2023.06.08 THROW BACK THURSDAY - MORE CLASS NEWS
THROW BACK THURSDAY - MORE CLASS NEWS
Again this week I am barely able to type so there will just be Class news. I have a bone spur in my neck that is pushing
on a nerve that makes my right side feel like it is asleep. Doctors say all can be restored with PT which I have already started.
There are two words I have noticed are used when it comes to health issues these days -- "age related". Have you heard that?
1956 CLASS NEWS
ML, Hope you feel better. I haven't kept in touch, but if you want, feel free to put this in the Class Notes.
Bruce and Harriet Anderson have moved from California to CC Young Senior Living in Dallas, Texas, where a daughter and two granddaughters make their home.
Best regards,
Bruce Anderson
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Mary Lou, thank you for keeping us up to date even when you are having a painful hand. Corporal tunnel?? I hope by the time you receive this you
are doing much better. So sorry to hear the sad news about Bill and Walt. I think of my classmates as being the young and vibrant young people that
I knew back in the 50’s, and it’s hard to realize that we all are as old as we are, having health problems and calendars full of doctor appointments.
On that subject Bill and I have decided – with much encouragement from our family – to move out of our 3 story house that has been our home for
47 years and move to the Dallas area of Texas. We have 22 immediate family members in that area, and 3 more great-grandchildren due at the end
of the summer. We’re looking forward to good family times, but it’s very hard to leave our home, good friends and the doctors we know well and
completely trust. I’m sure many of my classmates have been through this same difficult decision, which leads to a LOT of hard work. Our children
have been wonderful about helping with the physical work, but paring down from 11 rooms to 4 has been a day after day experience of decision-
making. Bill thinks we should give it all away and start all over. A great idea, but not too practical!
I’m sending you our new address, which is where we will be living , beginning June 12th. We will not have a land line, but I’m sending you our cell
phone numbers. Our email addresses stay the same
Jane Johnston Smith (Bill)
7450 Stonebrook Parkway
Apt. 4214
Frisco, Texas 75034
Bill’s cell – 314-941-2804
Jane’s cell -314 – 913-4223
I would love to hear from any of my classmates who live in the area. Also. In my giant effort to go through everything we own, I came across a
1954 Pix that I didn’t know I had. However, a grandchild must have discovered it many years ago because there are a few childish pictures
drawn on a couple of pages. Those grandchildren are now in their 30’s and one of them sells her artwork to Hobby Lobby and a few other
stores. It gives me great pride to know that the Pix was a platform for her future career!! Other than the pictures, the Pix is in good shape,
and if anyone has been yearning for ’54 yearbook, I would be happy to send it to them.
Take good care of yourself, Marylou, and again – so many thanks for being so faithful in keeping our class connected.
Jane (Johnston)
John Leonard Burnett Obituary
John Leonard (Johnny) Burnett entered Chapter Eternal on June 2, 2023. Born October 8, 1938
in Memphis, he spent his early childhood in Joiner, Arkansas. The family moved to the Heights
neighborhood of Little Rock in 1946. Johnny graduated Little Rock Central High School in 1956
and attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he graduated in 1960 with a BS in
Business Administration. He is a lifetime member of the Sigma Chi fraternity (Omega Omega
chapter) and is a Life Loyal Sig and recipient of the Grand Consul Citation for chairing the house
committee to build the current Omega Omega house at the University of Arkansas. He spent a
career in commercial real estate with Rector Phillips Morse starting in 1972 until his retirement
in 2018. He served at Sr. Vice President, President, and sat on the RPM Board of Directors for
over 25 years. He was a Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club-Life Member and qualified every
year since the Club’s inception in 1975. He was a member of the Society of Office and Industrial
Realtors (SIOR) and served both on the organization’s international board of directors as well
president of the Arkansas Chapter. Johnny had a longtime love of service to his community and
nowhere was it more evident than in his role with Easter Seals of Arkansas. At the time of his
retirement Johnny was the longest serving member of Easter Seals of Arkansas’ board of
directors and was instrumental as Chairman of the Building Committee for the development of
Easter Seals’ 80,000 square foot campus.
Johnny was an avid outdoorsman. From golf to snow skiing, camping and fishing, or his true
passion…hunting. He was a member of Jackson Point Hunting Club and an Arkansas Big Buck
Classic winner. He was well known for his passion and advocacy for the Bayou Meto Wildlife
Management Area and its flooded green timber duck hunting having owned and operated the
infamous “Pintail Hunting Club” since purchasing it from his father in 1970. He was still an
active member of Chenal Country Club and could be found playing golf with any number of
friends.
Johnny is preceded in death by his parents, John M. Burnett and Mary Leonard Burnett, younger
sister Mary Kay East, and niece Kimberly Smith. He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years,
Marianne A. Burnett, only child John Evin (Jeb) Burnett, daughter in law Kristi L. Burnett, and
two grandsons, John Shelby (JB) Burnett and Robert Kristopher (Bobby) Burnett and older sister
Suzanne Burnett McGee.
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Smith Little Rock
Funeral Home (8801 Knoedl Court). Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, June 8, 2023
at Pulaski Heights Methodist Church with burial following at Forest Hills Memorial Park at 1:00
PM. Please visit www.smithfamilycares.com for the online guestbook.
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Walter B. Winters
Laguna Beach, CA, 1938 - 2023
Walter B. Winters passed away on May 22. 2023, in Laguna Beach, Calif. He was born in Topeka, Kan. on February 4, 1938. He was preceded in death by his parents, George E. Winters, Jr. and Lillian Ward Winters, his daughter, Kelli Doyle, and grandson Robbie Doyle. Walt is survived by his son, Jason (Sara) and daughter, Julie Davis (Reuben) grandchildren Will Doyle, Olivia Winters, Holden Winters, Jack Davis, and Dylan Davis, and sister Georgia W. Hickingbotham (Frank).
Walt moved to Little Rock when he was in the 2nd grade and attended Pulaski Junior High, Little Rock Central, and UALR. He loved all sports but especially loved playing American Legion Baseball. Lamar Porter Field was his second home, and he continued his interest and financial support for Lamar Porter Field throughout his life. One of his cherished baseball memories was playing on the team with his friend and Hall of Fame player, Brooks Robinson.
After college, he joined the U. S. Navy and served on the U. S Bigelow. He was an aide to the Admiral and made ports of goodwill visits around the world. A few years after his discharge from the Navy, he served his country again by enlisting in the Army. He was an officer in the medical Corp stationed primarily in Germany.
For many years, he worked as manager with his father, of the food and beverage services at Travelers Field and War Memorial Stadium. In 1981, as a member of the founding family of TCBY, he opened in North Little Rock the 2nd store. He served as a Store Manager, Director of Training, Franchise Operations Manager, Sr. Vice President of Retail Product Manager, and Assistant to the Chairman. Walt loved people and never met a stranger. In all the years he worked at TCBY, there was never one complaint or unkind word said about him.
He spent the last several years living in Laguna Beach, Calif. He loved spending time with his family, friends from The Susie Q, and sitting behind home plate watching the Los Angeles Angels play baseball.
Walt will be remembered as a great father and a kind, generous, loving man who always had a smile or happy story to share.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, June 2, 2023 at Mt. Holly Cemetery, 1200 Broadway Street, Little Rock, Ark.
To share memories of Walt visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal
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“May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”
Bill Hedges
September 19, 1938 - June 1, 2023
Judy Callaway and Bill on one of their favorite trips
Obit has not been published yet. The funeral will be in LR Father's Day, St. Margaret's on Cantrell
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Dear Mary Lou, now it’s my turn to grieve the most enduring relationship of my life. Thank you for using whatever part of this you would like to. Jim loved coming to our reunions in earlier days! Great memories for me. Love, Delrena
From Our Sides….
Dear All,
This is the most difficult note of my life.
I have sad news…..my Jim has died. On May 27th.
He had a massive stroke on May 19th. The doctors said that he would not be a candidate for surgery; instead, he would be on life support.
Jim lived for nine days at home. He was on hospice care, Sides’ care and in God’s generous Grace allowing for the most sacred time for us to say good bye, to sing and dance country songs with him, to weep and wail and laugh and touch and pray and rest next to him. Those precious days unfolded with sadness, acceptance and comfort with all of us together.
Jim’s Memorial Service will be on Friday, June 30th at Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home. 1734 W. Alabama, Houston, 77098. 713-521-0066.
Please join us for a visit at 4:00, before the service begins at 5:00. A light buffet will be served. This will be our 61st Wedding Anniversary!
We have moved to:
The Tradition at Buffalo Speedway
9339 Buffalo Speedway Apt 1563
Houston, TX 77025.
My cell is: 713-775-7440. Landline is: 713-666-0522.
Delrena, and our children
Jim, Barrett, Delrena and Edward
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1957 CLASS NEWS
While hunting for Walt's obit, I noticed an obit for Charles Patrick McKelvey.
ML