From:   Bill Curry

Dear Class of ’61,

         If you’ve ever checked the class website’s list of classmates who have died, you may have seen this item, which we posted -- oh, when? -- a year or more ago:
Myrna Johnson Reed advises us that Sara Daniels died “many years ago” but does not appear on our list of deceased classmates. Details are sketchy, only that Sara’s death occurred more than 10 years ago. She was married, but we don’t have a married name for her.
         And that was it. Until Feb. 21, when I got a call from Myrna. She had doggedly sought additional details, and now -- thanks to her -- we have learned more about Sara. And what there was to learn!
         It turns out, to quote her brother Ed from the Cincinnati Enquirer’s 2000 obituary of Sara, “My sister would probably like to be remembered as a very ordinary woman...who other people thought did extraordinary things.” Extraordinary things, indeed, Ed.
         I hope you’ll take a moment to read about her life and contributions as recounted in Sara’s Enquirer obituary and posted on www.woodwardclassof61.com. And a big bulldog bark of thanks to Myrna for tracking this down.
         More about Myrna. She advises us from her home in Fayetteville, Tenn.,  that she married “the boy she met when she was in the 10th grade, Charles E. Reed, who graduated from high school in  Huntsville, Tenn. We had  a son, Scott, while Chuck was in the Air Force in North Carolina.
         “We went back to Cincinnati and opened a Shell gas station on the corner of Tennessee Avenue and Paddock Road. In 1964 we had a daughter (Debbie), and in 1968 we moved to Huntsville, Ala., where I worked for the police department as a crossing guard. We then moved to Fayetteville, Tenn., in 1977 and opened our own automotive repair shop and tire store, soon adding auto parts to our  business. We sold our business to our son and his wife seven years ago. We still work for them from time to time, but we are really retired -- or trying to be.
         “We have three grandchildren ages 12 to 19, two step-grandchildren and one step-great grandchild. They all live here in town. I am really into recycling and family ancestry, golf and gardening.”
         I asked Myrna what prompted her to so relentlessly find out more about Sara. Her answer: “We were together a lot growing up. I wanted to know more about her since we had lost contact, with all of our travel and marriages, etc., and everyone I would contact about her did not know anything about her. It was like she had dropped off the face of the earth, and that couldn’t be. ”
         Also be sure to check out our website for the latest news from Woodward Career Technical High School. Right now, the kids are running short of money to send construction students to New Orleans to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
         Well, that wraps up this class newsletter. Let us hear from you. We’re always interested in hearing what you’re up to, as well as seeing current photos of you and/or classmates that you’d like to share.
         And make sure these dates are reserved on your calendar:
         Sept. 14, 2008 -- Medicare Madness class get-together
         Sept. 16, 17 and 18, 2011 -- Fiftieth Reunion (there’s still time to volunteer to help!) Click on the blue links to learn more.

As Mr. Warman taught me: -30-

Bill Curry
Mercer Island, Wash.