2022.12.01 CHRISTMAS PARTIES plus CLASS NEWS
THROW BACK THURSDAY - CHRISTMAS PARTIES plus CLASS NEWS
'56 GIRLS CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON will be held this year in the new hour of Mary Lou Hosack Billingsley.
Monday, December 5, 11:30am. Mary Lou is graciously having our luncheon catered. We've heard from
several of you, but need to hear from the others. If you're anywhere near Little Rock, please come. As she always does,
Kay Kerby's daughter, Pam, will come to take pictures. We'd like to see your face in those pictures this year. Please
respond to Mary Lou at (501) 539-2552 if you can make it. We'd really like to have a head count.
East Side Annual Reunion Christmas Party - Thursday, December 8, 11:00a - 2:00p
to be held at Whole Hog on Cantrell. Several of our Classmates usually attend. If you attended East Side,
try to stop by this year. This also includes Kramer, Parham, Centennial and Rightsell Elementaries!
1956 CLASS NEWS
We have recently learned of the death of Eleanor CARLENE BOYD Carruth in Longview, TX on March 11, 2019.
Carlene and Carolyn Boshears were cousins who stayed in touch throughout Carlene's lifetime. Carlene was a
victim of Alzheimer's.
Eleanor Carlene Carruth 10/4/1938 - 3/11/2019
Carlene was born 10/4/38 in Little Rock, AR the first child of Pete and Kathrine Boyd.
She graduated from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas and later attended the University of Arkansas.
At the university she met the love of her life, Hugh Carruth. They married while still students and remained married
for 62 years until her death. They lived in New Orleans, Houston, Luling, and Tulsa, but ultimately decided to put
down roots in Longview in 1962. Carlene was the consummate homemaker who loved cooking, sewing and interior
decorating. Later, she incorporated her interests while working at Bealls as a store manager and Haverty’s perusing
her interior design interests. She is survived by her husband, Hugh, her sister, Penny, her two brothers, Pat and Mike,
her two children, Matt (Beth) and Alyson (Michael) her six grandchildren: Alex, Tamara, Tiffany, John Michael, Olivia,
Kayleigh, Kelsey, and Kelley as well as ten great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her
son, Paige Dodson Carruth.
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I really enjoyed the piece about Richie Allen. When Bob and I had the association management company, the Arkansas
Veterinary Medical Association was one of our clients and Richie was one of our favorite vets. We also enjoyed seeing him
when we got to attend a Swing Band performance. Good to know he and Doretta are doing well and hope they enjoy retire-
ment to the fullest.
Warm wishes to you and Happy Thanksgiving.
Claudine Blount (widow of Bobby Blount)
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I think every guy in LR had a crush on Tharon Criegler. In my case she was way out of my class, as well as all other girls in JH,HS and college to be honest, and besides she was Buddy Milligan’s girl friend when we were in West Side.
The location of the McCain mall was a farm in 1947 when we moved to LR. My Dad considered buying that farm but he worked on the Rock Island Railroad, the yards of which were out near the Clinton Airport, and it was just too far out of town. We first lived in a rent house where the abandon Veteran’s Hospital is located (353 Roosevelt Road) and later moved to 3011 Wolfe Street.
A bunch of us (my brother, Mooser, me) would spend our money on candy and walk home from the Boys Club on Scott Street down West 9th Street in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s where all those night clubs were going strong, and we were NEVER bother by anyone walking all the way to High Street (MLK Blvd) at night and then to 31st for me and 34th for Mooser.
When Mooser and I worked on the Pulaski County Highway Department in HS we paved Hayes Street which is now University and runs in front of McCain Mall. We also paved Rodney Parham since Rodney Parham and Hayes were County roads when we were in HS.
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving, Bill Harmon
1955 CLASS NEWS
Diana Loy was in town from Florida last week visiting with family. We were able
to snag her for a lunch. Diana is Diana, wonderfully always the same. She is still teaching voice and acting
and is still involved with Toastmasters. We loved meeting her sister, Kay, who has attended some of the '55 Reunions
with Diana. We were close to having to pay rent if we stayed in the Olive Garden any longer! We did take a picture, but
to save me I can't seem to get it copied. I'll have it figured out by next week and get it in here.
Thanks to Betty Weiss Stokes, her lifelong friend, we can pass along the sad news that Ann Mack has passed
away. Here is her obit:
Love your class stories ! Thanks for keeping all of us thinking about our special friends!
Lana Douthit Bethune
ML