Author: Alumnus

I didn’t waste any time after graduating high school in beginning what had always been foremost in my dreams….having a family of my own. I married and my first child, a daughter, Laurie, was born May, 1958. Over the next ten years, God blessed me with three more children…a son, Todd in 1961. Cathy and Sonny were born in 1968. I wish I could report that these children were products of a successful marriage, but I can’t. In 1973, I found myself with four children to raise without spousal support.

Out of necessity at first (being a nurse was never a part of my own plan for my life) I found a career in nursing which, for the most part, was very gratifying. Going back to school while trying to raise four children was a challenge, but we all survived. Most of my nursing experience was in the hospital setting….St Mary’s Hospital. Most of my clinical experience was on 3 North, the orthopedic wing, although I was able to fill in on other floors when it became necessary. I also did a little home health on the side, when my supervisor and friend enlisted my help.

My career came to a halt in 1996 when due to a back injury, I was forced into retirement. Shortly after my retirement, I found it necessary to bring my mother, who was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer into my home. I took care of her for the last four years of her life. I was blessed by that experience. I’ve never regretted doing it. I would do it again. I have also been blessed with four grandsons, Jerimy, Byron, Dakota and Troy. My only granddaughter, Sarah is now 7 years old. I am also a great grandmother to Hunter, son to my grandson, Jerimy. He was born the day after my mother passed away. I found that to be significant. I felt God had sent this little bundle of joy to ease the pain of the loss I suffered. Grandchildren are wonderful.

Most importantly, beginning in 1973, I discovered what our life on this planet was all about. I had become a child of God when I was 9 years old, but didn’t have a clue that there was more to it. I didn’t know God had a plan for me! Foremost in that plan was getting to know Him through His word. I began developing a relationship with my Heavenly Father, which I’m still cultivating. I’m continually striving towards that goal so that when I step into eternity and He might say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” I’m looking forward to seeing many of my classmates from 1957 there. I’m also looking forward to our 50th class reunion!

I’m sorry I am not going to be able to attend the reunion.  I have not been to
Enid in quite awhile and I know it would be interesting to see all the changes
as well as see my former classmates again.  I have a conflict between the EHS
reunion and university reunion and I’m part of the board planning the EU reunion so I better attend it.
I’ll look forward to hearing about everyone. I’ll give a short synopsis of what
my life is like.  I’m a Realtor and still working full time. I also keep up with
my music by performing with a Community Band and also a couple of choirs. I also do some volunteer work both associated with real estate and community.  My family consists of 2 sons and daughter-in-laws and 5 grandchildren who are wonderful and very active in sports, music, art and school.  The oldest grandson is 12 and his sister is 10, and they live in Springfield.  Since their parents are very busy with their careers I see lots of them.  Their father, Marty, is an administrator in the Springfield School System and their mother, Trish, is the women’s associate head basketball coach at Missouri State University.  The second son, Monte, and his wife, Keri, live in St Louis and have a 9 year old and 7 year old son and a 4 year old daughter. Monte travels a lot for his job with a company called MarChem and Keri is a speech pathologist.  With them being out of town it is a challenge to keep up with all their activities but I try.  If any of you are in Springfield, give me a call, maybe we could meet somewhere for coffee or lunch.  I wish the best for all of you.  Swanie Marsh
=—Carol Jones, Realtors

Kay Mason-Byler

Dear EHS friends,

I thought I was going to see you at the reunion next month, but my plans have changed, partly due to the fact that my house sold faster than I expected, and I’m still in the moving mode, and partly due to some family doings later in October, for which I’ll need to be away, and I can’t do both. It sounds like the committee has done a great job to make it a fun reunion.

I have just now gotten around to reading some of your biographies. It is neat to find out “the rest of the story” of people we knew “back when”. I remember one of our first reunions, when several of our teachers attended, and they told me they had always thought of our class as very special out of all they had taught. As a teacher, I now know what an accolade that was. When I came to Emerson Jr. High in 1953, I had already attended nine schools, some of them in Enid, and some in schools in different OK towns, and in California. It was a pleasure and relief to get to stay in Enid for 31/2 years. What a wonderful time that was! I loved high school! Then my father got transferred by Champlin Oil to Chickasha, where I attended Okla. College for Women my freshman year. I dropped out for a year and a half and worked in Enid at Security Nat. Bank, where I learned I hate office machines and need to avoid them if at all possible. (The only subject in which I “earned” an F in was high school typing! My father said it was because I was into too many extra curricular activities. Go figure.) I struggle at the computer to this day, but it is worth the struggle. Grow or die, right?

When I returned to school, it was to (then) Central State College. I earned my degree in elementary ed., and was recruited before the end of my sr. year to teach in Jefferson County, CO. I had one yr. there before I married my college sweetheart, Richard Byler, and we moved to Junction City, Ks. where we both taught. We next lived in Greeley, Co., where our daughter Becky was born and Rich earned his master’s degree in Parks and Rec. Next move was to Flint, Mi. where son Brad was born, and then to Columbia, Mo. where we finally settled for six years, the longest I had ever lived in one place in my life! I taught in all those places, sometimes only as a substitute, while the kids were young. We had always wanted to return to Co., so when the opportunity arose for Rich to work for Foothills Parks and Recreation, in Lakewood, Co. we jumped at the chance, though we had loved our life in Columbia. I once told a Lakewood resident how much I loved seeing the mountains from every part of town, and she said, “Oh, you’ll get so used to it, you won’t even notice them”.. That has NEVER happened. I love looking at them and being in them in all seasons, though I don’t visit them as much in the winter these days. Richard and I divorced in 1980, but we have been very cooperative parents and still do a few family activities together during each year.

I taught various elementary grades in Jeffco for 20 years, earning my master’s along the way. It was a satisfying career, for the most part, but times have changed, and I am glad I could retire when I reached 60. I have so many good memories and friends here that this is truly my home. I lived for 32 years in the first house we bought here, in which we planned to live for just a few years. It suited me and my lifestyle very well, but I cannot keep the yard , etc. as I like it any more. I was lucky to sell it at this time, and I have just moved. (What a job!) Since retirement, I call myself a “dabbler”. I love volunteering, and have done too much to mention. My favorite thing right now is story telling (for which I am sometimes paid, so I can call myself a professional.) I also am active in our local history museum, and I give tours, paint faces and do other activities as needed. Of all my experiences, the most rewarding was being MOM during my kids’ growing years. I enjoyed (almost) every minute of it! Those years passed much too quickly. Both of my kids have settled in the vicinity. Becky is the mother of my ONLY grandchild, Zachary, of whom we are very proud and dote on him, as you can imagine. I love Derek, the son-in-law she has given me. Brad has not yet married, but we still have hopes. If you read the Rocky Mtn. News, you will see Brad’s byline in the sports section, especially when the Broncos play in town. (That is his second, part-time job. Keeps him too busy, but he likes it.)

Since retiring, I have had more time to travel farther than my usual destination, Oklahoma. Though I have been out of the country and continent, I most enjoy going to historic American places that I used to teach about. That is heaven for me!

I have a very nice man in my life. He loves to travel. We have had some health setbacks, but both doing well now, so want to do more while we can. For those of you who remember my family, here is a little update: My father Fred died in 1972. Mother Dorothy is still going strong at 88, in Edmond,OK. My brothers Terry and Hart live in Texas. Brad lives in Edmond near Mother, which has been good for all of us. They all have nice families and are doing well.

I’ll be thinking of you during the first weekend of October. Have a wonderful time! Let errr rrrrip! (I’m sure those ornery boys will try to mess it up to this day – but I’ll miss hearing them do it. 🙂 Hopefully, I’ll see everyone at the next reunion.

Sincerely,
Kay Mason Byler

August 2017 update:

Hi,   EHS friends!  I’m sorry I won’t be at the reunion again this year.  I do hope I can come next time and that we are all still here by then.  I enjoy reading about you, except when the news is bad.  My heart goes out to all who are having a rough time and the families of those who have died.  We just don’t seem that old to me. And each one is a shock!  Hopefully, most seem to have enjoyed good lives.

My life, like yours, is like one of those Bad news/Good news stories.  I love all of Dennis’s old folks jokes, as they are so true and so funny!  Due to COPD, I am now using oxygen 24/7 when at this (Denver) elevation and higher.  Good news is that I am able to do most things that are important to me, and I am in good physical shape, due to my exercise regimen.  I have been fighting to keep my teeth for many years, and two years ago, I had to have many pulled. My new teeth are pretty, but I still can’t eat very well.   Good news is that I now weigh about what I weighed in the 9^th grade!  Recently, I started using hearing aids.  Of course, the good news is that I can now almost understand most conversations on TV and movies.  And I don’t say Huh? so much!  But with all of these, you can imagine how much longer it takes for me to get ready to go somewhere!  The good news is that I can still go on my own!

After many years of volunteering in various places, which I enjoyed immensely, I am cutting back, except for mostly social events, like my book club and activities here in the townhouse community and of course, fun with family and friends.  I mostly travel to low elevation places, but we take many day trips into the mountains, which I still love!

My kids are doing well, and I now have TWO grandsons.  One is 22 and one is 8.  They are half brothers, and the young one is our miracle boy.  So much fun!  Wish I had many more, but so grateful for the two.

I’m very thankful for my mainly good life and the health and many blessings my loved ones and I enjoy.  I have such good memories of EHS and you, and I hope you have a wonderful time together!

  Best wishes always—–Kay (Mason) Byler

Beverly McCoy-Chapman
Beverly is pictured with husband, Clif.}

I’ve heard it said you can never go back, which I guess is to your roots? “But I’m back”, back to my old HOME TOWN Enid. It’s here I grew up and have always wanted to be. I left one daughter here, her own choice, so I’ve always felt I have permanent ties and roots here.

I married Clif Chapman soon after graduation. Marriage, home and lots of babies were always a dream. Now remember, in the 50’s you couldn’t vote until you were 21 so I had three babies before I could vote. I chose to be a stay-at-home Mom and my MOTTO has always been: “I thrive on chaos.” We had our last baby in 1962, a boy after three girls.

Clif was with Safeway Stores Inc., and we stayed in Enid until the kids were grown. Safeway transferred him to Dodge City, KS and then back to Oklahoma. We resided in Oklahoma City until 2005. At the time we started moving and leaving the kids behind, I experienced total empty nest syndrome so I decided to go to work. I had several interesting jobs and gained a lot of experience. This experience allowed me to work as a floater for Safeway in their corporation offices. For almost five years I had a new job every Monday morning. I couldn’t name the number of offices Safeway had, but each office was different, each having its own place in the grocery business. This afforded me a lot of freedom and a whole lot of diversity, which made it a lot more interesting. After Safeway closed, I went to work for Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma. I was the secretary in the collision center. I was the only woman there and became Mom over the next few years to a lot of guys.

In 2005, because of my husband’s bad health, I retired after having worked for Lexus 17 years, and we came back to Enid. I can no longer care for Clif in our home so he is in the Commons Living Facility. We just celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary and he still knows my name, of this I am thankful.

I enjoy writing and was finally published in 1993 in the Quarterly issue of the Heartland Magazine, under random sighting. My story is called, “Greasy Spoon.” At the heart of almost every small town is a great café or diner. It describes my growing up in Enid and working at my Daddy’s café. I like short stories and currently have TWO pending publications. We have five grandchildren and one most wonderful great-grand daughter, Hana Kay. She is almost two and she keeps us young.

I never expected to be spending my GOLDEN YEARS doing volunteer work at a rest home (Excuse me, an adult living facility to be politically correct) but we are needed and getting here from 1957 has been a trip. Psalm 143:8 says, “Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust.” I am constantly reminded that the words God speaks to me are spirit and they are life. How could I not trust him with my every waking hour?

Barry Clement
Photo at right taken from 1955 Quill yearbook
Barry attended Sophomore and Junior years at Enid High School.

I completed my senior year at Colorado Springs High School, Colorado Springs, CO. (My high school won the Colorado state highschool football championship in 1957). I also attended the University of Colorado and UCLA. I met my wife (Priscilla Hallett from Santa Monica, CA) at the University of Colorado. We lived in Southern and Northern California, Washington State, Houston and Dallas, Texas. My business was managing manufacturing companies.

We have two grown sons: Craig (Wichita Falls, TX) who is married with two wonderful little girls ages 8 and 2, and Scott (Dallas, TX) who is unmarried, but with a string of serious girlfriends.

I joined a team of investors and purchased an Auto parts company in 1984 which brought us to Dallas. I left the Auto parts business in 2003 after 19 years of fun.

My brother, Tracy, was two years behind me in school, so he finished the ninth grade at Emerson Junior High while we were living in Enid. He is now a retired veterinarian living in Phoenix. Thanks to you (Jim F.) and Jerry (Kunkel) for all the work you have done.
Sincerely,
Barry Clement

Barbara Parker Adams

It’s time to stop procrastinating and get this done — so here goes 50 years.

After graduation I attended OSU and married David Adams (class of ’55). When David graduated in forestry we moved to Idaho where he got another degree and I had a (boring) job on campus. From there we were in Wyoming at the most remote ranger station in the U.S. Our first daughter was born in Cody. Then came Ft. Collins, Colorado (where our second daughter was born), Arcata, California and back to Moscow, Idaho in 1971 where we have lived since.

I have been mostly a “stay at home Mom” but did work for 9 years in the Athletic Department on the Univ. of Idaho campus and continued my education in Child Development. For several years I was a hospital volunteer and a volunteer in grade schools. I currently enjoy my flower garden and Book and Bridge clubs.

David’s position at the University required a lot of travel both in the U.S. and abroad and I have been fortunate to accompany him on many trips. We still enjoy traveling and are seldom at home for very long. We also spend time at our cabin on our forest property.

We have a wonderful family — two daughters and sons-in-law and three very special grandchildren, ages 18, 15 and 5. All of our family live in Boise.

As I have written this I realized how lucky I have been. I have the best of all husbands and a great family. We have lived in many beautiful locations: mountains, the redwoods, on the northern Pacific coast and the lovely steep hills of northern Idaho.

This will be my first Reunion and I am looking forward to seeing friends again.

By the way, if anyone checks the senior pictures in the Quill my name and Jeanine Paris are reversed and the list of activities are combined.
Barbara