Doris Lessenden

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

I am not sure which Eads 2026 senior chose this verse as their favorite verse, but it has also been one of mine for many years from the book of Philippians, since the early 1970s when we were at state basketball tournaments.

The highlight of last week was the class reunion of the classes of 1965 and 1966. Vonnie Brabb and Brenda Addington came to see me Tuesday afternoon to visit and encourage me to come to the Senior Center to visit and to help me get there. I assured them that I really would like to come and that I could get there in less than five minutes in my power chair. I have such good memories of these “dear to me students.” I understand the reunion was organized by a coordinated effort of local alumni and those who now live in other parts of the state or even in other states. Inside the door, the tables were filled with mostly men while mostly ladies were gathered around tables in the back.

The alumni classmates that I saw while I was there Wednesday afternoon and night were: Kenda Weil Bloder, Vonnie Brabb Martin, Loretta Frazee Brown, Donna Watts Parker, Areta Blooding Laird, Brenda Addington Stoker, Linda Bethel Offill, Jolyn Gereke Uney, Jill Messenger, Bud Adamson, Linda Adamson Hopkins, Jim Garner, Johnny Holcomb, and Rex Barlow. I missed seeing Chuck McCall, Shirley Mays White, Boyce Kelly, Louis Brown, and Jeanne Richards Sorensen. We were disappointed that Kathleen ‘Kas’ Fischer Stewart didn’t get to come up from Oklahoma because she was one of the “organizers” also. And many of you know that Kas makes things really “fun and pop” but family health issues were preventing traveling at that time. Several classmates had other previous commitments and were unable to attend.

Bill and Charlotte Woelk and I, their former teachers and sponsors, really did enjoy visiting and sharing meals with them. Jolyn Gereke Uney brought her high school annual so as she read a name, we recalled about them and where they were and how they might be doing…if they were alive. They discussed when to meet again and decided that five years might be too long to wait because of their age. I like their thinking as they were parting, “Let’s get together in two years!” What wonderful memories I have of them. Other student friends who joined us were: Rodney Hopkins, Marlene Rouse, Terry Laird, Ron White, Vickie Holcomb Morgan, Jerry Ritchie, Jerry Bloder, and Jeri McCall.

My former neighbors, Rich and Dianne O’Brian on 13th Street, live at the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Community now and have decided to offer their home for sale. I call it a “darling” home since they had it painted crimson red with white roof and shutter trim. It has lovely yards also.

We are grateful that Diana Pearcey Flory has taken the leadership role to organize and get the “Community Church Calendar” printed. She appreciates the ladies in Eads and Haswell who have taken the responsibility of gathering birthday and anniversary dates for the August printing.

Sarah Seibel Ferris and her sister, Jane Seibel, visited me recently. They had just been to Wyoming to the graduation of their brother’s daughter who will be attending Lamar Community College to play on the girls’ softball team. I hadn’t seen Al Seibel for years until recently at a ball game here in Eads. I enjoyed him so much as a student and wrestler. I will always remember the excitement of the Pep Club when I was sponsoring them at the state tournament when Al won his championship round. He was the first young man who won a wrestling state championship from Eads!

Johnny Leon drove over from Tribune, Kansas, Friday and sang for us for about an hour and a half when Marla Darnell and her young staff rolled in a large birthday cake decorated by our own Christina Wolfe from the clinic office. Now this was a real surprise for Johnny!

We were pleased to have Reese Barnett come to visit us last week. We asked her if she accomplished her goal of walking all the streets of Eads in one day. And she did! Reese told us that it is eight miles around the outside streets of Eads. Plus, she went out to play golf that afternoon and evening. Over the weekend she played in the golf tournament with her aunt Jordan (Barnett) Buck up at Wray.

Saturday, people worked during the day preparing food for the benefit supper for the Donte Sierra family and relatives who have been suffering from the expense of being in Denver during his cancer operations and treatment. Donte has been working for the town of Eads for about five years. He and Crystal have a little girl about a year old.

Many people are looking forward to seeing and hearing Jamie Crockett sing and play his guitar at the Maine Street Bash this Friday, July 17, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Horseshoe Park on South Maine. It might be wise if you are hungry to come earlier since at the last Bash there were more wonderful places to buy foods and that may be so this week as well. There should be tables along the sidewalks to buy goodies and gifts. Remember one can also go to the movies and the Ice Cream Shoppe.

Friends, remember to pray for rain where needed in Colorado.