Maureen Brumfield Couch:
CLASS OF 1966
Kyger Creek High SchoolClass of 1966
Cheshire, OH
Point Pleasant High SchoolClass of 1984
Point pleasant, WV
Jackson High SchoolClass of 1969
Jackson, OH
Gallia Academy High SchoolClass of 1968
Gallipolis, OH
Chesapeake High SchoolClass of 1966
Chesapeake, OH
Maureen's Story
Life
I have a husband Curtiss, 2 sons Todd(Wendy)and Chadd(Carrie). Todd and Wendy have given me 2 grandsons Austin and Michael and Chadd and Carrie just had us a new little grandson, Quinn, a 2 year old Siamese cat (male) Sammy and I am surrounded by Males!! One of those boys need to get Grandma and Grandpa a GIRL!! Both of my parents have passed away and being the only child sucks!! I miss them very much- it's hard to believe they both are gone. I still live in the same area as I did growing up and I'm retired and my husband just retired as of Dec. 1st. I finally got the new 2005 Mustang GT Cobra like my 1969 Mustang Cobra. This is my Birthday, Christmas,-you name it -present for the next 5 years! My husband keeps reminding me of that every time I mention getting something. We will be traveling South a lot now because hate cold weather. Plus thats' where that new Grandson is at. Life has been both good and bad, but made it through and try to put the bad things behind and focus on the future instead. I miss talking to and seeing my old friends especially my schoolmates. Several have passed away and that really makes me sad. I am the "Bionic Woman" now with having to have a Total Knee Replacement and just had a Total Hip replacement in September of this year. Beat Cancer twice, but my Mom and Dad both died from cancer so it's on my mind a lot. I had a little 22 mo. old baby drown in my pool in 1993 and that will always stay with me. I guess being so active when I was young and working a very physical job in a power plant has not done very good things to my bones. I stopped smoking a long time ago and that was great. I have had and have now a good life and consider myself very lucky compared to some of my other friends. I can not complain about my life now. Went to College for a while, Flew in airplains for about 5 yrs, boated for about 6 yrs. and now want to travel in my car on the road for a change. Again, I have been very fortunate throughout most of my life, and I guess the tough times makes you appreciate thr good things in your life so much more.
In 05/2005, Had to have the Right Hip Replaced, and am going to have to have the Right Knee total Implant in Oct./2006! Got all that from a 3 minute walk on the Beach on The Isle Of Palms ,Charleston, SC. At this time, I am getting ready to have surgery to have the damage repaired in my spine and have a cyst/tumor removed from the left nerve section of my spine. I swear to goodness... if I had just know that this was going to happen to my health, even just 15 yrs ago, I would never have believed it!! Always the one to love going and being and doing everything at once, this has taken me aback!! BUT, I was taught that you can overcome anything with "special helps-like God,family,great friends and several Angels on my shoulders"...so I will be as good as "new" with just a few more miles on me than I did when I graduated in 1966!! A big THANKS to all my best friends and schoolmates and my Family for always keeping me laughing and going full steam ahead!
WELL, I have ANOTHER New GRANDSON!!!!!! Chadd and Carrie Hamilton, my Son and Daughter(in-law) gave birth to a Baby Boy on Sept.29th,2006 !! His name is Owen Thomas and he weighs almost 12# and is not quite 1 month old!! Mom and Baby doing great and Meemaw and Papaw are Very HAPPY!!!!! Soon I'll have enough boys to start my own basketball or football Team!!!! Congrats to Chadd and Carrie on such a Beautiful Baby Boy. Owen Thomas!!!!!
School
I loved school and most of all my friends. I enjoyed meeting kids from other schools and made a lot of new friends from different schools. Iloved Band and being a majorette for 4yrs and was honored to be Hear Majorette my Senior year. There were so many funny happy times in school- ones that stand out was having my back ties on my dress tied to my chair and when the bell rung to change class, I got up and immediately was sitting down again!! I had to practally drag my desk and chair down the hall, just to get to lunch.I know Lulu was in on it, and anyones guess how many more. Since I was so small, the guys would pick me up and put me in the hall trash can and put me in my locker..all in good fun. Ireally enjoyed the Keyettes Club and going to the dinners at Oscars and all the work we did - especially for the kids at Christmas at the Gallia County Childrens Home. Those kids were so grateful and it really made us feel good to give someting back to the community. Of course, Football and Basketball were my favorite sports and we won a lot of trophys at competition against other bands in our division. Our football team was great and won co-champs or our conference and had a lot of trophies in the school trophy case. The Majorettes won a lot of competition trophies and that was exciting. That was a great team effort and we all worked hard to get them. I went to Camp Valley Vista in Bainbridge, OH. for a two week majorette camp and loved it. There were so many girls and guys who would be trying out for Drum Major and Majorettes, Drill Teams, and so much more. My 4th day there, one of my Best Friends from Jackson High School, DeeAnn Patton, was helping me up into the camp bus from an outing at a swimming party and we had my radio wrapped up in my beach towel and as I was getting ready to try and get up into that bus, I handed Dee my beach towel and as she was holding it up in the bus and trying to pull me into the bus, the radio fell out and the corner of it hit my big toe and broke it and I had to be taken into Bainbridge to the Doctor . His name was Dr. Cutright(no joke!!!) and he was going to have to drill into the nail of my toe to relieve the pressure and as I am sitting in this surgical chair, his nurse paged him and poof! he was gone!! Turns out he was also the Coroner ffffffor that county and someone had passed away and he had to go to their home and sign the cetificate and here I am with my foot up in this holder, clamped down to keep the pressure from the toe untill he got back, and before he left, he had started to drill a little hole and I am freaking out from the pain and Drill and he didn't get back untill late in the evening . I had spent almost 7 hrs. waiting for Dr. Cutright to finish drilling into my big toe and put a cast on the broken part!! It was past midnight before I got back to camp. So I had to have my parents come after me and I missed my last 3 days of Majorette Camp, but pretty hard to march with a cast on yourf foot, so I went home. What a bummer aand I thought only those things happened in the movies!! It would take a book to tell about all the things that were funny and sad of my KCHS days, but I really liked school and all the kids. We were all close and some things that happened were really funny, but way too long to write about. Loved the school plays and the funny miscues that happened there,the choir and the "great" cooking in home ec., the Jr.-Sr. Proms,Art Club,Student Council,Homecomming games and Dances,great basketball games, Senior Class Trip to Washington, D.C. and Maryland, waterbaloon fights from the upper floors on the class trip and how great Mr. and Mrs. Neal were, not only as teachers, but always had time to listen if you had a problem, and the most memorable of all- the great kids in the class of 1966. I wouldn't change a thing about my high school years, except that they were so short!!I hope all of my classmates are doing well and are happy with their lives now.
College
I started at Rio Grande College in the Summer of 1966, straight out of high school and only 17 yrs. old. I didn't turn 18 until Nov. 5th, so there were a few places that I couldn't get into, but being from Gallia county most of my life, I knew everyone and they did let me in because they knew I wasn't a trouble maker and that I didn't drink or do drugs, so I actually was the Designated Driver long before it was advised on television Ads. I really liked my classmates and other friends that I made at RGC. We commuted to school( my good friends Cathy Scott, Beverly Rusk, Howard ,and sometimes other kids that just needed a ride now and then) since we all lived about 20 mins. away. I remember Susie Burns, Kay Barr and several others who commuted and we would all meet in the Denny's Restaurant and Grocery Store. There were a lot of us in the Rest, eating and getting plans made for the weekend when 2 men came in with Masks and Guns. They chained the Door Closed and terrorized us for quite a while, but as soon as they got the money, and made threats to us, they went out the door, chaining it on the outside. Several of the guys that were in the Houser,Gumpy, Rabbit, John Rader and several more Pi Sigma members wee there and somehow they all got us out and called the Police. What an ordeal!!
Probably one of the saddest things was when we made a Basketball trip to Wellston (John Reipenhoff Family had a Brewery and a nice Bar and he was with all of us) and as we were coming home from a win and some of the guy were feeling pretty "good" 3 o...Expand for more
f our friends were in front of us and the guy driving had a fast red convertible and they passed us on one of the worst roads to travel-especially at night, and waved and shouted at us the driver accelerated his car and was gone from our site. Their was a really bad curve and bump in the middle of it so we slowed down as we came to it and our friends in the convertible, that had passed us about 5-10 mins. before, had not been able to navigate the turn and his car went flying and it was turned upside down on the road, off towards a ditch and field , and our friend Squirrel, another guy, and the driver had been thrown from the car as it flipped, but the car landed on the driver, and killed him instantly. Squirrel and the other boy had serious injuries and it shocked all of us so much, because we had just been with them all that evening and knew them so well at school, all of us running around together and being good friends, that night stayed in my mind so vividly. The college had a meeting with the whole school and told everyone else about the accident and death. All of us that wanted to go to Cambridge, OH. where Tom, the driver lived and whee his parents lived, were excused from our classes to go to the Visitation and Service.There were a lot of us there and his parents were so gracious, invited us to come to their home, rest and had so much food and his Mom wanted to know how he was in school,his friends, things he had done with all of us- a Mom, Still in shock and overwhelmed at all of the Students that had driven all that way, just to show our respects and see if any of us could do anything for Tom's Family and attend his Services. I remembered it rained the 2 days we were there and was cold and thinking that the Heavens had opened up and was sharing our grief with us. After we left Tom's Family and came back to Rio Grande, someone had told us that one of the other passenger in the wreck was in serious condition at Holzer Hospital. We all went immediately to see him, but only a few visitors(immediately family) was allowed in , so we lined the hallways, just waiting to hear of any sign of improvement. He was in their for quite a long time, and I think his parents took him back to his hometown , so we never really got to see him, but just kept sending flowers and cards to let him know we wee thinking and praying for him.
After that , we were in our art/Literature Class when Prof. Ewing Died.
Workplace
I think i was a very lucky teenager, because my parents, since I was their only child, wanted me to have fun and enjoy my younger years so I never had a job until 1968. My first job was Receptionist for Attorney Hamlin King, a new attorney from Columbus. Hamlin and his wife Betty Lou King had taken up residence in Gallipolis because one of their parent was living here and in not very good health. Mrs. King was a teacher and a truly gracious Lady. I must say, it was quite an experience, and I loved it.Attorney King was also the Legal Counsel for the STATE OF OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, in Columbus, Ohio. We would go every 1st Tuesday of the month and handle the legal Issues that were on the Board's agenda and I would tape all the meetings, get the Motion's to be filed with some of the Judges handling whatever case was being brought before that Branch in whatever County in Ohio that it had been filed in, and that was when the fun began. I would be whizzing Thur Downtown Columbus at every time of the day or night running down different Judges. Good thing I had a fast car, or I would have pulled my hair out. I have several friends still from those days at the Court of Appeals and we all wonder how we kept out of traffic court for some of the "two-way streets we made from only one-way streets!!Atty King became Prosecuting Attorney of Gallia County, not to long after he started his practice and again what a great experience, We had a Murder Trial that Hamlin had been handling before he came to Gallia county, so he turned the Brief over to me to do all the back ground mistakes. My Girlfriend and I were driving at 9:30PM to get a Judges Signature on a warrant for evidence that had to be handed into the Court of Appeals Judge before Midnight. We kept my Mustang Cobra over the 100mph limit, because these two different judges lived in opp. ends of Columbus. The First judge was waiting when we hit Worthington at 11pm and called ahead to the Appeals Judge,who lived in Gahanna. He also was waiting to sign and called ahead to the clerk that we were on our way and to let us in. We made it to the Clerk of Courts office at 1151, but still had to find a place to park and get upstairs to the clerks office. My Candy Apple Red Cobra stood out like a spotlight was zooming in on it and in that era of the late1968's it was not a very safe place to be -especially with a new car and just 2 19 yr old girls! But the heavens were smiling on us that crazy night and 4 of Columbus's Finest Policemen,had received a call from the judges and they stayed by my girlfriend, who was crying her heart out and let me double park in front of the the state house, while the other 2 Policemen drove me around back and we went up the private way so I could get the warrant and appeals brief filed. I made it at 1158, ready to turn 1159. I know those of you who are reading this might be thinking, who cares? I did and so did Mr. Hatfield who had his case reversed and was immediately released from prison where he had been sentenced for life on 1st Degree, Premeditated Murder. To me it shows that if someones life is on the line, and you have the ability to do something about it, then people who think this happens like on TV shows or Movies... it doesn't. Going to the prisons, going into the crime scene with 8x10 full blown features of all the blood and other materials you could imagine from a violent crime scene, working hour after hour for days at a time, looking for those appeals evidence that you knew were there, but your eyes were worn out, finally finding what the client had told you so many times it was in there and then the whirlwind race I just wrote about that set an innocent man free to go back to his home state and see his wife and kids for the first time, The gentleman Mr. Hatfield was a poor but hard working man that had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but justice does work if you have people who aren't afraid to go get the things done .
I always wanted to be a model when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a okay idea. As it turns out, they were always my best friends.
Love to read,listen to music, then if that doesn't work, say what's bothering me.
My Hero was & always be my Dad. Such a wise man, but never spoke openly about how smart he really was. Every child should have my Dad as a role model in their lives. I was truly Blessed by his outlook on life & the values he taught me everyday. Sometimes thru words, but many times by his actions.
The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is my Dad and my Mom, because they were not just my parents, but my Best Friends Always kind, never judgmental but always let me know if they thought something I had done was wrong, told me why & how I should have "Put my Brain in GEAR, before I put my MOUTH into motion"!!.
Always loved sports, especially Football. Loved Dancing and Fast Cars, especially my Mustangs! If someone doesn't like "Reality TV", change the Channel. I am always fascinated by the actions of some people!If it works for them, then go for it! I've had House Pets my entire life. Loved my Dogs, loved my Cats and have a beautiful Siamese Cat called "Sammy"( origional, huh?! ha). I really can't imagine being without a pet in my life. But my obessions, always had Mustangs and love Fast Cars, love shopping for Clothes, Shoes, etc.,good Books, Jewelry(a real Obession!!)Music from the '60-70's and really love my Friends, my Sons & my"daughters"- in-law and my Grandkids. Loved my late Hubby of 27 yrs.(just lost him 3 weeks ago) and feel like I have lost the "Best part of Me"
If I could improve my home, I'd remodel just did and add on a 30'x40' Master Bed & Sitting Rm. My dream home would be The Condo my late Hubby & I looked at on the Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes Restort in SC. I love the Ocean, and plan to move there in several yrs..
From the day you have a child, the life that you use to know, is gone and in my case, wonderful with my sons. Every day that I watched them grow, I learned many new things every day! I "grew-up" when I had my boys & still, at the age of 60, they still have brought great new surprises to my life!! Love being a Mom & a Grandmother!!
If I won $100 million, I'd give most of it to those less fortunate than I am, then spend the rest on my kids, Grandsons and the new Mustang 800HP, street ready Cobra"(bet you didn't think I'd say that, huh???").
My current age is 60. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be still living and having a wonderful life!. I was so completely WRONG.
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