Robinson Elementary Teacher Makes Large Donation

For those of you who attended George R. Robinson Elementary this might be of interest.  From 1949-1975, Miss Joyce Garrison, who married  and became Mrs. Earl Calvin Parke, taught at Robinson School. In the early 1980s I was attending a luncheon of the Freedoms Foundation here in St. Louis County and happened to see a familiar face.  I kept bugging my husband, insisting I KNEW her but couldn't place her, happens a lot to me!  I finally went to her table and told her I was sure we had met, and asked if she was perhaps a teacher.  Yes, was her answer, and I said in Kirkwood? Yes, and I asked Robinson School?  Yes, again.  I then said, "I am Leslie Vander Meulen and I think you were my brother's first grade teacher." And immediately she said, "Well yes, you must be Kert's sister."  We then had a nice conversation about Robinson, Kirkwood, roots and little Kert.  As it turned out she was a member of the MO Mayflower Society and I had seen her name for years as I served in various Board positions.  Because she didn't attend meetings regularly (we only have 3 per year) I never saw her so I had no way to know she was the former Joyce Garrison.  In 1984 she and her husband retired to Westfield, NY, the area where she was born, very close to my family's Dutch roots around Lake Erie.  She was a member of the Buffalo NY Colony of the Mayflower Society after she went back to NY, and the DAR as well as the MO Retired Teachers Assoc.  

The current issue of the "Mayflower Quarterly" just arrived and I was surprised to flip to a page and see a photo that looked familiar - Mrs. Parke.  The title:  "Mayflower Descendant Leaves Society Unprecedented Bequest"... really caught my eye because we get lots of bequests - unprecedented not so ordinary!  Our sweet Miss Garrison left the Mayflower Society over $1.5million!!!  She had no children and the article describes the bequest as the "majority portion of her estate".  

She earned her degree in Elementary Ed at Wash U. She was born in Silver Creek, NY and is buried in the Garrison family plot at Ripley, NY, survived by a niece and two nephews. She died in December 2012.  You can go here to see her obituary.

What a lovely connection to make with this lady from Kirkwood doing so much good for such a good cause. The fund will be the Joyce Garrison Parke Memorial Fund.  I am sure our Society will find a good home for the funds, as we have a large house museum/library and offices in our care and we are always publishing new research on Mayflower passengers and topics.  

In this class were, among some I don't remember, Ray Stelfox, David James (who shared my same b'day and lived just down from Larry Gibbons), Lydia Flanigan, Ricky Kohler, Bob Delong, Bruce Rutherford, Anne Smith, Mary Clifton, Doug Hayman, Bill Watts, Mike Caldwell, John Guyer, Russ Magee, Becky Smith, (the late) Ronnie Reid, and (the late) Charlie Huebner.  BUT THEN you'd know these faces if you'd seen www.khs65.com where I have a post with lots of class pix ~~and I have more to post, lurking on this computer somewhere!!!

Arlayne McManamie-West's husband passes away

Our classmate Arlayne McManamie-West's husband, Charles William West (67), passed away due to a massive heart attack-Tuesday, Feb 18 at Mercy Hosp in Des Moines. His funeral was today, Friday, Feb 20 at 1:30pm Urbandale, IA; they were married 45 yrs, have 3 children & 10 grandchildren. He was a devout Christian, Elder in his church, and played drums in their church orchestra. Our sincere condolences Arlayne, may he rest in much love and peace.

KHS64 MEMBER RICH MCDONNELL PASSES AWAY

Many members of our class knew Rich McDonnell through his music.  Someone mentioned to me this week that he had died and I just now had time to look up his obituary in the Post.  Here is the link to the obituary.  Some of you may know that his brother is Mayor of Kirkwood these days.  Weren't we fortunate to have so many talented musicians in our midst growing up in Kirkwood in the mid '60s?  Perhaps why our music continues to unite us all these years later.
Another of our time gone too soon.

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St. Louis, MO 63103. www.boppchapel.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St. Louis, MO 63103. www.boppchapel.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St. Louis, MO 63103. www.boppchapel.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St. Louis, MO 63103. www.boppchapel.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

Richard E. McDonnell

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• "Such a great guy! First to introduce himself and make you..."
  - Kate Black

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McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

Richard E. McDonnell

Obituary

Guest Book

• "Such a great guy! First to introduce himself and make you..."
  - Kate Black

View Sign

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

Richard E. McDonnell

Obituary

Guest Book

• "Such a great guy! First to introduce himself and make you..."
  - Kate Black

View Sign

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

Richard E. McDonnell

Obituary

Guest Book

• "Such a great guy! First to introduce himself and make you..."
  - Kate Black

View Sign

McDonnell, Richard E. Passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Dear friend and former husband of Cynthia P. McDonnell (nee Platte); loving father of Boyd (Paige), Carter (Kate), and Clayton (Corinne) McDonnell; dear grandfather of Ryan, Maris, and Myles McDonnell; dear brother of Arthur (Barbara) McDonnell, Diane Hadley, Kenneth (Donna) McDonnell, Mary Carole (Jeff Nilles) McDonnell, and the late Holly McDonnell; dear uncle, great-uncle and cousin. Richard was a friend to every person he met, and will be remembered for his love and warm spirit, genuine interest in others, his beaming smile, and largerthan-life presence. He enjoyed a 30-year career with A.G. Edwards, and for the last 15 years, lived his true passion, as founder of the MAXJAZZ record label. To his core, Richard was a lover and champion of jazz and its artists. Services: A memorial gathering will be held from 3-6pm on Thurs., Feb. 13, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive St. Ste. 260, St

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=richard-e-mcdonnell&pid=169629586&fhid=6378#sthash.Br4EdyPb.dpuf

JIM OLSON CREATING AGAIN!

Our classmate Jim Olson, of Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame and KHS65 Track Team fame is now entering a new arena.  Check out his latest project at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/634329694/break-a-leg-talking-key-chain
and be SURE to watch the video; you'll see Jim as he is today and have a chance to pledge to this fun invention, but even if you don't want to do that, it's a fun project to learn about.  Jim was a long-time advertising guru with Gray Advertising, a really creative kinda guy~ Among my favorites were his great Dodge RAM Truck ads on TV, and my all-time favorite, for McDonalds, "Put Litter in its Place"...  The project is also on Facebook, The Original Break A Leg typed into the FB search bar will bring it up.  BREAK A LEG Jim!