Karen Vernon:  

Hello classmates - Here's my story: In 1966, just prior to graduation, I married my high school sweetheart, James "Jim" Vernon (Class of 65). In Sept. of that year, we had our first son, David. In 1969, we added his little brother, Douglas. By 1975 Jim and I had great jobs, 2 handsome little boys and were leading a comfortable life in the 3 bedroom rambler we owned in Richfield. In the spring of 1978, an old classmate, Cynthia Rierson, invited us to visit her in Houston, Texas. While there, we saw that jobs were plentiful, the cost of living was cheaper and the weather was much more to our liking. Three months later, even though I was expecting our 3rd son Daryl, we sold our home and moved to the NW side of Houston. Jim went from machine shop foreman, to plant superintendent and finally, a manufacturing engineer while working for three different oil field related companies. During that time, I held jobs as a secretary for Safeway Stores, then an administrative assistant at Academy Sporting Goods and finally as office manager for a medical case managemenet company. Jim and I loved Texas and lived there a total of 18 years. Sadly, in 1996, shortly after our 30th wedding anniversary, Jim died of lung cancer. In 1...Expand for more