Jeanne's Page
April 2, 2007, Jeanne writes:

Is it just me, OR does a 50-year reunion
seem almost impossible? I can honestly say
that I am loving this time in my life. In August
I will be one of the 65-ers and can say that
I'm delighted, as my Medicare will kick in!
As most of us will have to admit, over the
past years we most likely have had a few
ups and downs, but also have had many
happy times in our lives. Speaking only for
myself, I am so happy to still be a part of all
that is going on in our country and in our
world.
In May of 2002 I married Allen. We live in
Temple, and between the two of us have
managed to have a very large extended
family. I have one son, Don, 46; two
daughters, Kimberly, 44, and Pam, 42; and
eight grandchildren, Ashley, Courtney,
Taylor Haley, Emily, Shelby, Brady, and Zach.
My son Don and his wife Stacy live in
Arlington and are in the mortgage business.
They have two daughters. My oldest
daughter, Kimberly, lives in Dickinson and
has "five" of my grandchildren. Kim is
church administrator for a large church, and
her husband is an engineer for BNSF. My
youngest daughter, Pam, is a single mom
with one son, and they live in Lampasas.
Pam is with the accounting department for
Lampasas ISD. My oldest granddaughter,
Ashley Elizabeth, 22, is going to be married
in September, and I am sure that it will be a
very exciting time for all of us.
Allen has three children, eight grand-
children, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
This makes for a very large dining table for
Thanksgiving! We were blessed to take
both of our families on a cruise in 2005---
Allen, who is fondly called "Coach" by most
everyone, is a retired high school football
coach, retired college football and basket-
ball referee, USGA rules official, and proud
owner of a letterman's ring from the Univer-
sity of Texas. He lettered in baseball and
played football with Bobby Layne and
"Rooster" Andrews. After graduating from
"The" University, he played baseball with
the old Brooklyn Dodgers, and our blood
does run "burnt orange." He still is playing
golf four times a week, snow skiing, and I
am quite sure, at the age of 79, it is part of
what keeps him young and going full steam
ahead.
We travel a lot, and are one hundred
percent okay with all the regulations, long
lines getting through security, and the
changes designed to make our travel as
safe as possible! Speaking of traveling, a
quick story about one of our travel
experiences. In June of 2003, Coach and I
were in the Austin Airport waiting to board
for a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark,
where we would embark on our ship for a
cruise to the Baltics. We were sitting in
one of the restaurant areas, and this
gentleman walked over to our table and
said to me, "Excuse me, but are you
Jeanne Thorn?" I told him that I was, and
he "re-introduced" himself to me, after not
seeing him for over 40 years, as David B.
from our class! It was a really neat
experience after all those years. He and
his wife were flying to Tokyo, if my memory
is correct, to visit their daughter, who was
working there. Also, it was his wife's first
plane trip! What a way to start your first
flying experience, by spending 22 or more
hours' flying time!!! We always run into
someone, somewhere, that we know, and
are always reminded of the old saying, "Be
careful what you say and do, as you don't
know who you might be talking to."
In October of 1991, I was working in the law offices of two
retired military court martial judges as a legal assistant. Our
offices were locate in Harker Heights. If, over the years, you
have forgotten, Harker Heights is located between Belton
and Killeen. I am a survivor of the Luby's tragedy in Killeen
on October 16, 1991. I feel very lucky to have survived the
massacre, as 24 were killed, and many were wounded. The
experience was indeed very traumatic. Many, many thoughts
go through your head, but the one that most stays with me
every day is that life is very short and fragile. It certainly
made me realize, as we all should, that every day should be
lived to the fullest and that every day is truly a blessing.
On a much lighter and happier note, if you have a minute, go and visit Dr. Wilbanks' (Billy Wilbanks to most
of us) website. He has had a very incredible and successful professional life. He has spent countless  
hours researching and working on the Belton High School Hall of Honor and the history of other notable
Belton athletes.  I am very proud that my son is entered in this tribute. He was the Texas High School State
4A Golf Champion in 1979. As all parents would be, we are very proud of him. Lots and lots of really good
information on this website!
Hope all is well with you, and I look forward to seeing everyone for our 50th!
Sincerely, Jeanne
As a short footnote, I know that there were many in our class and classes above us who were touched by
the life of Don Anthony, as a teacher, mentor, and friend. Don also happened to be my brother-in-
law. Don passed away in November 1978 after a very gallant battle with cancer.
2006: Jeanne with husband, Allen,
whom most people call "Coach."
2000: Jeanne, looking good!
2006: Jeanne and Coach, looking forward
to the Rose Bowl Game.
My daughter Kim had non- invasive
brain surgery decompression
surgery) on Thursday, May 10th in
Houston.  Kim has been diagnosed
with a condition called Arnold Chiari
Malformation, which is a serious
neurological disorder where the
bottom part of the brain, the cere-  
bellum, descends out of the skull and
crowds the spinal cord, putting
pressure on both the brain and spine.
This condition is very rare, is genetic,
starts in the embryonic stage of
development; very high percentage
of diagnosis is with females and very
rare in males.  Symptoms, which are
many, usually do not begin until the
late thirties and early forties.

Arnold Chiari Malformation is very
hard to diagnose because of the
many, many symptoms. Kim, who is 44,
has been suffering from many of the
symptoms for about 5 years. Her
neurosurgeon, who permformed the
surgery, diagnosed this condition
after very extensive and lengthy
MRI's and several delicate  brain
scans. This diagnosis has truly been
an answer to prayer, as Kim has
suffered for several years with many
unexplained and undiagnosed
symptoms that will be eliminated with
the surgery.

Kim was very anxious to have this
surgery and get it behind her.  Her
oldest daughter Ashley is going to
be married in September, her
daughter  Courtney graduated from  
high school on May 30th, and she
has a 13-year-old and a 10-year old,
and her youngest, the only boy, is 8
years old.  The recovery period can
range from several weeks up to 3
months.  Knowing Kim... if at all
possible, she will be in the "several
weeks" category!

I would so appreciate your good
thoughts and prayers for Kim.  I will
be updating you as to her progress.
Thank you so much for letting me
share this with you!
Cerebellum is red
in illustration
2006: Stacy, Don, Coach, Emily, and Shelby, ready to feast at
Jeanne and Coach's.
2006: Jeanne with granddaughters Shelby, 16, and Emily, 12, at
Jeanne and Coach's home in Temple.
Kids are son Don and his wife Stacy's.
Jeanne's daughter Kim's five children: Ashley, 21; Courtney, 18;
Haley, 10; Zach, 8; and Taylor, 13.
Summer 2006, Galveston.
Back row: Daughters Kim and Pam; Pam's son Brady, 10; Jeanne; Coach.
Front: Kim's Haley, 10, and Zach, 8.
6/25/07:
Hello from Temple, Texas, where it has
been raining off and on mostly "on" for
the past several days..will be begging
for rain in August and September, but
for now enough! Thought I would send
you this picture of Ashley and Stephen
and of Kim, Ashley and Jeanne at the
engagement party yesterday. Kim's
oldest daughter and the wedding is
September 1st.