He�s the happiest of all my kids,� said Jonathon�s father, David Fletcher, who has six other children.
�Jon Jon� as family and friends call him, also appears healthy. But looks can be deceiving.
�They (doctors) say we will be lucky to have another three or four months with him,� David says.
Underneath the playful smile, the blond hair and glasses lurks a silent killer that will snatch Jon Jon from this earth.
His killer is named brain stem glioma. It�s a disease in which non-cancerous or cancerous cells grow in the tissues of the brain stem. �He has a tumor in it,� David says.
The brain stem controls breathing, heart rate, and muscles and nerves used in seeing, hearing, walking, talking and eating.
The tumor is growing, forcing pressure on the brain stem. One day, the tumor will rupture the brain stem.
It�s like a ticking bomb.
�Basically, we can wake up tomorrow and the thing can herniate and he could be gone,� David says.
It wouldn�t be a sudden death. He could be unconscious for days or weeks until his breathing ceases.
Jon Jon was diagnosed on Dec. 2, 2008. Doctors said then that normal life expectancy was 6 to 10 months.
�They didn�t expect him to be here for Thanksgiving, Christmas or 2010,� Tina Fletcher, his mother, says. �We still expect the same outcome but how much time we have we just don�t know. You pray for a miracle but at the same time, you�ve got to be realistic. In a way, it�s a miracle that we�ve have him here 14 months. They didn�t expect that.�
But the likelihood of Jon Jon celebrating Christmas 2010 is �very minimal,� Tina says.
Survival past 12 to 14 months is near zero percent. Brain stem tumors account for 10 percent of pediatric brain tumors. Peak incidence is between ages 5 and 10.
Jon Jon is living the rest of his days filled with excitement, much like the months following the grim prognosis.
The family took him to Orlando, Fla., on a week-long Dream Factory trip to Disney World in January 2009.
They went to Branson in 2009, and numerous trips to CoCo Key Water Resort in Kansas City and the Great Wolf Lodge. �He absolutely loves the water,� Tina says. And speed.
Jon Jon rode shotgun in a NASCAR stock car, speeding down Kansas Motor Speedway on April 4, 2009.
They took him on a helicopter ride in St. Joseph before Christmas. On Jan 2, Jon Jon was the toast of Sugar Creek, receiving a key to the city. He got to ride in a fire truck and police car.
Sugar Creek businesses donated several items to the family.
Jon Jon�s symptoms involved a droopy eye and an odd walk. His left eyelid was droopy, like a form of palsy.
Tina thought Jon Jon�s sagging eyelid was related to stigmatism the boy had endured previously.
The palsy-like symptoms grew worse.
But David and Tina got worried by their son�s strange walk. �It was sort of like he was shuffling his feet,� Tina says. �He was walking very stiff legged. It got to the point where he would drag one leg.�
The pediatrician attributed the palsy to cold weather. Jon Jon did not walk strangely at the time of the doctor�s visit, Tina says.
A week later, on Thanksgiving 2008, the boy could barely walk. �We were holding his hand when he stood up because he was so unsteady,� Tina says. �All he would say was �will you hold me?�
Jon Jon did not tell his parents what was bothering him. He never has. �Never once has he complained throughout this entire illness,� David says.
A battery of CT and MRI scans revealed the tumor.
Jon Jon started radiation treatment shortly after that. The treatment ended in January 2009. He also underwent chemotherapy.
An MRI a month later revealed the tumor had shrunk a sizable amount, Tina says.
But the mass has started growing again last December. Surgery is out of the question.
�Because of where the tumor is located at, doctors told us they can�t operate on him,� Tina says. Jon Jon�s tumor may not be malignant, but doctors could not perform a biopsy for the same reason they cannot do surgery: It�s too risky because of the location.
�Everything I�ve read about surgery says that he would die in surgery,� David says. �There�s nothing else that they can do.�
Tina copes by staying busy. She stays busy by taking care of Jon Jon and her three other small children. Jon Jon also has three step-siblings, all teenagers. �There�s days you kind of forget this is even happening,� Tina says. Jon Jon doesn�t know his condition.
�He doesn�t understand,� she says. �We�ve had conversations like this around him ever since he�s been diagnosed.�
The mere morbid thought of making funeral arraignments for their smiling 5-year-old was one of the toughest aspects of the ordeal. There will be no visitation. �I want this to be a celebration of life,� Tina says. �I don�t want it to be drab and dark like a visitation.�
Tina mentioned a balloon release in memory of Jon Jon. The balloons would be a mix of his favorite colors: pink, green and purple.
�We think we�re going to have something at our church rather than a funeral home,� David says.
They belong to the Kansas City Church of Christ at 103rd and Quivera in Kansas.
�Everybody�s like �I don�t know how you guys are handling this.� Well, it wasn�t like we were given a choice.� David says.
Copyright 2010 The Examiner. Some rights reserved

----- Ron McMillian's Daughter Nikki -----

Nikki has been healing rather well. The Chemo is half way through. Unfortunately she had a bad day today and Barb and Ron rightfully spent their time caretaking rather than sending me an update e-mail. Ron did take time to ask me to thank all of you for the support and prayers.

----- Howard Eric Constable's Father -----

CONSTABLE Howard "Bud" Erwin Constable, 84, of Greenwood, MO, passed away January 16, 2010, in his home.
Bud was born June 12, 1925, in Weber, KS, to Howard Henry and Nancy (Bohl) Constable. He served his country in the U.S. Marines during WWII, a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was a lifetime resident of Kansas City and a 1943 graduate of East High School. Bud spent his career in the printing industry, having retired in 1990 from Lowell Press after 30 years of service.
He was an honorary lifetime member of the Graphic Communications International Union; he was a Mason, and a member of the Ararat Shrine.
Survivors include his son, Howard Eric (Linda) Constable of Lee's Summit, two grandchildren, Kelly (Michael) Henley of Independence, MO, and Matthew Constable of Lee's Summit, and two great- grandchildren, Luke and Sam Henley. Bud was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Carol Lee, and his sister, Ila Keller.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 20, 6-8 p.m., at Floral Hills Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January, 21, 2:00 p.m., at Floral Hills Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society .
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dwnewcomers.com. (Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Floral Hills Chapel, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO 64133, 816- 353-1218.)
Published in Kansas City Star on January 19, 2010

------------ 50th Bill Summa (Chrisman)Relays ----------

Now you can know - they will name the track after Coach Summa at this event. How cool and what an honor. Try to attend.

Saturday, Apr 10, 2010 Summa Relays Field Events 8 am, running events 11:00 am

1. Summa Relays Field Event Volunteers Needed:
�Discus - need 2 Volunteers.
�High Jump - need 2 Volunteer.
�Polevault - need 2 Volunteer.
�Shot Put - need 2 Volunteers.
�Long Jump - need 2 Volunteers.
�Triple Jump - need 2 Volunteers.

2. Summa Relays Running Events Volunteers Needed:
�Need 9 timers (Note: School provides watches.)
�Need 3 relay exchange zone judges.

To volunteer, call the School during regular business hours and ask for Track Coach Peterson. If he is unavailable, leave your name and phone number and which position you wish to volunteer for in his voice mail or email Coach Peterson -- keith_peterson@indep.k12.mo.us.

Please let Coach Peterson know before 1 April 2010.

----- Thanks To Our Prayer List Volunteers -----

Larry Binnicker helped us set up our prayer list volunteers a couple of years ago. Not used much and then now we have four requestor's - Alreda, Ron, Anita, and Cheryl.

I just want to take a second and thank our voluteers for the time they take and the support they give our fellow classmates by praying for those who request prayers. Sure makes me proud to actually enjoy the support our caring Classes give to each other. So, from me to our volunteers - thank you so very much and keep up the caring.

-------------- Be part of the Reunion If You Like -----------

Okay -- why? Here you can enter your stuff directly onto the web page from your PC. Others can see it - so be kind.

How? (NOTE: Do not give anyone except classmates our passwords.)

Step 1. Go to our Class of 65 homepage http://www.WilliamChrismanHighSchool.com/classes/1965/index.shtml.
Step 2. Scroll down to the "Members Only" navigation button and click on it.

Step 3. You should then be asked to login to the Members Only area. Your User ID is "XXXXXX" and your password is "XXXXXX" Note these are case sensitive.

Step 4. You then arrive at the Members Only Home page where you can select to go to the Guestbook or the e-mail list or the Classes of 65 forums. If you select either the Guestbook or the List of who is on our e-mail list - you simply go there. If you select to go to the Classes of 65 forums - see Step 5.

Step 5. To get into the forum area you must first register. Make sure you can remember your user ID and password or write them down. You will need them each time you visit the forums.

Step 6. You will then see two forums - the first one is an admin forum only I care about. So, click on the second one the Classes of 65 forum and when you do, you will get a message telling you that you must enter this forum's password to view it or post comments. This password is "XXXXXX". It is case sensitive.

Step 7. You will then be taken to the Classes of 65 Topics Index Page. Click on whichever topic interests you. If you wish to reply to someone else's entry, click on reply. If you want to start a new topic, click on add topic. Step 8. Please logout when you are through. Sorry, for the moment I have not been able to give you a back link, so keep your IDs and passwords handy.

Well, this is a far cry from perfect, but what is hoped this will accomplish is give you a chance to speak up and take part so that we have a fantastic 45th Reunion. That is the goal!

---------------------------------------------------------------
That is all until the next planning meeting - 6:30 pm, March 18, 2010 at Marilyn's!
Cecil

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WCHS/THS Classes of 65 Feb 2010 news

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