| Cherry's Page |
| Cherry is an honorary member of the BHS Class of '60. She attended Belton Junior High from 7th through 9th grades, when her family moved to Killeen. Through the wonder of the Internet, Janean found her---in Conway, Arkansas! They talked and Cherry wrote Janean this beautiful, long letter. Cherry agreed to share it with all of us. |
July 10, 2007, Cherry writes:
I will begin my history since 1960 with the present.
Jerry and I retired in 2002. He was a head
football/track coach/athletic director for 25
years...then a high school/junior high principal and
elementary dean of students for the rest of his 40
years.
In 1967 I began working as a high school secretary
and continued for 35 years. Never in my life did I think
I would ever be a secretary! I hated typing, etc.
I will begin my history since 1960 with the present.
Jerry and I retired in 2002. He was a head
football/track coach/athletic director for 25
years...then a high school/junior high principal and
elementary dean of students for the rest of his 40
years.
In 1967 I began working as a high school secretary
and continued for 35 years. Never in my life did I think
I would ever be a secretary! I hated typing, etc.
In 2004 we moved from Dumas, Arkansas, where we
had been for 23 years, to Conway, AR. My parents and
my daughter also live here. My parents have lived in
Conway since our kids were in college in the 80s. We
are really enjoying it here---it is not too small or too
big---has mostly everything you would need.
Mother and Daddy are still doing great---even still
driving 2 hours to Hot Springs every week or so to
the horse races. They are 85 and 86.
My brother, Rick, lives in Tennessee and is supposed
to be retiring at the end of this year. They do not
have any children. Both of them are chemical
engineers and have done quite well. They are
planning to retire to North Carolina.
My daughter, Missy, is an RN---oncology is her
special field. Missy has three kids---Ryan, 16; Rusty,
14; and KP (Kathryn Paige or "Sis"), 10; and lives
here in Conway.
My son, Jay, is an MRI trainer for Siemens Medical.
He travels everywhere to hospitals to train their staff
on the new MRI machines. He lives in Mountain
Home, AR---about 3 hours away. He has two
sons---Bryan, 17, and Tyler, 15. I have to brag on
Bryan. He made 33 on his ACT and has been here in
Conway this summer attending Boys State and
Governor's School.
We have a camping trailer and spend lots of time in
the spring and summer camping with the grandkids.
We actually started camping when our kids were 4
and 5 years old---in a tent---which I hated. Several
years ago I got a SeaDoo---that really has added to
the fun at the lake. The kids prefer "MeMaw" to ride
them because she goes fast! Ha! Ha! Several of them
are now getting old enough to drive for themselves.
I still love my music---mostly Rock & Roll. In the last
few years we've been to see the Rolling Stones,
ArrowSmith, and last month, Rod Stewart. We go to
Branson, Missouri, quite often and saw the Platters
while there one time.
I don't watch a lot of TV, but I'm a big "CSI" fan. Years
back I also loved "China Beach."
Our time now is mostly spent in church activities and
helping with the kids, and I volunteer at our church
one afternoon per week to answer the phone. We
attend the First United Methodist Church. All of
Jerry's family---two brothers and a sister---still live in
Star City. His mother died on November 28th and his
dad died December 11th of this past year. It was a
shock to lose them 14 days apart, but they were both
in very bad health.
Now to the past:
Shortly after graduation Daddy retired and we moved
back to Star City, AR. I already had quite a few friends
there since I had lived there off and on when Daddy
was overseas. On July 4, 1960, a group of us had a
big picnic on the river---a boy I "kinda" knew asked
me to go. He had lived right down from my
grandparents all the time I was growing up. He was to
begin his junior year at the University of Arkansas on
a football scholarship. I did not know it at the time,
but I was to find out later that he was the local
"football hero." In college, however, he never got to
play much. To me he looked like a giant---6'4", 195
pounds. That's not really big by today's standards.
That was Jerry! After our first date, we never dated
anyone else. Guess it was love at first sight. Ha! Ha!
I attended the U. of Arkansas at Monticello (a little
town near Star City) for one semester, but I did not
like it. In January of 1961 I moved to Little Rock and
began working for an insurance company as a claims
secretary.
Jerry was home during the summer of 1961, and on
August 27th, we decided to get married before he
went back for his senior year. At that time I could not
go with him to the university because he was on
scholarship. I just continued to work in Little Rock
until I could join him in January. While at the U. of Ark.
I again worked as a secretary on campus.
In July of 1962 we lost our first baby---it was very
early---in fact, until I lost it, we didn't even know I was
having one.
Jerry was in ROTC at the U. of Ark., so in October of
1962, he went on active duty. Our first stop was Ft.
Benning, Georgia, for training---he was a lieutenant.
After that we were stationed in Columbia, South
Carolina, until his discharge in 1964. He was a
company commander training troops for Vietnam.
Thank goodness he never had to go. Our daughter,
Missy, was born on October 30, 1963, in S.C. In
February of 1964, I realized I was expecting again!! I
almost had a stroke. Ha! Ha!
After Jerry's discharge, we returned to Star City. His
old high school coach (who is like his second dad)
was now the school superintendent and hired Jerry
as the football/track coach. Our son, Jay, was born 1
year and 2 weeks after his sister---November 12,
1964. They were raised almost like twins.
Jerry coached in Star City until the '77-'78 school year.
We then moved to a much bigger school about 30
miles from Star City---Pine Bluff. He coached for 2
years and was Director of Activities for one. His old
football coach was now superintendent of schools in
Dumas, AR. He wanted Jerry to come there and coach
for him. We stayed there 23 years until we retired.
Dumas is 30 miles from Star City. We just kinda made
a circle. While in Dumas, Jerry retired from coaching
and was a junior high assistant principal and athletic
director. He actually retired in 1994 and was asked to
come back for half days as a dean of students for 2nd
through 6th grades. He loved it. He had almost as
much fun doing that as he did coaching. We stayed in
Dumas 2 years after we retired and then moved to
Conway.
During one 4-year period in the Dumas Schools, I got
out of the secretary business and was the assistant
elementary librarian, working with kindergarten, 1st-,
and 2nd-graders. That was my very favorite
job---really made me regret not staying in school and
teaching.
had been for 23 years, to Conway, AR. My parents and
my daughter also live here. My parents have lived in
Conway since our kids were in college in the 80s. We
are really enjoying it here---it is not too small or too
big---has mostly everything you would need.
Mother and Daddy are still doing great---even still
driving 2 hours to Hot Springs every week or so to
the horse races. They are 85 and 86.
My brother, Rick, lives in Tennessee and is supposed
to be retiring at the end of this year. They do not
have any children. Both of them are chemical
engineers and have done quite well. They are
planning to retire to North Carolina.
My daughter, Missy, is an RN---oncology is her
special field. Missy has three kids---Ryan, 16; Rusty,
14; and KP (Kathryn Paige or "Sis"), 10; and lives
here in Conway.
My son, Jay, is an MRI trainer for Siemens Medical.
He travels everywhere to hospitals to train their staff
on the new MRI machines. He lives in Mountain
Home, AR---about 3 hours away. He has two
sons---Bryan, 17, and Tyler, 15. I have to brag on
Bryan. He made 33 on his ACT and has been here in
Conway this summer attending Boys State and
Governor's School.
We have a camping trailer and spend lots of time in
the spring and summer camping with the grandkids.
We actually started camping when our kids were 4
and 5 years old---in a tent---which I hated. Several
years ago I got a SeaDoo---that really has added to
the fun at the lake. The kids prefer "MeMaw" to ride
them because she goes fast! Ha! Ha! Several of them
are now getting old enough to drive for themselves.
I still love my music---mostly Rock & Roll. In the last
few years we've been to see the Rolling Stones,
ArrowSmith, and last month, Rod Stewart. We go to
Branson, Missouri, quite often and saw the Platters
while there one time.
I don't watch a lot of TV, but I'm a big "CSI" fan. Years
back I also loved "China Beach."
Our time now is mostly spent in church activities and
helping with the kids, and I volunteer at our church
one afternoon per week to answer the phone. We
attend the First United Methodist Church. All of
Jerry's family---two brothers and a sister---still live in
Star City. His mother died on November 28th and his
dad died December 11th of this past year. It was a
shock to lose them 14 days apart, but they were both
in very bad health.
Now to the past:
Shortly after graduation Daddy retired and we moved
back to Star City, AR. I already had quite a few friends
there since I had lived there off and on when Daddy
was overseas. On July 4, 1960, a group of us had a
big picnic on the river---a boy I "kinda" knew asked
me to go. He had lived right down from my
grandparents all the time I was growing up. He was to
begin his junior year at the University of Arkansas on
a football scholarship. I did not know it at the time,
but I was to find out later that he was the local
"football hero." In college, however, he never got to
play much. To me he looked like a giant---6'4", 195
pounds. That's not really big by today's standards.
That was Jerry! After our first date, we never dated
anyone else. Guess it was love at first sight. Ha! Ha!
I attended the U. of Arkansas at Monticello (a little
town near Star City) for one semester, but I did not
like it. In January of 1961 I moved to Little Rock and
began working for an insurance company as a claims
secretary.
Jerry was home during the summer of 1961, and on
August 27th, we decided to get married before he
went back for his senior year. At that time I could not
go with him to the university because he was on
scholarship. I just continued to work in Little Rock
until I could join him in January. While at the U. of Ark.
I again worked as a secretary on campus.
In July of 1962 we lost our first baby---it was very
early---in fact, until I lost it, we didn't even know I was
having one.
Jerry was in ROTC at the U. of Ark., so in October of
1962, he went on active duty. Our first stop was Ft.
Benning, Georgia, for training---he was a lieutenant.
After that we were stationed in Columbia, South
Carolina, until his discharge in 1964. He was a
company commander training troops for Vietnam.
Thank goodness he never had to go. Our daughter,
Missy, was born on October 30, 1963, in S.C. In
February of 1964, I realized I was expecting again!! I
almost had a stroke. Ha! Ha!
After Jerry's discharge, we returned to Star City. His
old high school coach (who is like his second dad)
was now the school superintendent and hired Jerry
as the football/track coach. Our son, Jay, was born 1
year and 2 weeks after his sister---November 12,
1964. They were raised almost like twins.
Jerry coached in Star City until the '77-'78 school year.
We then moved to a much bigger school about 30
miles from Star City---Pine Bluff. He coached for 2
years and was Director of Activities for one. His old
football coach was now superintendent of schools in
Dumas, AR. He wanted Jerry to come there and coach
for him. We stayed there 23 years until we retired.
Dumas is 30 miles from Star City. We just kinda made
a circle. While in Dumas, Jerry retired from coaching
and was a junior high assistant principal and athletic
director. He actually retired in 1994 and was asked to
come back for half days as a dean of students for 2nd
through 6th grades. He loved it. He had almost as
much fun doing that as he did coaching. We stayed in
Dumas 2 years after we retired and then moved to
Conway.
During one 4-year period in the Dumas Schools, I got
out of the secretary business and was the assistant
elementary librarian, working with kindergarten, 1st-,
and 2nd-graders. That was my very favorite
job---really made me regret not staying in school and
teaching.
| May, 1960: Cherry graduates from Killeen High School. |
| 2002: A merry Cherry and husband Jerry. |
| Below, their son Jay and daughter Missy. |
| Remember Cherry's mom and dad? They're still hale and hearty at 85 and 86. |
| 2003: Still our Cherry! |
| 2002: Yep, Jerry's a "long drink of water." |
| 1995: "MeMaw" revving up the Sea Doo. |
| 1996: Mrs. Santa at home. |
During the kids' school years, Jerry and I were very involved with the church youth groups. We served as
youth leaders and Sunday School teachers in Star City and Dumas---even stayed when our kids went to
college. We were also Brownie, Cub Scout, and Girl Scout leaders. Jay became an Eagle Scout and Missy
achieved the highest rank for a Girl Scout. They both later served as counselors at Scout camps. Jerry
served as Santa Claus both in Star City and Dumas---he and I were Mr. and Mrs. Santa in many Dumas
Christmas parades.
I know you might think I'm crazy, writing you all of this, but I had wanted to write a little history for myself so I
just decided to share it with you. I hope one of these days we can get together face-to-face. I guess it has
been at least 48 years---Wow---We are old! Once again, so great to hear from you. Love, Cherry
youth leaders and Sunday School teachers in Star City and Dumas---even stayed when our kids went to
college. We were also Brownie, Cub Scout, and Girl Scout leaders. Jay became an Eagle Scout and Missy
achieved the highest rank for a Girl Scout. They both later served as counselors at Scout camps. Jerry
served as Santa Claus both in Star City and Dumas---he and I were Mr. and Mrs. Santa in many Dumas
Christmas parades.
I know you might think I'm crazy, writing you all of this, but I had wanted to write a little history for myself so I
just decided to share it with you. I hope one of these days we can get together face-to-face. I guess it has
been at least 48 years---Wow---We are old! Once again, so great to hear from you. Love, Cherry
| Jay's sons: Bryan, a rising senior---note the basketball trophy; and Tyler, 10th grade, likes track and trombone. |
Missy's sons: Ryan, 11th grade, is a
computer and electronics whiz; Rusty,
9th, is into soccer, football, and trumpet.
computer and electronics whiz; Rusty,
9th, is into soccer, football, and trumpet.
Missy's daughter, KP, 6th grade, does com-
petitive cheerleading---she's the one "on
top."
petitive cheerleading---she's the one "on
top."
Cherry and Jerry's cat, Buckwheat.
| Some of Cherry's milestones are on the Beach Boys-BHS Timeline. |