Class Notes

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Class notes submitted between April 20, 2023, and Oct. 13, 2023, are included in this issue.

Alex Carr ’15

Christian Skoorsmith ’97

Diana Jones ’87

Linda Mai Williams ’73

73 – Linda Mai Williams, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, published her debut children’s picture book, Deidra’s Dolly, as part of a four-book contract. Her next book is due to be published in 2024.

79 – Lucinda Sage-Midgorden, Hereford, Arizona, has produced the podcast “Story Power” (available on Apple, Google, and Spotify) for the past three years with guests including creators, authors, film makers, theatre, visual and musical artists. She received a “Positive Change Podcast Award” in June 2023.

87 – Diana Jones, Lamoni, Iowa, was named the 2023 Lamoni Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

97 – Christian Skoorsmith, Seattle, Washington, was inducted as a Fellow into the National Guild of Hypnotists, the highest level of association in the organization. Fewer than .25% of hypnotists achieve this accomplishment.

15 – Alex Carr, Coralville, Iowa, is the new owner of Thrivent Mississippi Valley Associates financial planning practice, and also assumed command of the United States Army Reserves 389th Engineer Battalion’s HHC unit as Company Commander.

19 – Ryan C. Tittle, Sumiton, Alabama, won second prize in Blue Institute’s 5th annual Words on Water Writing Contest with the poem “The Rain Dance.”

BIRTHS

06 – Shane and Marilyn Everett, Grand Prairie, Texas, son Evan Blake, born April 21, 2021.

07 – Chad and Brittany Everett, Lexington, North Carolina, son Kline Cole, born April 8, 2019, and son Drake Reed, born Dec. 21, 2022.

WEDDINGS

16 – Benjamin Landers and Natalie Sherer, Portland, Oregon, June 22, 2019.

ANNIVERSARIES

51 – Lloyd and Joan Fenn ’49 Slaght, Blue Springs, Missouri, 70 years, June 14, 2023.

60 – Howard and Bonita Booth, Lamoni, Iowa, 60 years, June 29, 2023.

66 – Robert and Gayle Boren ’88, Corvallis, Oregon, 55 years, June 2, 2023.

68 – L.D. and Marilyn Witte ’72 Harsin, Independence, Missouri, 50 years, Sept. 15, 2023.

72 – Darell and Valerie Gusse ’74 Wegert, Minturn, Colorado, 51 years, July 8, 2023. Rollin “Jim” and Jennifer King ’74 Wolfe, Sierra Vista, Arizona, 50 years, Dec. 23, 2022.

DEATHS

42 – Virginia Thompson Hummel, Silverdale, Washington, June 27, 2023. Lois White Madden, Grandview, Missouri, July 13, 2023.

46 – Rosanne Kuenzi Abreo, Lee’s Summit. Missouri. Jean Self Brandt, Sebastapol, California, July 26, 2022. Betty Buckley Russell, Blue Springs, Missouri, Aug. 6, 2023. Maurice Russell, Independence, Missouri, May 17, 2023.

47 – Jean Hartschen Copley, Glendale, California. Doris Harris Mark, Independence, Missouri, July 11, 2023. John Parrish, Overland Park, Kansas, April 14, 2023.

48 – Lena Johnsen Dennis, Boise, Idaho, Feb. 2, 2023. Glen Henson, Blue Springs, Missouri, April 28, 2023. Max Matthews, McAllen, Texas, Aug. 23, 2023. Wallace “Wally” B. Smith, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Sept. 22, 2023.

49 – Kenneth Green, Waukee, Iowa, Sept. 5, 2023.

50 – Charles Gress, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 8, 2023. Ralph Pratt, Independence, Missouri, April 28, 2023. William Young, Gulf Breeze, Florida, Oct. 8, 2022.

51 – David Kaleikau, Independence, Missouri, April 27, 2023. Murray Smith, Gresham, Oregon, April 18, 2023. Carolyn Cunningham Weeks, Independence, Missouri, June 30, 2023.

52 – Harry “Wayne” Dobbs, Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 29, 2023.

53 – John Carlyle Badder, Thamesville, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 9, 2023. Mary Loske Fox, Chandler, Arizona, Aug. 31, 2023. John “Ron” Gamble, Rich Hill, Missouri, Oct. 29, 2022. Verlyn Clark Hursh, Warrensburg, Missouri, Aug. 2, 2023. Gearl Koonce, Georgetown, Texas, July 20, 2023. Carlee Wilson, Topeka, Kansas, Aug. 19, 2023.

54 – James Corrington, University Place, Washington, June 7, 2023. Ruthanne Phillips, Kansas City, Missouri, April 24, 2023.

55 – Nancy Hunter DuRose, Hendersonville, North Carolina, July 14, 2023. Dolores Green Krull, Sun City, Arizona, July 2, 2023. David “John” Noble, Punta Gorda, Florida, May 14, 2023. Metta Postlewaite Pickard, Roseville, California, May 22, 2021. Terry Smith, Naples, Florida, July 16, 2023. Helen “Shirley” Ellis Toth, Flint, Michigan, July 7, 2021.

56 – David Canning, Independence, Missouri, Dec. 1, 2020. Wanda DeSelms Eastin, Blue Springs, Missouri, April 11, 2023. Dixie Ashenhurst Garrett, McKinleyville, California, July 11, 2023. James Griffin, Council Bluffs, Iowa, June 25, 2023. Patricia Cottrell Jensen, Yorktown, Virginia, Dec. 4, 2016. Carolyn Merz Traver, Gloucester, Massachusetts, Sept. 10, 2023.

57 – Tom Bennett, Independence, Missouri, Aug. 4, 2023. Gary Hannaman, Kansas City, Kansas. Judith White Conkey, Austin, Texas, May 21, 2023.

58 – Carol Grover, Indianola, Iowa, May 14, 2023. Joseph “Joe” Pearson, Kennesaw, Georgia, June 3, 2023.

59 – Joyce Weaver MacNeil, Lake Orion, Michigan, March 15, 2023. Sharon Jones Winter, Blue Springs, Missouri, May 24, 2023.

60 – Gary Methner, Mount Vernon, Washington, March 14, 2023.

61 – James Heverling, Bellingham, Washington, Sept. 4, 2023.

62 – Gerd Buttgen, Independence, Missouri, Sept. 13, 2023.

63 – Lorance Dodds, Green Valley, Arizona, April 15, 2020. Donald Mitchell, North Bay, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 23, 2023.

64 – James Gargano, Saint George, Utah, Sept. 10, 2023. Sharon Kay Hutton, Foristell, Missouri, Feb. 5, 2021.

65 – Dianne Travis Davis, Delta, Colorado, June 23, 2023.

66 – Diane Elam Barnett, Fremont, California, July 1, 2021. David Jensen, West Des Moines, Iowa, June 1, 2023.

67 – Jerry Runkle, Emporia, Kansas, Sept. 10, 2023.

68 – Evangeline Pang, Fountain Valley, California, March 1, 2023.

69 – Patricia Bowman, Salem, Oregon, June 21, 2023.

72 – Howard “Alan” Smith, Independence, Missouri, June 27, 2023.

73 – Dale Jones, Independence, Missouri, Nov. 12, 2018. Lawrence “Larry” Moffet, Kansas City, Missouri, April 26, 2023.

74 – Terry Buckalew, Browning, Illinois, June 27, 2023. Randal Fielder, San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 22, 2020. Lillian Constant Frizzell, Corydon, Iowa, June 19, 2023. Marie Barlow Geis, Wheatland, Wyoming, Sept. 24, 2023. Julie Varvaro Johnson, Clearwater, Florida, June 13, 2023. Betty Hutchins Leutzinger, Independence, Missouri, Aug. 23, 2023.

76 – Sharon Millar Webb, Red Oak, Iowa, Oct. 19, 2016.

77 – Laura Ehlers Dickmeyer, Bacliff, Texas, May 22, 2023.

80 – Janet Gillette, Amity, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22, 2023.

82 – Sharrie Williams, Bucaramanga, Colombia, Feb. 23, 2023.

87 – Christopher Lloyd, Austin Texas. Dolores Wichmann Olig, Red Oak, Iowa, Aug. 21, 2023.

95 – Michelle Wiley MacDonald, Folsom, California, Oct. 5, 2023.

99 – Ricky Oandasan, Pearl City, Hawaii, July 31, 2023.

00 – Dianne Barnett, Englewood, Florida, March 18, 2021. Barbara Stark David, Marshfield, Wisconsin, Feb. 21, 2013.

01 – Ellen Coe, Aurora, Colorado, Nov. 8, 2022.

10 – Michelle Hamann, Saint Joseph, Missouri, Sept. 27, 2023.

15 – Patricia Smith Ballman, Erie, Pennsylvania, July 16, 2023.

19 – Riley Nilsen, Portland, Oregon, Aug. 8, 2023.

20 – Kimberly Farris, Barnett, Missouri, June 21, 2023.