Kathy Varner:
CLASS OF 1979
O.D. Wyatt High SchoolClass of 1979
Ft. worth, TX
Kathy's Story
Life
I still live in the area, having never gone too far astray. I did live in Eureka Springs AR for an idyllic year, but had to abandon the dream life to get back home and pick up the reigns of responsibility (read I wanted one full time job M-F, instead of 3-4 part-timers working weekends). Never really settled down much until my husband Terry and I bought our home in 99. We've been there 7years now and I can't imagine that I thought I enjoyed moving every single year (well maybe I stayed in one place 2 years in a row a couple of times, but not many)until then. I have 2 adorable grand daughters thanks to my step daughter Jonne. Never birthed any of my own. I am an Investigator for the Inspector General's Office conducting general investigations relating to the Food Stamp and TANF/Medicaid programs. In our free time my husband and I are members of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), a nNational Medieval Study/Re-enactment organization. We spend as much time as possible with the grand daughters, go camping at least once a month March-Oct., and work on the never ending home repairs and remodeling necessary when your home was built in 48. That sums me up fairly well, but if I look back at this a week from now it will likely seem a disjointed ramble.
School
First Crush: Leonard Briggs
Longest Crush: Cary Foster
Last Crush: Joe Bellanger
Most inspiring teacher: Kathy Corder, French
Most amiable: Ms. Cooper, Biology
Most motivating: Mr. Stokes, Algebra. Comment in class "when the going gets tough, the tough get going and the weak start cheating" I would have never passed Algebra without that goad.
I was happiest in French class, after I was able to convince Ms. Corder to let me back in after I bitched so thoroughly about the first semester elective that I had to have a class to fill. French was the only class open and I was very vocal about not wanting to be there. She couldn't imagine why I wanted to sign up for the next class. I secrectly enjoyed the class but couldn't admit it after making such a fuss. I spent the next 3 years soaking up her wisdom and encouragement.
Funniest thing I remember: Getting a C in junior english because I refused to submit a term theme. Ms.-------, told me I couldn't pass without it, so I set out to prove her wrong. The funny part was that I spent my class time reading The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings; and the topic for our theme was s...Expand for more
upposed to be the writings of an English author. The next year Ms. Corder had to convince Mr.------- to let me in honors english because she knew I should be there, but I'd blown off the standard class the year before.
College
Never was a full-time student, and don't have a degree. I did attend Jr. College for 2 years as a perk from one of my employers. I worked from 4:00 pm to 8:00am Sun.-Fri. My first class began at 8:50 am, I took a break from 11:50-12:20, and my last class ended at 3:20 pm giving me just enough time to get back to work. I enjoyed being a student, taking basic studies courses and those related to the MHMR field. Unfortunately, half-way through a degree in Mental Health Mgt and Ed. I took a diversion into marriage and never went back.
Workplace
Work hhhmmmmmmm, well I started my arc in high school working part-time at Motts and worked a summer with my Mom for a company that made wooden plaques. In Oct. of 79 I got my first job in the human services field working as an aide at the Ft. Worth State School. I stayed there in various capacities until March of 85. My favorite position there was as an instructor in the Early Childhood program. From there I worked for several individual and county organizations dedicated to the education, care, and training of mentally handicapped children and adults ending as a program director for a medically needy program in May of 90. 5/90-4/91 I spent in Eureka Springs AR working in multiple part-time resort oriented positions in a resort town. 6/91-4/93 I worked as a house parent in an MR group home, supervisor for a home health organization, and as a teacher's aide in a classroom for emotionally disturbed students. 5/93-12/93 I cared for my grand mother as she recovered from heart surgery. In Jan of 94 I went to work for the Department of Human Resources which has gone through multiple name changes over the years and is currently called the health and human services commission. I worked as an eligibility specialist (determining individual qualification for Food Stamp and or TANF benefits), a medical eligibility specialist(qualifying elderly and disabled persons for medicaid coverage, a recovery worker(reviewing existing cases for payment errors and recovering monies issued in error, and finally as an investigator(reviewing cases and investigating information for fraud, referring suspects to the district attorney for prosecution).
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