Ocala High School Class of 1962

OHS CLASS OF 1962 NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 2019 - NO. 106

NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK:

Buster Greene of Charleston, says “Thank you so much for your kind note. Our family has been devastated. The Lord blessed me with a wonderful wife for 49 years. Molly was so much more than my wife, she was my best friend, my business partner, and my partner in ministry. A huge part of me is now missing. Only Jesus can heal my heart and fill the void. Molly touched so many lives. And now there are many broken hearts. I’m praying that many hearts will turn to Jesus as people reflect on Molly’s life. Thank you so much for your prayers and love. They are carrying me and our family through this time.”

Billy Rich of Tampa, says “Just wanted to drop a short note to say thanks again for your efforts with the OHS Newsletter. Since I retired over 10 years ago, I have tended to neglect email. However, the Newsletter is one email that I open and read immediately. I certainly enjoy hearing about our OHS classmates, sometimes the news is not great but important for me to understand some of the trials some are currently going through. A few years ago Mike Ayer, was after me to drive up from Tampa and attend the monthly Boyz Breakfast. I can’t adequately express how glad I am that I started attending. There usually are between 12-20 guys in attendance. When the breakfast coincides with the Fish Fry or annual reunion, the crowd is much larger. Johnny Briggs, Gary Hurlbut and I usually are the out of town attendees. Some of the guys I hadn’t seen since graduation, and some since our 50th reunion. I was amazed at how we were able to rekindle relationships as if we had not gone our separate ways for the last 50 years. Because of the breakfast, I started finally attending the Fish Fry, what a great time and a chance to revisit old friends. When I tell other people about our class activities and the closeness of our class, they seem very jealous. Not many have the opportunity to have breakfast with classmates that they started in Kindergarten and eventually graduated from high school with. I encourage all the men from my class to consider attending; you will be glad that you did.

Boyz Breakfast - We have suspended the breakfast for August but will start again in September (on the 20th at the Elks Club). Contact Mike Ayer regarding the scheduled venue and dates. We usually meet on the third Friday of the month. Tomorrow, I’m going to Ocala to visit with Sammy Rou. Sammy is currently fighting to get better; he has a number of problems that are going to be difficult to overcome. He is currently on dialysis, just had surgery to remove blood clots and is dealing with a broken back. He also has heart issues that require surgery. He needs to recover enough to survive heart surgery. Sammy can use of the prayers and well wishes his Wildcat classmates can send. Thanks again, Linda!”

Bonita Grow of Lake City, says “Thank you so much, Linda, as emotional...as so many things are these days. That stuffed celery looks really good, but too many ingredients...lol...I’m into these 2 and 3 ingredient recipes these days...but, I do have a pot of potato soup in the crockpot right now. Have a blessed day.”

Beverly Brannen of Gainesville, says “I think about you all a lot; still live in Gainesville. I have two new members of my family: a little Westie puppy who is 10 months old and a little Carin terrier who is 5 months. Love my little doggies, Beasley and Rusty; my little girl Westie is 15 years old and they keep me young busy!!!”

Paul Goldman of Rye, NH says, “During July, David and Charlotte Echols, from Dallas, came to Rye for a really nice trip together up the coast of Maine. We stayed in B&Bs in Castine and in Camden, both Maine seacoast towns. We met up with some friends of David and Charlotte who live in Dallas, during the winter, and in Castine during the summer. They were gracious enough to show us around Castine and Deer Island and tell us about the history of the area. Deer Island played a part during the Civil War, as there were volunteers from there. We managed to eat our share of lobster and other seafood. Had a great time with David and Charlotte! We were very saddened to learn about Molly Greene’s passing. As soon as funeral arrangements were made, we went to Charleston to be with Buster and his family. As tragic as this was, what a privilege and blessing it was to be with Buster and his family. Never have we witnessed such a wonderful, spiritual family. Buster and Molly are the reason we are Christians, and this transformation goes back in time for many years. God Bless Buster and the entire Greene family.”

GATOR JOE’S by Gloria Whaley: “It was a beautiful day as Bob and I drove to Gator Joe’s. A few “left-over” wildflowers dotted the medians and rights of way. These Indian Blanket flowers and brown-eyed Susan’s of summer show the strength and stubbornness of the flora and fauna of Florida. Since Florida was discovered, people have marveled at the endurance of “natives”! Yes, we have learned to live with humidity and heat, as we seek shade rather than convenience in parking lots. Most of the cars at Gator Joe’s were clustered under the oak trees! Marion Mann and Carol Brakefield had joined the OHS Class of 1961, and Bob and I pulled up chairs to their high-top tables. Laughter was heard throughout the pavilion, with most of it coming from our table! We have reached a stage in life that our memories are easy to recall, and they become sweeter. Growing up in Ocala, we lived in different neighborhoods, but our values were similar. Our parents knew each other, and they would call if any one of us “got out of line”! We had the freedom to play in the streets, gather in vacant lots, ride bicycles almost anywhere. The hotdogs and banana splits were delicious at the luncheon counters at the drug stores around the square. Speaking of the square, our founding fathers were clever in naming the streets. Streets north of the square and Ocklawaha Avenue were named for the presidents – Washington, Jefferson, Adams. Streets to the east were named for native Americans—Osceola, Watula, Tuscawilla. Streets south of Fort King Avenue were numbered – First, Second, Third. Streets west of the square were named for trees – Magnolia, Orange, Pine. Our lives are simple today as we gather with friends of all ages at Gator Joe’s. We have the freedom to share from our heart and quick wit, knowing our words will be sifted and gently whisked away as the chaff from the wheat. Come join in the friendships (new and renewed) and relish the camaraderie that comes from being classmates, aka Ocala High School Wildcats, at Gator Joe’s!”

TASTES OF OUR YOUTH: Divinity
• 2 2/3 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 2 large egg whites, room temperature • 1 t vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup nuts, chopped
Line a large cookie sheet with wax paper(remember, wax paper?). Set aside. In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, add sugar, corn syrup, and water, stirring constantly, until sugar

is dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, until the temperature reaches 260 degrees on your candy thermometer or until a small amount of candy mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hardball. Remove sugar mixture from heat. In a large bowl using your electric mixer at high speed, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Continue beating and add the hot sugar mixture to the egg whites in a slow, steady, think stream until well mixed in. Once you begin to pour the hot sugar mixture do NOT stop and do not scrape the mixing bowl. When all the syrup has been combined, continue to beat the mixture until it begins to lose its gloss and h9olds its shape in stiff peaks. This takes about 10 minutes of solid beating.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU:
• September 3: Betty Jane Lessley
• September 7: Ann Hendricks
• September 8: Daisy Porter
• September 15: Sully Sullivan and Jane Waller
• September 17: Glen Sims
• September 20: Bobby Baroni and Kaye Stone
• September 21: Dale Heule and Gary Hurlburt
• September 22: Diane Jennings
• September 23: Braxton Jones

ON WITH THE DANCE, WILDCATS!