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Sharing Our Life Paths...
The biographies below were submitted to our 50th reunion celebration book
in 2003..
This year, 2008, marks our 55th...
Where have the years gone?
After we left West Branch, we moved to Gem Falls, Wisconsin. We lived
there for three years. I worked in an abstract office.
My Dad got transferred to Dixon and I worked at the Borden Company
in the office.
I got married in 1957.
We have three daughters and five grandchildren.
I started working for the state of Illinois in 1974, as a secretary
for the psychologists at our mental health facility.
The facility was turned into a medium security prison in 1983. I ran
the post office for them for 12 years.
I retired in 1995.
We travel a lot and have lots of friends and keep busy, busy.
Francine (Miller) and I write to each other on holidays, so I do kind
of keep up on a little news. Look forward to seeing you all..
Nancy
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| Arvetice Awrey.. |
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| Died September 24, 2009 |
After graduation, I worked at Pontiac Motors Company for
a year. I did not like Pontiac.
I came back to West Branch.
I made a boat from two 1939 Ford car hoods. I went down the AuSable
River from Grayling to Oscoda in my two car-hood boat.
I thought I was a sailor and joined the Navy in 1955.
I married Etheline J. Killinger in 1957. We lived in San
Diego, California for about one and a half years. I went out to sea and Etheline came back to West Branch. I was transferred
to a different ship. My wife came back out to San Francisco and we lived there for about a year.
Our first child, Joyce, was born in San Francisco in September of 1959
and I was discharged from the Navy in November of 1959.
We came back to West Branch.
In 1960 Rod was born to us and in 1962 we had twin boys..Barry and
Brian. In 1963 we had another boy...Ray.
We now have 13 grandchildren...10 boys and three girls.
I worked at a sawmill, as a truck driver, in auto body repair, painting
and real estate sales.
In 1992 I had brain surgery.
In 1996 I had a triple by-pass..
Still ticking!
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I married my wonderful husband, Joe, in 1954.
We have four children (1 boy and 3 girls)...our pride and joy are our
nine grandchildren...6 boys and 3 girls.
We live half the year in Florida and half in Michigan.
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| Joe and Joyce Bair Parliament...2008 |
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The Monday morning after graduation, I started work at
Western Union in Midland. It was a very interesting job, and a very busy office with direct lines to Dow Chemical Company,
Dow Corning Corporation, and The Austin Company
(I worked there until the birth of our first daughter in September
of 1959.)
In December of 1953, I married Albert Card, whom I had known for a
number of years and dated casually during high school.
My sister was married to Albert's twin brother.
We had been married less than a year when Albert was drafted into the
Army. He spent his basic training in Ft.Leonard Wood, Mo. then the next year and a half in Germany.
It would have been a wonderful opportunity for travel, but at that
time Germany was not friendly to Americans and Albert was in an Engineering Battalion and in the field three weeks of every
month.
Albert was working at Dow Chemical Company prior to our marriage and
retired from there in 1986.
We have three daughters...Mary, Suzanne and Jayne.
We have enjoyed our grandchildren immensely, and have said "What did
we do before grandkids?"...a thought I'm sure shared by many grandparents.
Back to the early years....
When Mary was 6 months old, Albert's Mother was killed in an automobile
accident and his Father critically injured. When his Dad was released from the hospital, I took care of him until he
was able to live by himself.
What a life altering experience for the whole family!
How your life can change in the blink of an eye and how uncertain life
can be.
I went back to work when the children were quite young, only working
a few hours in the afternoon. I worked at an accounting service in Midland for many years...sometimes part-time, sometimes
full-time and for the last number of years, I only worked during the tax seasons.
I worked there until December of 1996 when Albert had a stroke.
After a recuperation period of about three years, he is doing fine
now.
Now I occupy my time volunteering and working occasionally at the elections.
For the last several years, I have hosted a Senior Group that meets once
a month at the Faith Wesleyan Church Fellowship Hall. In the past,
I have volunteered at the Food Pantry and Sharing Tree Project.
Since Albert's stroke, most of our travels have been limited to bus
tours. We have done a few day trips and a trip to Renfro Valley, Kentucky. In the past, we've gone to Gatlinburg, Tennessee
and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is the best way for us to travel and we've met some really nice people.
Albert is still hunting and fishing. I enjoy scrapbooking, embroidery
and spending time with family. My neighbor and I walk a mile a day...we were walking three miles every morning until I injured
my knee.
Albert and I walked the Mackinac Bridge for several years (on Labor
Day)...and every year we wish we could be walking again.
Maybe some day!
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After graduation, I stayed on
the farm with my parents and became a partner with my father.
I married Kay Cowan in 1954.
We had three children, Allen, Daniel, and Cindy.
Kay and I were divorced in 1979.
I bought the farm from my father
in 1956 and farmed with dairy cows through 1984.
I remarried in 1980 to my wife,
Patty, and am still happily married.
I sold the farm over a period
of time from 1985 to 1988. I then had a business of logging until 1991, when I was offered a job at Maple Ridge Hardwoods
as a head sawyer. I was there until 1999, and retired in the spring.
Since then, I have enjoyed fishing
and part time work in the woods. We live 1/2 mile north of my old farm on Boughner Lake Road...Prescott.
This picture was taken on a
recent fishing trip with my dog...Fluffy...
Best regards..Jack
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Married 1958
Children...Randy (deceased), Lynn, Kristie, Bryan (deceased)
Grandchildren...Jon and Conor
Divorced 1986
Retired 1990
"Life doesn't get any better than it is right now"
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| Arnold "Arnie" Brewer... |
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| Died June 12, 2010 |
I stayed home and worked on the farm the first year and
a half following graduation.
Then I moved to Flint and worked at Fisher Body Auto Shop.
In March of 1955, I took the big jump to the Army.
Following basic training, I earned a specialist, MOS, at Fort Devens,
Mass. Fort Huachuca, Arizona became my workplace as a cryptographic repair specialist.
Cryptography is writing or deciphering secret code.
I returned to Flint in 1957 and after taking classes I decided to enter
the electrical industry.
While I was working at Advance Electric in Flint, I married Barbara
Embury.
Barbara's parents were both 1924 alumni from West Branch High School.
Barbara's cousin, Sally Kenyon from the class of 1954, introduced us.
Barbara had completed college at MSU and was teaching in Oak Park.
We moved to Detroit and I worked at Madison Electric Supply and the
several electrical companies before starting my own electrical construction business in 1967. By then, our family had grown
to 5 children...twin sons, Brett & Scott, then Michael, Penny and Joseph.
Barbara taught school off and on.
The business was in Troy and we moved to Washington, Michigan.
In 1974, we bought Barbara's Mother's family business..Kenyon's REsort
on Sage Lake. We sold the resort business in 1976 but retained a cottage and land.
My career took a dive in 1992 when I was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer. Following the surgery was a year of recovery before I could work part time.
Our youngest son, Joe, became an electrician and following college
took over my business.
I now work for him...estimating electrical construction.
Our children have enriched our lives and given us 9 grandchildren.The
International Lions Club has honored me with the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for my service to the Washington Chapter.
I was pleased to be a part of the planning and construction of a new clubhouse which is adjacent to the Township Hall and
the surrounding public recreation areas.
Recently, Barbara and I rebuilt our Sage Lake cot5tage and were happy
to use finish lumber that I had harvested from our wood lots. My saw mill hobby has become quite the on-going adventure.
I always enjoyed being from West Branch and look forward to renewing
friendships with classmates. The Alumni Association has truly been a healthy organization for the community and I appreciate
the work others have donated to keep it going...
My best to all of you!
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I married Georgina Illig from St.Joseph's High School in
1959.
We have three children, Dawn, Shari, and Donny.
I worked at Ford from 1953 until 1954.
In 1954 I went into the US Air Force and was discharged in 1958.
Georgina and I have five grandchildren.
My son, Donny, became a priest two years ago.
That about covers it!
Don
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