News Letter
Purdy Alumni Association
Purdy, Missouri
Fall/Winter 2005
Alumni Association for Purdy Elects Officers
from the Barry County Advertiser
The Purdy Alumni Association’s annual meeting was held at Purdy High School on June 25, 2005.
Officers met at Grant’s restaurant prior to the meeting and developed the agenda followed by dinner for classes
1945 and 1946. This has become a tradition and anyone who would like to is welcome to join the group.
There were approximately 150 in attendance, including 32 first time attendees, fourteen teachers, and seven
ministers. The class of 1955 was honored guests. There was also special recognition for six members of the 1980
year class (25 years). Having recognition of the 25 and 40 years class next year was proposed.
The minutes from the last meeting were read by Secretary Velma Caruthers and the financial report was given
by our own CPA, Gene Bethune. Katherine Wormington gave a report on scholarships presented in previous years.
Her figures showed that a little more than eighty percent of the scholarships were put to
good use.
Scholarships were presented as follows: Class of 1964 – Ann Ahrens, $500; P. A. Roller – Sheila Garland, $500; Vedas Jackson – April Keener, $500; Le Roy Howard – Andrew Burns, $500; J. B. Nations – James Kaiser, $500; Charles Leonard – Andrea Dohn, $1,000.
Wilma Hall, co-historian, exhibited the scrapbook she has started and asked for contributions of articles, artwork
or pictures anyone would like to have included. If you have something to donate, please call Wilma.
Bonnie Long, News Letter editor, discussed the News Letter and again urged everyone to contribute: tell where
you live, what you are doing, things you remember when going to school, funny happenings, etc. Others would
love to read about them.
Bonnie has resigned the position of producing the News Letter. Carole Garrison and Katherine Wormington have agreed to accept this responsibility. Bonnie will continue to assist with contents.
Officers were again elected by acclamation: President, Roger Nickle; Vice-President and Secretary, Velma Caruthers; Treasurer, Bonnie Long; News Letter co-Editors, Carole Garrison and Katherine Wormington; Bookkeeper, Lyle Eugene Bethune; co-Historians, Nadean Merritt and Wilma Hall; News Letter production, High School Business Class.
Scholarships 2005
The Alumni Association received nice Thank You's from the following scholarship recipients:
· April Keener who is attending Missouri Southern State University in Joplin
· James Kaiser who is attending Crowder College in Neosho
· Andrew Burns who is attending Missouri State University (formerly SMSU) in Springfield
· Sheila Garland – Missouri Southern State University in Joplin
· College of the Ozarks on behalf of Andrea Dohn
Lee and Darline Neill - ’57
Rt. 2 Box 252, Monett, MO 65708
Darline and I both graduated from Purdy in 1957.
That will soon be 49 years. Somebody has been messing with the calendar.
We live about two miles from the school. Haven’t gone very far in this world, have we? We have made our home in Springfield. Sullivan, and Cassville, but have been back near Purdy for many years.
We have five children: Rick (furniture store owner) and his wife Gayla of Cassville; Cindy (librarian) and her husband Howard Frazier of Monett; Mark (truck driver) of Pinellas Park, Florida; Russ (pastor, loan officer, farmer) and his wife Renae, of Purdy; and Amy (telephone company office manager) and her husband Brandon Raley of Pierce City. We also have six grandchildren, ages 12 to 18.
I have worked as a radio and television news reporter, high school Spanish and English teacher, high school and
vocational counselor, and operated a grass based rotational grazing dairy for many years. I’ve been pleased to have a couple of things (a supposedly “scholarly” research project and poetry) appear in national publications. I have been pastor of the Macedonia Free Will Baptist Church for the past 28 years. Darline raised me and the kids, took care of us and the house, and has made things a lot of fun for us all.
Life has been good so far, and we are looking for it to get better.
Margie Bricker - ’72 margie-bricker@hotmail.com
141 West Pleasant St., Aurora, MO 65605
Hello. This is Margie Sterling Inman Bricker. I graduated from Purdy HS in 1972. I married my high school sweetheart, Richard Inman, class of 1969. I have four children and six grandchildren with another on the way. My son, Rick Inman Jr., his wife Diane, and their two children, Trey and Jensen, live in Purdy. My oldest daughter Theresa Inman Collins, her husband Donnie, and four children, Jaime, Levi, Haley, and Spencer live in Marionville. Elizabeth Inman and her fiancé live in Cassville. Beth works for Fasco in Cassville. Angela Inman is the youngest and is still at home, presently attending Crowder College in Neosho. She is working at Bootleggers in Aurora as a hostess. Angie is planning a December 2006 wedding. My husband of five years, Dean Bricker, and I just bought a house in Aurora. We both work for Aurora R-8 School District.
I have been away from Purdy for five years. We moved to Lewiston, ID for a while and loved it, but Purdy will always be home. I have a lot of memories form my years at Purdy. Like marching in the Christmas parade in Seligman, yes I said Seligman. It started sleeting, I was a twirler and my baton froze over. The band started sounding different because they were freezing up as well. We just kept on marching; thank goodness the town was little. Only in Missouri. We also had a sorority Alpha Mu Omega. Ms. Best was our sponsor. She was such a sweetie. We had a Sorority Tea at Michelle Gibbon’s house and they took our picture, it’s in the yearbook.
When I think of Purdy High School, names come to mind, such as Sandra Wiley, Rowena Hall, Connie Rupp, Dianne Hobbs, Jerry Lynn Inman, Mike Higgins, Don Davis, Rick Lemmings, and David Brittenham, and of course my side kick, Richard Inman, all my partners in crime. School plays, FFA Barnwarming, sweetheart parties, Glee Club, Junior-Senior Banquets, lots of great times had by all. The best for last, the senior trip to Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach. Of course, being Missouri, it rained the whole time we were there. But that didn’t stop us from swimming, water skiing, and anything else that would make us sick and hoarse for graduation. Calvin Estes, his wife and Garilyn Springer and her husband, Johnny were our sponsors. I still have all the Lee Mace Ozark Opry brochures from that trip. I’d love to hear from any of my friends from Purdy.
Jerry Medlin
Rt. 3 Box 215C, Purdy, MO 65734
My name is Jerry Medlin. I am 77 years young I think…. I attended Purdy School some 60 years ago. I didn’t complete high school as I went into the Navy. I served five years in the South Pacific. I also went to the South Pole for six months. I returned to New York City where I did obtain a GED. I also went to Brooklyn College for two years. The Wonder Bread Company employed me for 25 years. I retired in 1993. I met and married Elizabeth Colon in 1993. We returned to Missouri in 1996. Elizabeth passed away in 1999. In 2004 I met a lady I went to school with. Her name is Velma. She reminded me of the times that I would come to see her on my horse as days gone by we didn’t have cars. She is still a wonderful person. Velma, I now have a car so we no longer have to ride
a horse. What a girl! Some of you probably don’t know that I drove a Purdy School bus. I drove the bus until July 2004.
Lavelle Higgs McLaughlin - ’41
3852 S. Jefferson Ave., Apt. D3, Springfield, MO 65807
I enjoyed going to my first Purdy Alumni meeting in June 2004. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few of the people I went to school with as this was my first trip back to Purdy School since I graduated in 1941. After I moved to Springfield, MO from North Carolina two years ago I have begun a new life after my husband of 59 years passed away. I have joined several clubs and societies that keep me busy participating in their programs. There seems to be always something to do here or in Branson. I have gotten acquainted with new friends and this has been a big change, like starting a new life at age 81! Wishing you all a great summer.
Dewey Shirley - ’53 dshirley@outdrs.net
1756 Pacific Ave., Prescott, AZ 86301
It just occurred to me that I owe you an apology. For several years I have tried to think of something to write that would be of interest to someone, (anyone) for you to put in the alumni news. I have not been able to think of anything interesting to say. I have not seen, done, or witnessed anything that I consider newsworthy ever. So I will write something anyway.
After graduating from Purdy High School in 1953, as was the custom at that time, I did my obligatory five years in Wichita, Kansas. According to Bob Hayward, Bob Mizer, Dewey Henderson and about two dozen other Purdy High graduates, the three airplane companies in Wichita had a deal with Mr. Keeling that at least 10% of his graduating males had to contribute at least five years of their unusually creative talents to the aircraft industry in Wichita. See? Everyone in Barry and Lawrence counties knows that and nobody cares. I think the statute of limitations has run out on this anyway.
Shortly after returning from Camp Beech in Wichita I went to work for The Gas Service company in Monett digging ditches with a pick and shovel, (really, I have witnesses). I was transferred to Mt. Vernon in 1965 to try to replace Dick Caruthers, (Velma Wilson Caruthers’ late husband) who had been promoted to head up the Aurora office. In 1971 I took the position of office manager for Phelps Dodge Copper Mine in Morenci, Arizona. (The “pick & shovel” looked good on my resume. In 1972 I moved to Phoenix to accept the position of service manager for the only gas air conditioning company in Phoenix. After a few years of sales, I bought an oil filter business and expanded it to Ireland. This was the beginning of my love for travel. I traveled to England and Ireland where I helped set up a friend in the oil filter manufacturing business. I sold the filter business around 1986 and went back to the natural gas distribution business. I spent 15 years as the Senior Commercial Account Executive for Southwest
Gas in Phoenix. During the years at Southwest Gas, I went back to England as a member of the B.B.C. Choir. We toured England by Coach (not a bus in England), traveling over 1,000 miles from York near the Scottish border to Stratford Upon Avon and singing in eleven Churches, Minsters, Abbeys, and Cathedrals. It was at Westminster Abbey that we realized that our billing advertisements had been somewhat misunderstood. There was a huge crowd waiting for us… thinking we were the official choir of The British Broadcasting Company. No, we were the Bethany Bible Church choir from America! I did not see anyone leave until we were finished and we were invited back.
Since moving to Prescott, I have been traveling with the R.V. set, first with a travel trailer and now in a motorhome. I will be taking the motorhome to Missouri for a month-long visit beginning around June 10. I am looking forward to the 2005 Purdy Alumni Meeting.
Beverly Goodnight Ross- '59 rbross@ptialaska.net
522 North Evolyn Drive, North Pole, AK 99705
Greeting from North Pole! Yes, we are still living down the street from Santa Claus’ House. I surprised my
family a year and a half ago by “retiring” after 27 years working at a credit union in Fairbanks. Our daughter,
Lori, has three precious girls and they keep my husband and I busy. We have a 25 ft. boat which stays in Valdez
during the summer and the girls like going fishing. Our son, Jeff, works at the Ft. Knox Goldmine located north of Fairbanks. My mother, Helen Goodnight, still lives north of Purdy on Hwy 37. I remember when my sister, Janice and I rode the bus to school. We were the first ones to be picked up and for some reason we were never at the bus stop on time! Aaron Laughlin, the bus driver, would have traffic stopped on both sides of the highway waiting for us.
I guess he would have set there all day waiting – we probably made a lot of people late for work!
I enjoy reading all the article in the News Letter and look forward to receiving it.
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