Robert (Ben) Carbo

Mildred Sue (Suzie) May (Cunningham)

Well said, Mr. Carbo! You were not being a preacher; you were being an encourager.

Robert (Ben) Carbo

Robert (Ben) Carbo

Roger Felton

Hey, Bennie.  Although I've had a lifelong fascination with Texas history, I never found that I had any ancestorial ties to it.  This might not count but here's a story of something I'm kinda proud of.

Back in 1968, I joined a small group of Texas history buffs in Houston who made their own period clothing from the early 1800's and would shoot flintlock muzzleloading rifles on the weekends.  The leader of the group was a fascinating gentleman named Carroll Lewis (Follow this link to learn about this amazing guy:) 

 General Carroll “Curly” Lewis, Jr. — The Texas Army - The State of Texas Official 1836 Ceremonial and Reenactment Group

I still have my buckskin shirt, powderhorn, Bowie knife and flintlock rifle from back then.  In 1969, Mr. Lewis convinced governor Preston Smith to reactivate the Texas Army (disbanded since 1845) and I was one of the original 13 founding members.  I still have my commission as a Colonel in the Texas Army all framed and hanging on my wall.  The Texas Army appears at historical commerative functions at the La Bahia mission in Goliad, the Alamo and at the battlegrounds in San Jacinto.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Very interesting, Roger!  I had a roommate that was in the Texas Navy but with nowhere the interesting story that you have.  Speaking of Texas history, I can provide this hopefully-interesting tidbit about a cousin, Thomas Puckett, known as Old Tom the Bear Man, who lived in the Austin area.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29099893/thomas-puckett

Tom's son was Lorenzo Dow Puckett. Lorenzo engaged in the cattle business as a young man and acquired a large ranch in Karnes County, Texas. During the Civil War, Lorenzo was detailed for frontier service to look after the war troops and also to secure beef for the Confederate Army. He drove large herds of cattle to eastern and southern states, and was paid in Confederate money. After the war, his money was worthless and thousands of dollars were thus lost.  

There used to be many Pucketts from this branch in the Austin area but, as far as I know, the only that remain are in the Puckett Cemetery there.

Roger Felton

Thanks so much for that, Stephen.  I love hearing old stories like that and retelling them to younger generations.  It helps keep them, and guys like Tom, alive in the minds of those who appreciate history.  When I moved to historic Victoria, TX in the early 70's and married my wife, Beverly, we had a new home built by a builder named Jim Puckett.  He was one of the finest people I ever knew.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Dunno a Jim Puckett.  I asume that I am somehow related to any Puckett - we first came over with the Jamestown colony of Virginia.  The first was a headwright (sort of an immigration facilitator).  Speaking of Texas history, I have a close friend who is the descendant of 2 survivors of the famous Santa Ana storming of the Alamo - a woman and her daughter by the name of Roche/Rocha. They were members of one of the original isleños (islanders) families, hidalgos brought from the Canary Islands to first settle San Antonio in 1731.  This family spoke French at home and Spanish & English in public even up to recent days. I've been helping her with her genealogy research - we've been delving into all kinds of early Texas history. My mother is an isleños descendent as well, of the Menorcans of northeast Florida.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Shelley Duvall was class of 1967.  Here is an article from today about a recent interview with her. https://www.theleadernews.com/the_arts/duvall-reflects-on-movie-career-upbringing-in-area/article_e40a6b2c-3ce0-11ec-9b48-ef2e317bf742.html

Senior photo in 1967:

Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrVoJgQ7u8w

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Stephen, 1967 was my brother's class and he dated Shelley once in a while .  My brother is now deceased

and I know not from how.  Thanks for the information.  Joanna Garrett

Jeanne Spencer (Adams)

Dear Friends, 

We lost a very dear friend on December 10.  Sue Aiken St. John passed away.  The following statement is posted on her Facebook page:

Sue’s memorial service will be on Saturday, Dec 18 at 3:30pm at First Presbyterian Church Dallas. ALL are welcome, MASKS are required. Please come either before or after the service to share your memories.

Tomorrow we will post a link to livestream the service for those unable to attend.

Janice Sue Aiken St. John was born February 4, 1947 in Ft. Worth TX and passed away December 10, 2021. As a preacher's daughter, she called many places home. From Ft. Worth to Denton for grade school, to Farmington, NM for middle school, a brief stint in New Orleans before high school in Houston. The most consistent place for her was the Aiken family cabin in Taos, New Mexico. The cabin is a summer “home” she would later share with others in her life. It was 1967 at Texas Tech where she met the love of her life, Edward St. John, with whom she shared real homes in Ft. Worth and Dallas, for the next 46 years. She worked in the non-profit industry until she moved to her real passion of English education in the community college district. Her love was to help students prepare for more advanced collegiate ambitions. As a couple, she and Edward spent many years volunteering with NDSM, MS Society, The Bridge and The Stewpot. In the global community, she volunteered as a Be the Match courrier and on mission trips to Guatemala. Grounded in deep faith, she spent her extra time in service to her church, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, as a Sunday School leader, an elder, and the president of Presbyterian Women. She was known as the Soup Angel for feeding friends, neighbors and pastors. Her soup was famous for its taste but even more for the love that came with it. She is survived by daughters Jennifer, husband Oscar Saenz, and Beth, husband Nick Daines, mother-in-law Lillian St. John, sister Kay Reeve, brother-in-law Dan Page and many nieces and nephews. She was (and will always be) beloved Mimi to Connor, Ethan and Emma Saenz, Luke, Matthew and Lillian Daines. And, of course, her beloved dogs Winston and Sasha. Her memorial service will be on Saturday, Dec 18 at 3:30pm at FPC Dallas. ALL are welcome, MASKS are required. Preferred flowers are poinsettias for the Advent season. Donations can be made to The Stewpot, Friends of Fort Liberté Haiti, and VCFS Texas.

 

 

 

Stephen Ray Puckett

May your Christmas season be wonderful!

Stephen Ray Puckett

Wishing you 12 months of success, 52 weeks of laughter, 365 days of fun, 8,760 hours of joy, 525,600 minutes of good luck, and 31,536,000 seconds of happiness.

Here’s to a bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old; here’s to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold.

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” -Benjamin Franklin

We had our first coronavirus scare last week when we were exposed by neighbors who themselves had been exposed at a family Christmas gathering.  We had no known symptoms but I decided to cancel preaching at 2 churches, to be safe. We got out of quarantine after 10 days, not too onerous since we're old hands at hunkerin down by now. .  By the symptoms of the neighbors & their family, it was the fast-spreading Omicron version.  Be safe out there this year!

Austin Duane Zent

A number of years ago, I read a poem written is sandscript a thousand years or so ago. The poem was called "Salutation to the Dawn" and basiclly said the most important time of our lives is always this moment and it we appreciate and takecare of the moment our future will be full of hope and our passed memoreys will be blessed and the biggest gift you can give others is your time. I hope all will have a woderful 2022 and appreciate each and ever moment. 

Stephen Ray Puckett

Now much too new out our way.  Our son just left after a week's visit - Lil cried when he arrived and cried when he left. The little green leaves are coming out in all the plants and the early flowers have been blooming for the last few weeks.  Yay, Spring!   We are not yet comfortable enough to do much travelling but hope to do so soon.

Happy Spring, everyone!

Linda Marmion (Linder)

Many of our members were friends with Peggy Schroeder, who was in the WHS Class of '66. Sadly Peggy passed away on April 12 after a long illness. Peggy was happily married to Steve Nelson for 50 years. They had a wonderful marriage and lived in numerous cities across the US due to Steve's job. They retired to Brenham where they made many wonderful friends. 

Talley Hudson

Joyce Barta (Bayersdorfer)

So saddened to learn of Peggy Schroleder's (Nelson) death.  She was a lovely, sweet person.

Thomas William Wade

Roger Felton's wife has notified me that Roger passed away this wednesday 4/27/22 in the hospital. He had been suffering for some years prior and worsened after a heart attack late last year. He became acute last Friday and was transported to the facility , into ICU ,and placed on a ventilator. He didn't improve by Wednesday and the decision was made to remove the ventilator. I have not been informed of any arrangements or services. Please keep his wife Beverly in your prayers, she is quite distraught.

William Jewel Howard, Jr.

Hello y'all. I have a question. Now that COVID is mostly over, when are we going to resume our live Oak Forest get togethers?

Dorothy Fowler (Montgomery)

Roger death saddens me. I will always remember his wit and humor. The last time we talked, he told me he was sick with an incurable lung condition. He knew his time was short. He was in good humor with acceptance. Prayers for his wife and family.

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

I am so sadden by our loss of Roger Felton.  He was a wonderful person, loved to make people laugh and seemed to love everyone.  I thank Linda in keeping us updated on arrangements.

Sandy Spears (Koslosky-Siddall)

Tommy, thank you for posting about Roger. His family lived just a few houses from us and I remember fun times with Roger and his family. 

Stephen Ray Puckett

RIP Roger.  I will miss his wit & wisdom.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/victoria-tx/roger-felton-10729378

Roger Allen Felton

March 26, 1947 – April 27, 2022

Stephen Ray Puckett

  RIP Joe Eddy    Sad

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/joe-forrester-obituary?id=34170455

FORRESTER--Joe Edward, passed away on March 31, 2022, in Burlington, VT. He was born in Houston, TX on May 2, 1947. After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School, he had a long career as an attorney and investment banker in New York City. He is survived by his wife, Susan Forrester, his children Thomas Forrester and Carolyn Forrester Moore, son-in-law Thomas Moore and grandchildren Mabel, Ellis and Odette Moore.