| Faye Morgan Veal Sulphur, LA |
On Monday, May 27, 1957, I started a new chapter in
my life (as we all did). I started working that day at
the Calcasieu Marine National Bank, and I was
graduating from high school that night (and I loved
both). However, I discovered that night that I would
probably not see a lot of my friends and classmates
again for a long time, and that did become a sad
reality. We all went our separate ways, but now, in
our later years, we are coming back together (and it
is so wonderful). Most of us are just picking up where
we left off...just catching up on the chapters in
between. Thanks to Phillip Andrews and Joey & Pie
Sonnier, we are getting reunited. And, Phillip, it is so
appropriate that you are getting this up-to-date
resume of the classmates since you were our
"Master of Ceremonies" at our graduation. NEAT
(you are still keeping it all together)
my life (as we all did). I started working that day at
the Calcasieu Marine National Bank, and I was
graduating from high school that night (and I loved
both). However, I discovered that night that I would
probably not see a lot of my friends and classmates
again for a long time, and that did become a sad
reality. We all went our separate ways, but now, in
our later years, we are coming back together (and it
is so wonderful). Most of us are just picking up where
we left off...just catching up on the chapters in
between. Thanks to Phillip Andrews and Joey & Pie
Sonnier, we are getting reunited. And, Phillip, it is so
appropriate that you are getting this up-to-date
resume of the classmates since you were our
"Master of Ceremonies" at our graduation. NEAT
(you are still keeping it all together)
After graduation in 1957, I worked, got married in 1958, to Jacky Veal (class '55), and a year
later we had our first son, Scotty. Three years later we had our daughter, Kempa, and then
in 1965, we had our last baby, Brian. From 1964 to Oct. 1970, we moved around (Jacky was an engineer
for a construction co) to Houston, then Baton Rouge, and back to Houston. We were able to move back to
Sulphur in late 1970, and have been here since. While in Houston, I started college, finished at McNeese
with my BA and M.Ed, and then worked and taught at Maplewood Middle School until my retirement in
1993. I loved my years of teaching, and I still wake up at night "teaching school".
Jacky and I have three adorable grandchildren, but they live in Houston, and we don't get to see them as
often as we would like. With Kempa and her family living in Houston, and Brian living in Baton Rouge, we
do our share of traveling on I-10. Scotty lives here in Sulphur,and we
feel fortunate to have one child still here. I lost my Dad in 1980, but Mother is still living in
our homeplace, and loves to hear about everyone after the Thursday get-togethers. In fact, she is as
disappointed as I am on those Thursdays that I don't get to go. Pie and Joey's porch is a great place for
remembering, and we have so much fun...it is sorta like "teeners", except we do a lot of talking instead of
dancing.
Again, my appreciation goes out to Phillip and Joey & Pie for their work and e-mails. I don't know about
you all, but I find myself checkin my e-mails each day to see if there is one from Joey (and if there is, I
read it first). Those three are
certainly doing a great job of getting us back to those days of yesteryear. We were such a
close class, and it is great going back to the memories of those carefree days of our lives. It will be great
getting together again as a class.
Have a great day,
Faye
later we had our first son, Scotty. Three years later we had our daughter, Kempa, and then
in 1965, we had our last baby, Brian. From 1964 to Oct. 1970, we moved around (Jacky was an engineer
for a construction co) to Houston, then Baton Rouge, and back to Houston. We were able to move back to
Sulphur in late 1970, and have been here since. While in Houston, I started college, finished at McNeese
with my BA and M.Ed, and then worked and taught at Maplewood Middle School until my retirement in
1993. I loved my years of teaching, and I still wake up at night "teaching school".
Jacky and I have three adorable grandchildren, but they live in Houston, and we don't get to see them as
often as we would like. With Kempa and her family living in Houston, and Brian living in Baton Rouge, we
do our share of traveling on I-10. Scotty lives here in Sulphur,and we
feel fortunate to have one child still here. I lost my Dad in 1980, but Mother is still living in
our homeplace, and loves to hear about everyone after the Thursday get-togethers. In fact, she is as
disappointed as I am on those Thursdays that I don't get to go. Pie and Joey's porch is a great place for
remembering, and we have so much fun...it is sorta like "teeners", except we do a lot of talking instead of
dancing.
Again, my appreciation goes out to Phillip and Joey & Pie for their work and e-mails. I don't know about
you all, but I find myself checkin my e-mails each day to see if there is one from Joey (and if there is, I
read it first). Those three are
certainly doing a great job of getting us back to those days of yesteryear. We were such a
close class, and it is great going back to the memories of those carefree days of our lives. It will be great
getting together again as a class.
Have a great day,
Faye
One of the instructors at McNeese lost a daughter in March to Cancer. She
set up a $1000 essay scholarship for nursing students that had known
someone with cancer. My granddaughter won the money. Attached, if you care
to read it is her essay. For those who knew Faye well may find it a little
tough to read.
Jack
set up a $1000 essay scholarship for nursing students that had known
someone with cancer. My granddaughter won the money. Attached, if you care
to read it is her essay. For those who knew Faye well may find it a little
tough to read.
Jack
| The Essay |
Claire Barker Scholarship Application
Kathleen McFarlain
6th Semester [3rd Semester Clinicals]
GPA: 3.65
CLAIRE BARKER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION ESSAY
Since I was a little girl, I have always desired to be a nurse, just like my mom. During a clinical rotation
course my junior year of high school, I decided my concentration would be a neonatal nurse, continuing to
follow in my mother’s footsteps. Considering how much I loved interacting with babies, whether feeding,
bathing, or simply holding them, I decided to make it my occupation. I felt confident it was the only
specialty I would enjoy and never thought twice about it. That was until Valentine’s Day, 2007.
It was on this memorable day that I first learned of my grandmother’s illness. She was 68 years old and had
unexpectedly been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). One source defines it as being a
“quickly progressive malignant disease in which there are too many immature blood-forming cells in the
blood and bone marrow.” These abnormal cells overtake the blood and bone marrow, preventing the
production of normal blood cells, and resulting in a potentially fatal disease state. Although she had beaten
cancer of the colon ten years prior, I was then only ten years old myself. But now I was of age to
understand the circumstances of her condition, treatment, and recovery.
The next 10 months would be a long and grueling journey of ups and downs, mountains and valleys, joys
and concerns, and everything in between. After witnessing her suffer the effects of her illness combined
with chemotherapy, it was a miracle when the doctor informed us of her “remission” status. My family and I
could not have been more grateful and overwhelmed with the peace of knowing she’d finally be herself
again. For 5 whole months, Grandma had been confined to the bed, unable to maintain her routine
activities, hobbies, appetite, sleep pattern, cheerful personality, or positive disposition. But finally, she
would be her strong, healthy, and most importantly, happy self again.
However, after only three months in remission, we were informed the cancer had returned. The fortunate
news was they caught it early, meaning it was not yet as severe and developed as before. With this in mind,
the doctor insisted another round of chemotherapy would be necessary, but this time, a weaker drug could
be used. He assured us her symptoms would be milder and less debilitating than before. She would be
nowhere near as sick and in pain as she was during the first two rounds of treatment. Indeed, she
experienced less nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, UTI’s, fever, chills, night sweats, and oral blisters than she
had before. Yet, those weren’t the only things that diminished this time around. After another four months of
fighting the disease, only her physical being remained. The cancer destroyed every aspect of my grandma’s
existence including her health, appetite, character, humor, temperament, spirit, hope, faith, desire to live,
and ultimately, her very breath of life.
On December 5th, 2007, my family and I said goodbye to a stranger…a woman who after nearly a year of
fighting for her life only seemed to slightly resemble our beloved grandmother. The cancer had exhausted
her body, mind, and soul till almost nothing familiar remained. Not a day goes by that I’m not faced with
thoughts and memories of a grandmother I’ve known and loved for the past two decades. She was a woman
of true beauty and wisdom beyond her years. Her faith, love, and contagious smile were a compelling
combination. She was adored and respected by everyone she knew. And now, her legacy must live on in the
hearts, smiles, actions, and faith of those she touched in her lifetime. As hard as it is to experience each
morning, night, and every second in between without her physical presence and support, I know she is still
watching and guiding me daily through my own trials and tribulations. And in whatever capacity I can, I will
continue to demonstrate the same love and affection I was blessed with as I encounter others on this
journey through life.
I cannot say whether this life-altering experience has pointed me in a new direction in terms of nursing, but
I do know with certainty that my eyes have been opened to the most important role a nurse plays in
situations like these. I have learned the only way I will be able to truly touch the lives of the patients and
families I care for is by placing all my heart and all the passion it possesses into my work. Whether I’m
stationed on an oncology unit somewhere in Louisiana or in a NICU halfway around the world, my goal and
purpose will remain the same: let the love I’ve been shown flourish to the highest point and immerse the
hearts of those whose paths mine cross. Like Claire Barker, I can only assume that is exactly what
Grandma would have wanted.
Kathleen McFarlain
6th Semester [3rd Semester Clinicals]
GPA: 3.65
CLAIRE BARKER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION ESSAY
Since I was a little girl, I have always desired to be a nurse, just like my mom. During a clinical rotation
course my junior year of high school, I decided my concentration would be a neonatal nurse, continuing to
follow in my mother’s footsteps. Considering how much I loved interacting with babies, whether feeding,
bathing, or simply holding them, I decided to make it my occupation. I felt confident it was the only
specialty I would enjoy and never thought twice about it. That was until Valentine’s Day, 2007.
It was on this memorable day that I first learned of my grandmother’s illness. She was 68 years old and had
unexpectedly been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). One source defines it as being a
“quickly progressive malignant disease in which there are too many immature blood-forming cells in the
blood and bone marrow.” These abnormal cells overtake the blood and bone marrow, preventing the
production of normal blood cells, and resulting in a potentially fatal disease state. Although she had beaten
cancer of the colon ten years prior, I was then only ten years old myself. But now I was of age to
understand the circumstances of her condition, treatment, and recovery.
The next 10 months would be a long and grueling journey of ups and downs, mountains and valleys, joys
and concerns, and everything in between. After witnessing her suffer the effects of her illness combined
with chemotherapy, it was a miracle when the doctor informed us of her “remission” status. My family and I
could not have been more grateful and overwhelmed with the peace of knowing she’d finally be herself
again. For 5 whole months, Grandma had been confined to the bed, unable to maintain her routine
activities, hobbies, appetite, sleep pattern, cheerful personality, or positive disposition. But finally, she
would be her strong, healthy, and most importantly, happy self again.
However, after only three months in remission, we were informed the cancer had returned. The fortunate
news was they caught it early, meaning it was not yet as severe and developed as before. With this in mind,
the doctor insisted another round of chemotherapy would be necessary, but this time, a weaker drug could
be used. He assured us her symptoms would be milder and less debilitating than before. She would be
nowhere near as sick and in pain as she was during the first two rounds of treatment. Indeed, she
experienced less nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, UTI’s, fever, chills, night sweats, and oral blisters than she
had before. Yet, those weren’t the only things that diminished this time around. After another four months of
fighting the disease, only her physical being remained. The cancer destroyed every aspect of my grandma’s
existence including her health, appetite, character, humor, temperament, spirit, hope, faith, desire to live,
and ultimately, her very breath of life.
On December 5th, 2007, my family and I said goodbye to a stranger…a woman who after nearly a year of
fighting for her life only seemed to slightly resemble our beloved grandmother. The cancer had exhausted
her body, mind, and soul till almost nothing familiar remained. Not a day goes by that I’m not faced with
thoughts and memories of a grandmother I’ve known and loved for the past two decades. She was a woman
of true beauty and wisdom beyond her years. Her faith, love, and contagious smile were a compelling
combination. She was adored and respected by everyone she knew. And now, her legacy must live on in the
hearts, smiles, actions, and faith of those she touched in her lifetime. As hard as it is to experience each
morning, night, and every second in between without her physical presence and support, I know she is still
watching and guiding me daily through my own trials and tribulations. And in whatever capacity I can, I will
continue to demonstrate the same love and affection I was blessed with as I encounter others on this
journey through life.
I cannot say whether this life-altering experience has pointed me in a new direction in terms of nursing, but
I do know with certainty that my eyes have been opened to the most important role a nurse plays in
situations like these. I have learned the only way I will be able to truly touch the lives of the patients and
families I care for is by placing all my heart and all the passion it possesses into my work. Whether I’m
stationed on an oncology unit somewhere in Louisiana or in a NICU halfway around the world, my goal and
purpose will remain the same: let the love I’ve been shown flourish to the highest point and immerse the
hearts of those whose paths mine cross. Like Claire Barker, I can only assume that is exactly what
Grandma would have wanted.
| Jack's new Gazebo Notice the beautiful Crape Myrtle in the left backgorund |
Christine's Prom Picutres
The Sago Palm,Cycas Revoluta, does not make a flower. As the cone grows, leaves evolve.
To make it grow taller, you remove lower leaves as new ones are produced. If you don't, the
plant will do it on its own, but slower. The male cone looks like a yellow-cream colored corn
cob and the female looks like a cabbage head. You can only tell if the plant is male or female
when the plant is or as shown its reproductive cones. When ready, the male cone will dump
out a powder like white substance called pollen. This pollen needs to be transferred to the
female cone.
To make it grow taller, you remove lower leaves as new ones are produced. If you don't, the
plant will do it on its own, but slower. The male cone looks like a yellow-cream colored corn
cob and the female looks like a cabbage head. You can only tell if the plant is male or female
when the plant is or as shown its reproductive cones. When ready, the male cone will dump
out a powder like white substance called pollen. This pollen needs to be transferred to the
female cone.
