2021.04.08 THROW BACK THURSDAY - CEO DINNER

Since we've all had our shots and things are loosening up around COVID, a bunch of us got together at the Olive Garden Monday night. Many of us hadn't seen each other for a year. The main reason for this occasion was that Joe and Ginnie Crow were back in Little Rock for a couple of weeks. They've been staying at their home in Massachusetts all year feeling safer from the virus. Anyway, it was fun and hopefully we can all do it again soon. Here's our CEO's (Classmates Eat Out - clever huh?? GROAN!).

Left to Right:

Sherlyn and Charlie Cale (they drove down from Fayetteville!)

ML

Joe Crow

Judy Callaway

Ginnie Crow

Barbara Edwards

Left to Right:

Ray and Charlotte Alexander

Mary Lou Hosack

Gwen Shepherd

Ben McMinn

Kenda Treadway (Carolyn Harris for you West Siders)

Linda and Syd Orton

Calvin Hanson

CLASS NEWS

Our sympathy to the family of Classmate Joyce Cullins Sullins. We lost Joyce April 2. She

wrote her own obituary. After all, she was an author. After she moved to Newport, she would see

Frank Plegge from time to time. Joyce was one of the sweetest, bravest, "never give up" people

I've ever known.

On this day Friday, April 2, 2021, God called me home. Do not be sad for I am in a better place; I go to be with Jesus and Sandra;

born March 10, 1938, in Blevins, Hempstead, County, Arkansas, the daughter of Freddie James Cullins and Minnie Caroline Ashworth.

In addition to my daughter, Sandra Sullins; and my parents, I am preceded in death by my husbands, Fred Sullins (Juneway) and Joe

Price; brothers, Howard, William (Billy), and Albert; one sister Ruthel; and a sister-in-law, Willie Cullins.

Those I am leaving behind to cherish my memory are my children, Donna Weatherman and husband Dale of Cabot, Janis Hopkins

White and husband Larry of Flordia, Tasha Brisby of North Little Rock, Steve Sullins of Newport, David Sullins and wife Em of Texas,

and Tyson Sullins and wife Lillie of Arizona; brothers, John Cullins of Little Rock, Thomas (Tom) of Florida; sisters, Marilyn Sue Walls

and husband Buddy of Holly Grove, Martha Cullins of North Little Rock; sister-in-law, Kathy Gammill of McRay; seven grandchildren

and six great grandchildren.

I was a member of Holden Avenue Church of Christ in Newport, Arkansas. When I was about forty years old I became an author. I always

loved to write, in total I wrote 8 books, three children, four Christian, and one Mystery.

When I was a little over 2 years old I came down with Polio, but it never stopped me from living a full life. I married two times, Fred Sullins

and Joseph Price.

If I could have changed anything in my life it would have been being a better Christian.

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Our sympathy also to the family of Iris McElroy McPherson who passed away April 4, Catsy

Collard is going to send the obituary so I will publish it hopefully next week. Iris and her husband,

Dr.Jim McPherson, lived in Stillwater, OK. He was a Professor Emeritus of Botony. A 180-acre

botanical reserve is named the McPherson Preserve.

Iris' obituary was minimal. However, I think this remembrance one of her friend's

wrote tell us a lot about her life:

My name is Mary Dillingham. My husband Joe and I moved to Stillwater as newlyweds 51 years ago so that he could go

back to school for a second degree from OSU. I started working at the Computer Center at OSU, and Iris was one of the

first people I met. She was a friend and mentor to me during our time in Stillwater while Joe was working on his degree.

When he went back in the Navy, we continued to exchange Christmas cards and keep up with each other's family doings.

When we came back to Stillwater permanently in 1990, we continued to stay in touch--occasionally meeting for lunch and

at church. I always enjoyed hearing about Iris's adventures--walking across Great Britain, going down the Amazon--wishing

I were as adventurous as she. We'd talk about our children and grandchildren, our hopes and concern for them and pride in

their accomplishments. It was a comfort to me having her at the church when our son died. Now for my favorite Iris story--

it's short, but kind of sweet:

When we worked together at the Computer Center in the early 1970's, one day she came into my office with a grin on her face.

"I just went in to see Dr. Gumm" she said. "I told him, 'I'm having a baby!'"

Apparently, he then said (I'm sure while looking at his petite, thin as a rail, employee) "That's great!! When?"

To which, she replied "TOMORROW!!!"

And she and Jim went to Oklahoma City the next day and picked up their first son at the adoption agency. She was SO happy.

Iris was kind, compassionate, level-headed, adventurous, and a pleasure to know. She deserves the best. May she rest in peace.

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And this week is kind of a shocker to me. We lost Bobby Chandler 9 years ago! April 6, 2012.

Where does the time go??? In fact, we've now lost ALL of the Stardusters. Billy Glasscock died

10 years ago on october 3, 2011; Bobby Blount on June 13, 2020, and Bill Sharp this past September

8, 2020. We were so lucky to have these talented guys in our Class and as friends!

ML