Nevada High School -- Class of 1963 This Website has been set-up to share information about the NHS Class of 1963 45th Anniversary Reunion. Depending on interest, it might be maintained for a longer period and provide more general information. News from Classmates -- about then, now and in-between Click on a link to view news   • Donna (Johns) Thomas   • David Duncan   • Larry Rose   • Carol (Wallace) Brubeck   • Duane Vaughn   • Liz (Winters) Miesner   • Georgia (Pyle) Graham From Donna (Johns) Thomas ... Greetings from DONNA (Johns) THOMAS: Come on guys…get those reservations sent in and make plans to attend next month’s gathering. Time’s awastin’ and we’re not getting any younger! Hard to believe but my life is more hectic after the age of 60 than it was previously. After my jobs as local Chamber of Commerce Director, Economic Development Director, Assistant Administrator at the Nevada Hospital, Community Action Agency CAO, I started taking college classes and completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business and Organizational Management. My goal was to finish before our grandkids got in college, and to make better grades than my kids and grandkids. (Mission accomplished!) I’ve loved all my jobs and all the volunteer organizations I’ve served in, including the local school board, but have found my recent “life” the most satisfying and hectic. Crowder College located a branch campus in Nevada in 1995, occupying the Administration Building of the old State Hospital. I started as the student services coordinator seven years or so ago, and became the campus director three years ago. Have helped steer it from 250 students to 400 in that time period. It’s great to see area folks have the chance to get the first two years of their college education right here. We started an RN program last year and we’re expanding it this year. We’re working to get a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Elementary Education with Missouri State University here to complement our many associate degrees. With the rising price of gas, it’s a “good thing” as Martha would say. Update on our children: Troy is 43 and he is the father of our four oldest grandkids: James 22, Tristie 20, Kyla 18, and Charles 16—they grew up here although Charles is the only still here. James is a CADman with EFCO in Monett, Tristie is a cosmetologist in Springfield, Kyla is in California.. Kim is 40 and a 4th grade teacher in New Hampshire, although she lives across the river and up in the Black Mountains of Vermont. She has 3 and 7 year old daughters: Riley and Taylor. Kristin is 37 and works for Juvenile Justice in Pittsburg, KS and she is the ‘keeper’ of our granddog, Chancie. Charles retired from 3M several years ago—that’s when I went back to work! Still enjoy domestic travels but don’t get to do it as often. A couple of weeks after our last reunion, I had a car wreck that dinged up my legs pretty badly, and totaled my car. Don’t think I’ve slowed down much since them. Other than enjoying my grandkids, I am an avid woodcarver when time allows. As always, I look forward to seeing everyone at our 45th reunion, then 50, then 55…. From David Duncan ... Some classmates might get a kick out of this photograph. I went to Franklin, but I think kindergarten must have been composed of students from all over town back then. Would this be Christmas, 1950 or 1949? Click photo for larger view (1.4MB) ... here is the largest view (4MB) It would be fun to see if we can figure out who everyone is (including Santa). See additional class photos From Larry Rose ... I'll be looking forward to visiting with all of you at the upcoming 45 year class reunion. Click for larger view I graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 1967 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation I went to work for the Missouri Division of Welfare which later became the Division of Family Services. The Vernon County office was located in Nevada. I worked for them for one year at which time I was drafted into the US Army. I spent one year in South Vietnam, stationed at Long Binh. I spent 2 years total in the Army and returned to my old job at the Division of Family Services. In 1972 I became the office manager (County Director) and served in that capacity until my retirement on July 1, 2000. In February of 1977 I joined the MO Army National Guard in Nevada, MO. I retired from the Guard in August, 2005, attaining the rank of First Sergeant. I was able to do a lot of traveling while in the Guard; 3 trips to Germany, 6 trips to Panama, and 7 trips to Alaska. I was selected to be part of the security team for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002. I worked in the Bomb Management Center. I have one daughter, Angela McGuirk, (husband Dustin) and a grandson who will turn 5 on October 16. They reside in Billings, MO. Angie teaches 5th Grade in the Nixa School System, Nixa, MO. Her husband works for APEC Construction Company building highways. My wife of 23 ½ years, Karen, retired from the Department of Mental Health October 1, 2000. She has one son, Stephen Martin and his wife Patti and her 4 kids of which 2 are still living at home. They reside in Bates City, MO. Steve has worked for Cody Ceiling and Flooring Company in Kansas City, MO for 23 years. His wife is a nurse at St. Luke’s Medical Center. My wife's hobby is breeding & showing Maine Coon Cats. Her web site can be viewed at www.rosepetalsmccats.com. She has been doing this for 15 years. We have a 1 Ton Dually and a 34' travel trailer. We don't get to use it nearly enough. We enjoy traveling and have a trip scheduled to New York City, traveling north along the coast to the State of Maine. If Diesel prices don't drop, we will probably make the trip in our van and just "motel and restaurant" the trip. From Carol (Wallace) Brubeck ... You all have a good time this reunion. I'll miss it again. Maybe when and if we retire, Roger and I will make it. Many things happen to all of us and it would take volumes to tell, if anyone wanted to listen! I'll hit a few things briefly for the readers who just want to know a little. If I have the time, I'll expand the marked ones for those more interested. Married Roger Brubeck 1965. Six children Pamela, 1967; Her husband Jeff pastors Country Meadows Baptist Church, Lee Summit, MO Children: Zeke, Caleb, Gracie, and Isaiah. Dan, 1970; wife, Angela children: Maliaka, Hannah, Aaron, Lydia, Joseph Live on the island of Zanzibar off the east coast of Tanzania, East Africa Clint, 1974 wife, Ruth Children: Rachel, Anika, Gabriana Army, Ft Benning, GA Rose, l995 soon to attend Rift Valley Academy, Kenya. Maria, 1996 and Mario 1997 living with us in Kigali, Rwanda We are in Rwanda to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to bring many to salvation. God is full of forgiveness and grace to those who will receive Him. God is so good! I've run out of time for now. From Duane Vaughn ... I will be at the reunion with Susan, wife of 42 years. We are busy doing the retirement thing now. Lots of traveling around the country side. A photo of the family ... click for larger view then press F11 key for best view We've been back to Nevada several times this year already. With hunting season coming on there are a couple of states I will hunt this fall. A month ago the wind blew the roof off of my deer stand back on our farm in Missouri so this gives us an extra excuse to be there in September to replace it and to work on the cabin. I'm sure there will be lots of weeds to take the tractor to as well because of all the rain they have had. I plan on being in Vernon County in November for the deer season too. Duane From Liz (Winters) Miesner ... Since we last met Liz Winters Miesner has added another grandson to the family. We have 6 grandsons and 1 grand-daughter. I keep myself busy enjoying gardening, St. Louis and Springfield Cardinal games, grand-children, playing Bunco, PEO, lunch and shopping with friends, travel and occasional knitting and sewing. I've recently been employed as a part-time academic advisor at Ozark Technical College in Springfield...... a senior citizen activity that really works the brain! In the past 5 years I've traveled with my husband Stan to Paris, with my sister Karen and friend Martha to the south of France, and to Germany with Stan. In the Provence region we drove from Nice to Menton along the Mediterranean. It was absolutely beautiful! The photo is a picture of us on a walking bridge between France and Italy. We enjoyed Italy too. On our Germany trip we rented a car in Frankfurt and Stan drove. Our genealogy search took us to the northwest part of Germany then to Hamburg where a cousin gave Stan directions for driving on the autobahn. Our trip also took us to Poland and to the Czech Republic than back into southern Germany. It was a wonderful 15 days and we hope to go again. See you soon. Liz From Georgia (Pyle) Graham ... Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Education/ Romance Languages (1966) Central Missouri State College Master of Arts/ Romance Languages (1971) University of Missouri-Columbia Married Duane Guy Graham, August 20, 1966 in Nevada, MO Children: Nathan James Graham, 1979, who married Charlene Baker in 2004. Nathan is an engineer with Garmin International in Olathe, KS Martin Joel Graham, 1982, who will be married in November to Amanda Crowley. Martin is putting his finance degree to work at Bank Liberty. Duane retired, but somehow the work pace seems to be the same or more than before retirement. My father recently died after about two years of poor health. He was in our home and full time care for me for fifteen months. I now plan to get back to some of the charity work and hobbies which I did prior to my father's need. And, of course, we are in the wedding planning business here right now! I think about all of you and enjoy hearing from some of you now and then. I do wish you all well and hope you enjoy your time together. Georgia