John Leediker

Stephen,

I sadly watched the videos of the Macy's (Foley's) building online...the pictures you posted earlier this year now have special meaning since that building is now gone forever.....but there are a lot of memories that surface when I look at the pictures you posted.....thanks for doing that.

-John

Kay Watters (Greene)

hey Robby...congrats on your retirement...I am, too. busy getting my house in order..  It is a whole new life to look forward to  what lies ahead .   I savor the memories of Foleys as well.  I loved the hosiery counters and the cosmetics counters. The smells, the busyness of the first floors.  Sue and I had our moms credit card and used it accordingly.  Of course, time has gone by on that one. But a good life...we had to ride the bus to get there, no suburban malls yet.   Sue worked at Foleys shoe dept, in the basement and I worked at Sakowitz in the employment dept. But our love of shopping was our dear Foleys  And Christmas was always special.

Robert (Robby) Wallis

Hey Kay...thanks, just about four months since I stopped going to the office...can't say that I'm completely "retired"....old clients have my number and continue to call re their international trips...I remember Foley's ...going there at Christmastime..very festive.....and late in the summer to buy school clothes during the elementary school days...I also remember riding the bus downtown on occasion to spend a day at my dad's office ....he was the building manager at Bank of the Southwest...the building is still there. I think it's now JPMChase...the bus number  was something like "Heights 4400" and you changed to it in front of Sears on N Shepherd???.....BTW, I sometimes go to the Sears on South Main, take the escalator down to the basement, tools and appliances....it's like traveling back in time .....so comfortable and different compared to how things are today, you almost don't want to leave...

Kay Watters (Greene)

I must plan a trip to Sears at Shepherd.  I think I had been there, probably 10 yrs ago to relive and speculate, but need a trip there now that I've retired.  Just back from Hill country, Bandera and Fredericksburg.  Listen folks, prices there are 3 x what you normally pay.  I refuse to pay these prices to furnish some greedy people who make it their 2nd career to rip people off that take the time and expense to visit their towns.  I will buy my great grandchildren something useful now that I'm back.  I did, however, get a lot of good walking time in on the sidewalks and the Octoberfestival music was wonderful, as well as the Wisconsin cheese "fried" veggies.  Vistas so magnificent.

Kay Watters (Greene)

Enjoyed the Madisonville Mushroom festival one more time yesterday, also with Sue, twin,  It was humid and hot throughout the day though....it was moved up 2 wk earlier.  Thinking of going to other places this next year.  October has many, many different things to attend and do. 

Stephen Ray Puckett

Good morning, everbody!   Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had a big family dinner with Wifey's sister in central Mass., 2 hours to the east of here (we're in Albany NY).  The weather was cold but clear.

Growing up, we would have family dinners and would watch the Foley's parade.  I miss those.  As a Boy Scout, I helped move floats in a few parades.

1951 - the 1st Foley's parade

1952

More old parade photos at http://www.chron.com/entertainment/gallery/Houston-s-past-Thanksgiving-parades-17330/photo-1233420.php

After Thanksgiving (never before, as I recall), decorations would start going up for the Christmas season. That is not like today when that happens before Halloween!

Downtown:

Main and Prairie, 1960:

Foley's window:

Stephen Ray Puckett

Robbie -  It took me a few days to be able to post a reply to you.  My wife Lil was born in Ware MA (Where? Ware. Where?  Ware) and lived in West Brookfield MA until she was 11, then they moved to Southern California. Yes, she has good memories of their Massachusetts farm, her horse, etc., but is essentially a California girl, having lived there 33 years until she moved to Oregon to marry me.  W Brookfield is about 30 miles or so west of Shrewsbury. I've been there once and Worcester 6 or so times. As I recall it is a mix of the unlovely and the nice (of course, one can say that about many part of Houston!)  Shrewbury is about 2.5 hours east of us, a quick pretty drive on I-90 over the Berkshires, etc.

We won't be going thataway anytime soon 'cause we are up to our ears in house selling and moving. The buyer's loan appraisal came in yesterday: Favorable.  Yay!  Now we have to have the closing which is estimated to be in mid-January.  We have a zillion pieces of Stuff to clean out, pack up, etc., for the move - most of that will be done by a moving company 'cause I am tired of moving everything myself with some friends.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac  Tomorrow we sign the lease agreement on the 2-bedroom apartment.  It is in the apartment complex where we lived 1999-2001 before we bought our house. http://www.albanymanagement.com/tours/Dutch_Village/index.html  has a virtual tour. We expect to stay a year while Lil finishes up her last year of full-time work.  After that, we are not sure - probably the Blue Ridge Mountains in SW Virginia near my Puckett relatives. Pat Bissonnet is not too far away in Asheville NC.  Dunno who else may be in the area - I'll have to look.

Robert (Robby) Wallis

Stephen 

How's the packing/move going?  

robby

Stephen Ray Puckett

We *were* going to have the movers move us last Friday but they were forecasting -10 F and 12+ inches of snow. The movers told us that they would still do the best they could but we had it moved to Sunday - it was 11 F and sunny!  We are now living in the apartment but it seems so small (c. 700sqft) compared to the house (c. 2800sqft). We still have Stuff to clear out but have little room left in the apt., the rest will be stored in our storage units (U-Haul), given away, thrown away, etc. We just have to find time to do it because we both have been spending a lot of time with our jobs.  My work lessens up next week and will enable me to take some time off.  Same for Wifey.  The other good news is the the estimated closing date has been moved off to 1/24, giving us an extra week.

Stephen Ray Puckett

House update:  Yes, we got'er done, even with some last-minute panicking.  All moved out,  Stuff thrown away or stored away, and some Stuff moved to our apartment. We still have more Stuff to sort out but that is safely out of the way in a storage unit. Note to self: Begin way beforehand to downsize Stuff!   Closing went fine on 1/24.  My poor back lasted until 1/25 then gave way so I have been taking it very easy this week: resting, pain pills, not sitting too long, etc. Thankfully the work folks have been understanding through this.  Whew!

Charles Habelow

Wishing the best to Sharon Reynolds.She is married to Rodger Reynolds class of 64 Waltrip. having surgery on both eyes tomorrow. Praying for them both. They are a great couple married 45 years. Rodger helped me with marksmanship USMC boot camp 1966. Time she is a flyin!!!

Stephen Ray Puckett

Wishful thinking from 'one of those other schools'.

Stephen Ray Puckett

It's bluebonnet season!  Rejoice!

Stephen Ray Puckett

Mary Lois Barden, RIP   You were a great English teacher and sunday school teacher.  http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=170607328

Mary Lois Barnes Barden was born in Hondo Texas on January 31, 1915 and in her 100th year began her heavenly eternal life on April 9, 2014. She is predeceased by her husband, John Earle Barden, her parents Theodore and Anna Pluck Barnes, and her granddaughter, Brenda Carol Scruggs.
A beautiful and scholarly young woman, graduating as valedictorian from Hondo High School, she attended the University of Texas where she was a Bluebonnet Belle, and met John Earle. They were married on May 11, 1935 and began their 51 years together in the Aldine community, later moving into Garden Oaks in Houston. Returning to school, she earned both a B.S. and M.A. from the University of Houston.
Mary Lois' passion for teaching and devotion to her students was evident during her twenty plus years of teaching English in Houston at Reagan High School, moving to Waltrip High School when it opened and where she remained the rest of her career. A voracious reader, she was a student of literature and writer of poetry well into her nineties.
Her retirement years were filled with travel throughout the U.S. and the world, first with John Earle and after his death with her sister and friends. She was also an avid Elderhosteler. The scrapbooks of her travels are legendary within the family.
Mary Lois and her family were faithful and active members of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church from its founding years. Always the teacher, she taught the Older Youth Sunday School Class and MYF group for over three decades. And with her lovely alto voice she sang in the church choir. She loved her church family and most of her closest friends came from that fellowship.
Above all, Mary Lois loved her family. At family gatherings, her happiest moments were being surrounded by her "descendants"-children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She thrived on hearing about each and every one and was proud of their lives and the paths they had taken.
Mary Lois is survived by her sister, Evelyn Howard of Ft. Worth Texas; her son Jim and wife Bebe Barden of Hondo Texas; her daughters Sue, and husband Joe Dean Phipps of Houston; and Marianne and husband Ed Scruggs of Utopia Texas. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Gentry, Jack, Lee and Lisa Barden; Joel and Maryanna Phipps and Emily Phipps Harwell; and Edward and Richard Scruggs. She also leaves thirteen great-grandchildren (with a fourteenth expected in May) and a first great-great-grandchild (due to arrive in July).
Mary Lois lived a full and rich life with no expressed regrets. She will be missed.
A private family burial service will occur at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband. A Memorial Service is planned for May 10 at 2:00 PM at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 4300 N. Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77018. Memorials may be sent to the Barden Scholarship Fund c/o St. Matthew's United Methodist Church. Visit www.DettlingFuneral.com to leave online tributes.

John Leediker

I remember Mrs. Barden as one of my favorite teachers at Waltrip. May she rest in peace and be rewarded in heaven for all the wonderful things she did for others throughout her long life.

-John

Stephen Ray Puckett

Mary Lois Barnes at UT-Austin in 1933 & 1934.  Pretty lady.

Freshman

Sophomore

I didn't find her in the 1935 yearbook. I guess she had left to be married as Mrs. Barden

Sherra Jennings (Kahanek)

Mrs. Barden's maiden name was Barnes.  Perhaps you can find it under that name.
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Stephen Ray Puckett

Thanks for the suggestion.  I did look under both Barnes and Barden. I also checked 1936 but nothing there either.

Donald Hampton-Jones

Mrs. Barden was the best...the years I taught, I always thought of her when the kids were giving me a hard time and the memory her smile always made it easier.  He patience and dedication to teaching every student in her classes was nothing short of miraculous.  I think of her often.  And this before I learned she was a UT grad.  Hookem Ms. B, and thanks for the photos Stephen.

James King

Anyone remember when Mrs. Barden and Miss Lee used Brother Dave Gardner's Parody of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar as a teaching aid?

Jackie Crowe '64 (Finch)

May 24, 2014 - Class of '64

It brings me great sadness to tell you our dear classmate and loving friend, Charles Brawner, passed away this morning.  Please keep Jimmie Lee and family in your prayers.

Our Lord took Charles to be with Him @ 7am this morning.  He came home on hospice @ 4pm Wednesday evening and was never in any pain.  Our family feels blessed that Charles was able to be in his earthly home for those few days without suffering before leaving for his Heavenly Home.  We thank each of you for your prayers for all of us the past year and half.  You all made our journey much easier to travel.  Services will most likely be next Wednesday because of this holiday weekend.  I ask for your prayers for me, my children, grandchildren and Charles' immediate family as we start our days without PopC's beautiful smile.

Deborah Hunt (Moore)

I am so sorry for your loss.

May God stay near and hold your hand as each day comes. 

Sincerely

Debbie Hunt Moore

Janelle Marshall (Walter)

For someone lousy at writing Mrs Barden was just the right kind of English teacher. I felt very honored when the Barden's built their home right down the street from the new home my parents built in 1967. WE were neighbors with Mrs Barden. Could life get any better""

Tom Britton

Jimmie Lee....so very sad to hear of Charle's passing. But wonderful to know that he had time to say goodbye and that because he knows Christ as his savior we'll see him again and get to spend eternity. My prayers go out to you and your family during ths time of tremendous adjustment to life without our beloved Charles.

Tom Britton

Mrs. Barden's memorial service was wonderful. A true celebration of her life...and all of the lives that she touched. Linda Marmion and Suzie May were also there. Was honored to have been able to pick her up and take her to our 45th reunion. Our 50th won't be the same without her there. I do believe that she attended ALL of our reunions.