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A HAPPY ENDING, A NEW BEGINNING
| MR. AND MRS. JAMES PIERCE, 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING |
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A
few years ago, we shared the story about Jim & Mary Jane reuniting after a lifetime apart (see below). On October 16, 2010, they were married in Long Beach, surrounded by their children
and grandchildren, and literally encircled by a circle of friends from high school -- Buzzy, Judy, Jeri, Joe & Nancy,
Dennie & Richard. The newlyweds honeymooned in Niagara Falls (how old fashioned can you get?) This picture
was taken at their reception. As a poem written specifically for the day concluded: "Come and bless
this union, their full circle is complete ~ Eternally together! Now what could be more sweet? "
| Jim was 17, Mary Jane 15, on this trip to Catalina |
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| "SENIOR" PROM |
"REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD ..."
Mary
Jane Barden Gentry and her first love, high school sweetheart Jim Pierce, have recently reunited after 40-some years.
They appear to be more in love than ever, and have the enthusiastic approval of their kids and grandkids. AND - TO THINK
-THEY CALLED IT PUPPY LOVE!! (Picture was taken at Dennie & Richard King's house and Dennie reports that the song
they are dancing to was Etta James' "AT LAST")
| RUSSELL & MARLA DAVIS BLOWERS AND FAMILY |
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Our love story….by
Marla Davis Blowers
I
guess one could say that Russ and I grew up together from the cradle on. Our parents attended East Long Beach Methodist Church,
so we grew up surrounded by a loving, faithful church family. We also shared many of the same friends, our love of music,
reading and cats, and hopes of working in the medical field. We married in 1966. I had graduated from the LVN program at LBCC
and Russ was ready to begin his junior year at UCSF School of Pharmacy. After he graduated in 1968, raising a family was next on the list.
Now wanting to waste time, we had our lovely twin girls, Jennifer and Monica, in March of 1969. We moved to Newark in 1971 and have lived here since that time. The
main stay of our 42 years of wedded bliss is our shared faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We also have enjoyed
working together within the Optimist International organization. Helping the youth of our community, as Optimists, is a worthwhile
way to channel some of our energies. We’ve also shared some community involvement with my 8 yrs, so far, as a Planning
Commissioner, and Russ having served several times as treasurer for friends’ political campaigns.As we look toward retirement
in 2010, we share the same goals: shedding pressures of employment for Russ, enjoying and appreciating our family more, especially
our grandson Eric Russell, restructuring our schedules to include things we’ve not had time for, and finding new ways
to serve the Lord. 42 years and counting, no arguments, lots of good communication, a loving family, serving God, sharing
love, being slow to judge and quick to praise, a sweet send off in the morning and a warm welcome home in the evening have
led us be truly happy, blessed, and joyful. “I mark only the hours that shine”
was written in a cook book given to me by Helen Hansen (Jefferson Jr High teacher). I think
it is a beautiful thought that can serve us well.
| GARY AND TONI CHENEY SMITH |
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OUR
STORY
Toni
and I met at Wilson in 1961. She was in the class of 64,so a year younger. We began dating in my senior
year 1963. The relationship grew through college even though we attended different college (UCLA ,and USC).
We often joke about our mixed marriage. Over the years our children have taken sides and are somewhat
evenly split. We were married at United Methodist church in north Long Beach
(Orange Ave.) in June of 1967 -- the same day of my last 2 finals at UCLA. Toni still had a year to go
at USC but we managed to live together in the UCLA married student housing while she commuted to complete her requirements
and graduate from USC. We did this until I left for my military service in January of 1968 (Naval Air).
We started
our family in 1969 (3 children) while in the military. And now,are the proud grandparents of 4 wonderful grand
children ages 14 years to 6 years old. Next June will mark our 42nd anniversary.
I have the most
wonderful wife in all the world and I would not want to change one day of all the years. Woodrow Wilson High school did begin the
best of times!
Gary Smith
Class of
63
Update: 1 Ram, 7 Bruins (regular) and 1 Bruin Bear
Here's that group of old friends again, helping Stan & Linda Morrison Castle
celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. The Castles, Richard King, Mary Jane Barden Gentry, Dennie Hamilton King,
Jeri Hemphill Livingstone, Jim Pierce, Judy Wilson Jones, and the blonde bear, Mary Hinrichs Van Holt. Honorable mention to
Lily, Barney and Sam Jones.
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| KENDRA LIVINGSTONE AND THE RING BEARER |
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John Graham writes, "John and Janis Graham, 40th anniversary
June 26. You know she got the worst of that deal!! Poor baby. Has to put up with me. Oh, well."
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| The Graham Family |
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't
bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got
arthritis too. That's love."
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| Ray & Paula Baughman Hatcher with grandson DT & his halibut catch |
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| Ray and Paula at Hanauma Bay |
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| Paula and Ray's Grandson, Bailey Age 6 |
I am attaching pictures of my husband Ray and myself, along
with 2 of our 13 grandchildren, D.T. (David Thomas) and Bailey, Ray and I have been married 24 years this New Years
Eve and he truely has been a blessing in my life...Paula
Baughman Hatcher.
"Love is not about finding the perfect person; it's
about seeing an imperfect person as perfect." Kendra Livingstone, Age 13
| RON MOORE & WIFE LYNN |
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This is for your Love Is page. Lynn is my wife
and we have been married for eight years. We are both retired and spend our
free time skiing in the backcountry of the Tahoe area, windsurfing during the summer and basically keeping active as much
as possible. .... Ron Moore
When someone submitted this clipping of Valerie
Boyer, we contacted her for permission to post it. She reports " We just
celebrated our 40th anniversary in Taos and Santa Fe, NM and found out we are going to be grandparents for a second time.
Our son Will is a lawyer, as was his wife, Monica until she decided to
be a full time mom to Jack (18 months) and now a new baby is on the way. We love being grandparents!"
We've asked for a more current photo, and look
forward to hearing from the Davissons.
" Love is when
Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and
still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt" -
Chris, age 7
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| CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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"Is this the little girl I carried, is this the
little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older, when did they?"
....Lyrics from "Sunrise, Sunset"
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| Dave Neilsen and his true love, Priya 4/11/05 |
Priya and I met on New Year's Day 1996. The night before,
I had met her best girlfriend, Julie, at a New Year's Eve singles function in Perth, Western Australia. There were more
than 650 attendees and two thirds were women! I was single at the time and thought I'd died and gone to heaven!
Anyway, on New Year's Day, this Julie and I went to breakfast
at a beachfront cafe. Unbeknownst to me, Julie had phoned Priya and said, "Come see what I hooked up with last night".
I was operating on about three hours' sleep and a savage hangover, so when Priya came into the restaurant, I said "Hi" without
much enthusiasm, and didn't think much more about it.
Over the coming months, during my rocky relationship with Julie,
I became friends with Priya. I knew something was happening when she attended a party at Julie's and I had to go outside
to help Priya get her car started. I did that, and then Priya - as she was leaving - leaned forward to give me a kiss
on the lips. The kiss lasted a nanosecond longer than it should have, and sent an electrical tingle through my body
and I knew, through hers.
When Julie and I broke up acrimoniously in July of '96, I was
feeling alone and depressed. Then who should knock on my door one night several weeks later but Priya! I'll throw
a decent veil of discretion over the following events but suffice it to say, Priya and I became "an item" from then to the
present date!
We have now been together for more than seven years. Any
of my Classmates who are alone, single, divorced or whatever, take heart! I'm living witness to the fact that you can
find the love of your life in your "middle years" or later!
We couldn't have come from more different backgrounds.
As the Aussies say: we're like "chalk and cheese". Priya is from an upper class Jewish New York background
(they had servants!) and I'm from working class Methodist Nebraska. Like the old song says, I was "born with
a plastic spoon in my mouth".
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| Dave's daughter Astrid, age 11 |
My daughter, Astrid, is the child of my last marriage (I've been
married three times - the triumph of hope over experience!) and she'll be moving up here to live with us after spending the
last few years with her mother in Hobart, Tasmania. Astrid was born 14 weeks premature in Perth, Western Australia,
and had the great, good fortune to be under the care of some of the best doctors in the world! In fact, at the time,
a team of American doctors from UCLA were visiting to compare notes!
Astrid survived and flourished and has now just turned 13 last
October. She's already more than 5'8" tall and is drop-dead gorgeous! Unfortunately for those of us who would
like to see her become a supermodel earning a $1 million annual income, she's not the least bit interested in her physical
self and wants to become a scientist!! There's just no understanding kids these days!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all the best to my Classmates,
Dave Nielsen
No person
really decides before they grow up who
they're going to marry. God decides it all way before,
and you get to find out
later who you're stuck with.
-- Kirsten, age 10 --
Vicky Hercus (Vanderloos) reports from Holland that
30 years ago a handsome Dutchman named Jan came to her door in LB to pick her up for a blind date, and she saw butterflies
and fireworks. From what she says, she sees them still.
SHERLOCK GETS FOUND- THE TABLES TURN!
Speaking
of "Reunited", thanks to Craig Vestermark for leading JJ O'Brien back to Jeri Hemphill (quite the item in grades
8, 9 and 10)- seen together here after 47 years. At breakfast with Craig and good friend, Colin "Spanky") October
2007 in Long Beach. "My Boyfriend's Back" ! And .... well worth the wait.
| Jeri and JJ |
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| 8th grade, Jeff Jr. High, 1959 |
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