Carol Jo Pettit:
CLASS OF 1961
Santa Maria High SchoolClass of 1961
Santa maria, CA
Sammamish High SchoolClass of 1961
Bellevue, WA
Coral Gables High SchoolClass of 1961
Coral gables, FL
South Miami Junior High SchoolClass of 1958
South miami, FL
David Fairchild Elementary SchoolClass of 1955
Miami, FL
Carol Jo's Story
Hi, Santa Maria '61 Grads!
UPDATE 2/5/12: Don is doing well, and I just won First Place in Story Star International Writing Contest (adult fiction) for another chapter (short story) in my book, "Lies of Mercy - Lies of Grace," so we're doing well. (c:
UPDATE 12/23/11: Don suffered a left-sided major stroke on 11/19 with no warning or obvious contributing factors. It struck the tiny arteries in the back of the brain, at the base, an area called the Circle of Willis. He was in the hospital for a week, then moved upstairs to the Stroke Rehab Unit for 3 more weeks. I've had him home for 9 days now, and he continues making progress. Although it is difficult to see a healthy, vital man struck down like this, we are both doing well and maintain a positive outlook; in fact, it is our craziness that keeps us and everyone else laughing in spite of the serious nature of the situation. My goal is to get him into a golf rehab summer camp up in Portland this summer so that he can continue his avocation. His amazing beadwork has skyrocketed in value, and apparently the galleries are doing quite well with them this holiday season. lol We feel blessed to be tucked into our little duplex in Talent (Oregon) and marvel at Don's foresight to sell our large place in Grants Pass....2 stories, lots of upkeep, etc. I am happy just being able to have him home, as those of you who have lost loved ones can imagine.
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First the disclaimer: I'm not thrilled with how Classmates stretches a picture left to right to fill the spaces. I don't need any help looking short and plump!
Don and I live in Talent, Oregon, a little town outside Ashland, and near our daughter Carrie. Her real name is Carole Lee (I saw Cookie's real name in the yearbook, and it was a nice combination of Don's and my names). We're 5 hours from our son (Don Joseph)in Portland. Hint for young marrieds: don't use the same 4 names you and...Expand for more
your spouse have for your kids! We have 5 grandchildren ranging in age from 20 to 7, and they are the lights of our lives. We will have been married 50 years next July, so teen-aged marriages sometimes do work out! Don dropped out of college to join the Air Force, and I dropped out of college to marry him. We then put ourselves through college and graduated from Southern Oregon University, he with a degree in criminology and I with degrees in English and education. I taught at the college level for 25 years, and he retired from State Parole and Probation. Both of us took an early retirement at age 55 and traveled for 5 years. We love being near the Ashland Shakespeare Festival, traveling, reading, and volunteering for the American Diabetes Association (our son is Type 1, and 2 of our granddaughters are, also). We also volunteer at the food bank and make warm winter hats for homeless men, underprivileged kids, and newborns. Don loves golf, but has missed a lot of time on the links because of an auto accident and 2 extensive colon surgeries. I belong to a small writing group and actually have been published: "Lies of Mercy, Lies of Grace: Tales of a Pennsylvania Dutch Girl in Miami" is available through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and your local bookstores. Also won the Bloomie Award for women writers over age 55. We love traveling to the Gulf Coast of Florida, and I have reconnected with my good friend from junior high in Miami. Don creates amazing "off loom" (needle and thread) Peyote-style beaded jewelry and is in many galleries. Our geology hobby led to our son's advanced degrees in Geology. Our daughter works part-time at the library, utilizing her advanced degree in non-profit management. Both kids are happily married, and are now facing the empty nest syndrome since they both have daughters in college. God has blessed us well, and my fear of losing Don as a good friend by dating him was unfounded. I guess being voted "craziest" at SMHS was a good thing. Ha ha. We hope you and yours are well and happy. PLEASE WRITE BACK!
Carol Jo and Don Pettit
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