The above photo is by August Russell for the Lawrence Times. 
was incredulous. He told the people who shared the news with him they had the wrong guy. Roger was one of four Lawrence Business Hall of Fame.
go to Ralph Leonhard whose wife Gloria passed away Jan. 30.
writes: My son-in-law, Hiram Salvini, passed away July 4th. He was given his ALS diagnosis just as we were having our 50th reunion. Here it is almost 5 years later. So many people ask about him. 
Pat Atwood-Nelson 1941-2024
May 8, 2025 — We are sad to report the passing of our classmate Pat Atwood-Nelson on March 14, 2024, in Waco, Texas.
Her obituary is HERE.
Class Zoom Meetings
May 8, 2025 — Class of '59 Zoom meetings wil be hiatus during the summer. Zoom meetings will resume in September 2025.
Jan. 11 Celebration of Life for Jeri Craig, and Jan 11 Class Gathering
Jeri Craig's Celebration of Life will be this Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1:00 pm.
Mini Reuinion The Zoom is your last chance to make a reservation for lunch at 11:30 before the Celebration at the 23rd Street Brewery. There's a KU home game that day, so the pub will be busy. Consider ordering ahead by phone or online and tell them you are with the Robb reservation. They have been very cooperative, so let's help them out by giving their kitchen time ahead. Phone is 785-856-2337.
Celebration Of Life for Jeri Craig
Dec. 5, — Hello all, The celebration of Jeri Craig's life is scheduled for Jan. 11
at the (Arterra Event Gallery, 2161 Quail Creek Dr, Lawrence).
Warren Hall 1941-2024
Nov. 6, 2024 — We just received word that our classmate Warren Hall recently passed away.
Add his family to your prayers.
HERE for his obituary.
Jeri Craig 1941-2024
Oct. 28, 2024 — We are saddened to report that our classmate Jeri Craig passed away on September 24, 2024. He has been cremated and a memorial service will be held in Lawrence at a date to be determined. We will forward further information as it is available. Keep Mary and the family in your prayers during this difficult time.
Dec. 5, — 2024The celebration of Jeri Craig's life is scheduled for Jan. 11
at the (Arterra Event Gallery, 2161 Quail Creek Dr, Lawrence). More information to come.
Gwen Altic Leckron 1941-2024
August 22, 2024 — Gwen Altic Leckron passed away August 19th in Lawrence.
Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.
HERE for her obituary from Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence.
Deborah (1955-2024) &
Galen Koons (1941-2024)
August 6, 2024 —Gaylen Koons passed away on June 25, 2024, at Bridge Haven memory care home in Lawrence where he had resided since the fall of 2022. His wife, Deborah, passed away on July 30, 2024.
HERE for their obituaries.
Class Zoom meetings
Class of '59 Zoom meetings are scheduled for first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm, CST, hosted by Steve Robb.
Keep Up to Date with 1959 News
If you are not on the class' email list sent out by Sherri Dobbins Millsap, send an email to Ruth@humphreyfam.com with "Join Email List" in the Subject line.
Mary Kirby LaRue 1941-2024
Jan 27, 2024 — Mary Kirby LaRue, passed away Jan. 21, 2024. Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Darrel. She is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Jan. 27, at Shawnee United Methodist Church from 1-2 PM with a celebration of life service to immediately follow. Private family burial will be held at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.
HERE for Mary's obituary.
Debbie Grinstead Beene
UPDATE Jan 24, 2024 — Daryl Beene is inviting you to attend the Celebration of Life of Debbie Grinstead Beene Sunday, February 4, 2024 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at DoubleTree by Hilton Hote, l200 McDonald Drive, Lawrence.
Jan. 21, 2024 — Debbie Grinstead Beene passed away January 19, 2024. No formal services are planned. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
HERE for her obituary.
Norman "Tony" Estelle 1941-2024
Jan. 17, 2024 — Norman “Tony” Estelle passed away Jan. 3, 2024 at the Palo Alto, California VA Hospital due to complications from two cardiac arrests he suffered on Dec. 14, 2023. Visitation and funeral will be held at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service to start at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Tony retired with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant in 1994. He served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star as well as the other meritorious medals. He also served in Morocco where he organized and managed the Drum Corps., Guantanamo Bay, and various bases throughout the United States during his 27 years of service. He was a proud Marine.
HERE for his obituary.
Karen McIntrye Hunt 1941-2023
Jan. 3, 2024 — We sadly report that Karen McIntrye Hunt passed away Dec. 28, 2023. A celebration of Karen's life will be held at Vintage Park of Tonganoxie. Private burial will be in Quisling Cemetery, LeRoy, KS.
HERE for her obituary.
Sandra Hicks Stewart 1941-2023
Sandra Hicks Stewart passed away Aug. 28, 2023. There is a memorial website for Sandra "Sandy" Stewart on "Ever Loved".
You can view it HERE.
Tom Palmerlee Update August 4, 2023
August 4, 2023 —Tom Palmerlee’s Obituary appeared in the Washington Post this morning, at p. B-5. HERE for the link.
July 4, 2023 — From Griffith Price: Just a note to let you know that the memorial service for Tom Palmerlee on Thursday turned out to be a wonderful tribute. Unfortunately no one from the organizing committee arranged to have it recorded, but it was very well attended (I think about 50) and both Dave Palmerlee and I, as well as half a dozen of Tom’s professional colleagues, spoke. Dave’s presentation was a deeply emotional and moving expression of his loss, and I spoke briefly about having known Tom (and Dave) since we were all in elementary school together.
Attached is a copy of an article from “TR News,” June 2013, that was distributed at the memorial. Tells me a lot more about Tom’s professional activities than I had ever known before. HERE for the article.
Philip Norman Anderson 1941-2023
July 4, 2023 — Phil Anderson died Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Lawrence. Private family services will take place at a later date. Condolences may be sent to Phil's wife Pat: 1329 Kasold, D-1, Lawrence, KS 66049. I’m sure she and the family would like to hear from classmates/friends.
Gene Jackson sent the photo from our high school days.
HERE for Phil's obituary.
Larry Midyett 1941-2023
June 6, 2023 — Our classmate, Larry Midyett suffered a stroke last Sunday (May 28) while watching television with his wife and our classmate, Sue Squires Midyett. He was taken to the hospital after a call to 911. Larry suffered a permanent loss of movement to his left side and sustained bleeding in his brain. Sue and their children after consultation with the doctors decided to put Larry in the care of St. Luke’s Hospice Care Unit in Kansas City where he died Friday, June 2, 2023. There will be no funeral service, but condolences may be sent to Sue and her children to the home address: 4501 Republic Road, Oskaloosa, KS 66066.
Tom Palmerlee Update
July 4, 2023 — From Griffith Price: Just a note to let you know that the memorial service for Tom Palmerlee on Thursday turned out to be a wonderful tribute. Unfortunately no one from the organizing committee arranged to have it recorded, but it was very well attended (I think about 50) and both Dave Palmerlee and I, as well as half a dozen of Tom’s professional colleagues, spoke. Dave’s presentation was a deeply emotional and moving expression of his loss, and I spoke briefly about having known Tom (and Dave) since we were all in elementary school together.
Attached is a copy of an article from “TR News,” June 2013, that was distributed at the memorial. Tells me a lot more about Tom’s professional activities than I had ever known before. HERE for the article.
May 2, 2023 — A commemorative gathering for Tom Palmerlee has now been scheduled for 6 pm Thursday, June 8, in Washington. The event will be held at the Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008. His brother Dave, a member of the LHS Class of 1960, and Dave’s wife Susan will be in Washington for the memorial. For Dave's contact information, send an email to ruth@humphreyfam.com.
April 9, 2023 — Tom Palmerlee passed away April 7, 2023. He asked that there be no services upon his passing. We will however plan a commemorative event/dinner for Tom. Several of Tom’s close friends will take the lead on planning this event. More on this later. We were notified by Dave, Tom’s brother.
Important information for LHS Gals
April 17, 2023 — Due to health and transportation issues of so many, there will not be any more planned monthly lunches for the LHS Gals. But, please contact any classmate individually to meet for lunch, coffee or just to visit. If you need contact information email Sherri Dobbins Millsap at sherrimillsap@me.com.
Deloris Harris Stonestreet 1941-2023
Feb. 21, 2023 — Delores Harris Stonestreet passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2023, in her home peacefully with family around her. Her memorial service was Sunday, February 19, at the Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa.
HERE for her obituary.
Karen Coffman Davis 1941-2023
Feb. 13, 2023 — Sandra Hicks Stewart just us that Karen Coffman Davis died Jan. 16, 2023, in Texas.
HERE for information about her Celebration Of Life, 11:00 a.m., Mar. 4, 2023, at Church of the Resurrection Wesley Chapel, Overland Park, Kansas.
Jerome "Jerry" K. Lusk 1941-2013
Jan. 23, 2023 — Michael Frame has just notified us that Jerry Lusk passed away in Round Rock, Texas on Sept. 26, 2013.
HERE for his obituary.
Edgar "Eddie" Wayne Moon 1940-2022
Dec. 15, 2022 — Edgar "Eddie" Wayne Moon passed away Nov. 12, 2022 at his home in La Cygne, Kansas.He is survived by his wife, Betty; Mike, son, and daughter, Pam Wiggins; a brother and sister; and seven grandchildren.
HERE for his obituary.
Phyllis Salisbury Traylor 1941-2022
Dec. 12, 2022 — Phyllis Salisbury Traylor passed on October 19, 2022. She is survived by her three children andmany neices and nephews.
HERE for her obituary.
LHS Gals June Meeting
June 22, 2022 — Guess our monthly luncheons will continue until no one can come! —Sherri
On left side of table: Judy Demos Crossfield, Karen Stuart Heeb, Janet Burnett Huchingson, Nancy Miller Reiling, Nancy Vogel
On right side of table: Julia Walker Magana, (space for Sherri), Sue Squires Midyett, Kay Franz Hodge, Mary Kirby LaRue, Linda Garrett Wright
Birthday Celebration
May 30, 2022 — Our birthday celebration is over. Approximately 44 classmates and guests attended in person. Another 10+ attended ia ZOOM with classmates from Israel, Alaska, Canada, Florida, Maryland, and North Carolina. Again, thanks to Roger Scott for donating the use of the venue for the celebration. if you have photos or thoughts to share about the event, send to Ruth Bramble Humphrey at ruth@humphreyfam.com.
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Larry Schaake and Karen Stuart Heeb |
Ron Wright |
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Jon and Linda Ingalls |
Mary Hammig and Linda Garrett Wright |
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Paul & Carolyn Rogers |
Karen Coffman Davis, Connie Lipp Pritchett, and Marie Johnson Harding |
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Ida Johnson Jeppesen and Ken Zink |
Foreground: Janice Stewart Houk (back to us), Deborah Koons (in green), and Bob Lockwood (Doug’s older brother in KU red & blue) talking to Larry Midyett. |
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Bill Elkins and daughter |
Sherri Dobbins Millsap, Mary Hammig, and Karen Stuart Heeb |
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Ralph Leonard, Mary Kirby LaRue, Ervin Donaldson, and Sue Squires Midyett |
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Roger Scott (blue shirt), Linda Ingalls, Jon Ingalls (back to us), Bob White, Julia Walker Magna, Mary Kirby LaRue, Vida Ingerson Death, and Don Death |
Walt Houk and Gaylen Koons |
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Mary Kirby LaRue, Vida Ingerson Death, and Don Death |
?, Mike Dixon, and Ron Wright |
March 19, 2022— We tried before, but we "think" that now we can really do it. We plan to gather one last time as a class to celebrate all of our birthdays to come.
Roger Scott won the use of this venue and has donated that use to us. Dinner will be catered by Maceli's. No other activities are planned. So, bring pictures, games, stories and memories to share.
There will be no charge for this event as we will be using money left from our previous gatherings. Please send an email to lawrencehigh1959@aol.com to let us know the number of reservations to make for you. If you can't come, please send a personal email we can share. Don't forget to keep checking this website for information.
We are only sending email notifications of this event. If you know a classmate who does not receive email from us, please write or call to tell them about our plans. Hope to see you there!
— All the best, Sherri Dobbins Millsap
2019 Lawrence Tornedo
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June 25, 2020 — From Karen Stuart Heeb — One year ago today (May 28, 2019) an EF 4, 170 mph, 1-mile-wide tornado stormed through our property and we were thankful, by the Grace of God, that no people nor the horses were harmed physically. The trauma of the event, however, has had a lasting impact on the humans and animals. We had so many people show up to help clear and clean up the devastation—family, friends, and many volunteers that I did not know. Again, another huge THANK YOU to all of you.
October Get Together Photo
Nov. 12, 2019 — Ten 1959ers met Oct. 19, 2019 at Bon Bon in East Lawrence for brunch, lots of talking, and celebrating Sherri's birthday.
Above from the left: Gwen Altic Leckron, Ruth Bramble Humphrey, Karen Stuart Heeb, Sue Squires Midyett, Julia Walker Magana, Debbie Grinstead Beene, Judy Demos Crossfield, Janet Burnett Huchingson, Mary Kirby LaRue, and Sherri Dobbins Milsap.
60th Reunion Recap
Oct. 26, 2019 — Our 60th Reunion was September 28-29, 2019. A big THANKS goes to Janet Burnett Huchingson, Mary Kirby LaRue, Sherri Dobbins Millsap and Roger Scott for their work to make the reunion a success.
The two-day activities planned by the reunion committee kept classmates busy: Friday evening for an informal gathering at Johnny's West, a Saturday morning tour of historic downtown Lawrence followed by lunch at the old Merchnts Bank, and a Saturday night buffet dinner at Union Train Station (now the Welcome Center in North Lawrence).
Below are photos from the reunion. Thanks to Joanne Okamoto Munger and Janet Burnett Huchingson for sending photos. If you took photos and want to share, please send via email to ruth@humphreyfam.com. Check back soon for more photos.
If you can identify the missing names or find corrections to identifications or spellings, send an email to ruth@humphreyfam.com.
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Saturday Night Dinner at Union Train Station |
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Elvis (Bob Lockwood '56) Joins Friday Night Activities
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Friday Night at Johnny's West |
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Saturday Morning Tour of Downtown Lawrence |
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L to R: Bill Young (Katy Wright Young's husband), Jim Riley, Janet Burnett Huchingson, Brenna Buchanan Young (tour guide), Pricilla Camp and Nancy Miller Reiling |
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Original elevator in the Ernst Hardware store building — now a T-shirt shop. L to R: Janet and John Huchingson, Jim Riley. |
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Carolyn and Ray Thornton, Larry Schaake
Background: Warren Hall (middle), Ida Johnson Jeppesen (right) and Warren's wife.
Foreground from the left: Ruth Bramble Humphrey, Katy Wright Young and Linda Garrett Wright. 
Nancy Miller Reiling and Ruth Bramble HumphreyJanet Burnett Huchingson writes:
Feb. 5, 2018 — I went to a PEO meeting in Whitefish, Mont. and, in the elevator to the meeting room, the PEO next to me asked me where I was from, and I said Lawrence Kansas. She said I “lived in Lawrence Kansas.” My uncle was the dean of the business school for many years and lived in Lawrence until he died. Frank Pinet. I said I went to school with Linda Pinet (photo left), and she said I am Linda!!! She was only in Lawrence for two years for eighth and ninth grade. Then they moved back to Ottawa where they were from and she graduated from Ottawa high school. She was Initiated into her mother's chapter in 1962 and she went to Cottey College. She said her three cousins graduated from LHS. I remember only Chris, who died a couple of years ago but was a professor in Bozeman, Mont. and Amanda (Carolyn Shull Cater) 
knew him. She had trouble recalling any other classmates, so I threw out a few names. Then she said she remembered Jeannie Schultz and the one with the pony tail — Jeannie Wheeler. I told her when I got home I would look in my eighth and ninth grade yearbooks and send her some photos.
Pat Niemoeller Lay (photo right) lives in Buena Vista, Colo., but gets back to Lawrence about once a year or so because her mother still lives there. I had lunch with her last winter when I was skiing at Monarch Mountain near Salida, Colo.
Debbie Beene Has Been Delivering
Meals on Wheels For 45 Years
May 23, 2017 — Debbie [Grinstead] Beene has delivered well over 10,000 meals during the 45 years she has been a Lawrence Meals on Wheels volunteer. After two years of teaching fourth grade in Eudora, Debbie became a full-time wife, mother and volunteer. In addition to delivering meals to elderly and/or disabled individuals, she has served the organization as a multi-year board member and as president for three years simply because she “felt like there was a need to feed people.” As so often happens when one spouse becomes deeply involved with a volunteer cause, Debbie’s husband Daryl also became motivated to help, serving as the group’s treasurer for five years. He says that his wife “enjoys talking to people and stays involved. She still stays in contact with many people to whom she delivered meals many years ago.” HERE for the article from Amazing Aging! by Marsha Henry Goff Class of '56.
Janet explores Lawrence
Check out an article from the Lawrence Journal-World about Janet Burnett-Huchingson.
Janet is working on a goal of walking along every street in the Lawrence city limits....Janet walks during the daytime hours when most of us are working, at school or taking care of other business. HERE for the article.