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Dear Hearts & Gentle People:

 

Hearts are heavy in our community this week. As you probably know, Ike Skelton died on Monday. Preparations are being made for services here, at Wentworth, with visitation on Sunday and the funeral services on Monday. Burial will be at Machpelah. It is expected that 3,000-4,000 people will be here to attend, including many Congressional representatives. Security will be tight, and satellite parking will be available at the schools, then bus shuttles to the Academy. My information is not official, but I will stay abreast of developments in case any of you need to know anything further. I will answer all emails.

 

It is truly the end of an era, and Ike will be greatly missed. His book, Achieve The Honorable (Wentworth’s motto),  was published just the past month, and Ike was able to conduct a book signing locally. The book will be in even greater demand now, and you may order it from River Reader Book Store (where Wulfekammer’s Shoe Store used to be). Website is www.river-reader.com

You may reach the Skelton family at 1814 Franklin, 64067.

 

To read the obituary, go to www.nadlerfullerfh.com

 

Ike would have been proud of how beautiful Lexington looks right now. We had a couple of days of badly needed rain, but now the sun is out and the fall colors are breathtaking. No kidding, the northeast has nothing on this area now. I do not remember a prettier autumn.

 

What used to be the annual Fall Festival is now our Apples, Arts & Antiques event. The weather was lovely for most of that weekend this year, and turnout was great. It was also LHS Homecoming and Wentworth Homecoming, so there were a number of Class Reunions, plus other assorted visitors. We celebrated our area apple production, our enlarged arts community, and our antiques and architectural heritage. A reception kicked off the Festival with an extensive art display sponsored by the Community Arts Pilot Project in the building which was formerly Lexington Antiques,

and earlier Cox’s Corner and Hix Brothers retail establishments.

 

The Community Arts Pilot Project is a collaboration between MU, the University Extension Service and Lexington “to promote community and economic development through the arts,” the mission.  We are proud to have been the first community chosen for the program. The term “arts” is used in the largest sense, including all of the fine arts and performing arts as well as the art of our architecture and history. The program is working with the Municipal Auditorium (The Lex) committee to help the community grow through the arts.  When renovation is complete, the Auditorium will be the venue for arts projects, workshops and all variety of events.

 

Since TLC #138 we have had our annual Community Fair, the 2013 Old Homes Tour, and the annual Patriot Walk and Tribute on 9/11. More than 500 people participated this year. The Walk begins at Main & 13^th and proceeds to the magnificent Veteran’s Memorial at Main and 10^th. Unfortunately, long as these missives are, I cannot include all the activities and events that take place in this small community. Wally ’55 Hulver supplied some wonderful photos for our website which you can view here.

 

Now to the mail:

 

From Jan Jiovenale ’57 Tubiolo: Thanks so much for resuming the TLC!  I've certainly missed it, while knowing you've had much more to deal with.   Since I missed the 4 previous to this one, I wasn't aware you had not been doing them for awhile, but welcome back! Are other editions archived somewhere? Hope so because it truly is a connection to home and I'd like to add them to the others I've saved.  I  have to say 'Amen' to Don Barrot's remark because it is (and I guess always will be) home.  It's so good to hear everyone's 'voices' again.... It's been nearly five years since we were home and we would love to make it back there soon, but Aunt Geneva has been hospitalized 9 times in the past year and her health is not stable anymore.   We don't dare go that far away for now since we might have to make a quick return trip.  Maybe next year!

A note arrived from Jerry Mischon ’56  saying he’s also eager to visit Lexington, but we still have not seen him.

 

Charlotte Skelton ‘59 Dallman (who is Ike’s cousin) wrote: I am so glad you are up to writing TLC again. We have really missed reading about Lexington.

 

A nice tribute from Sharon Shurmantine McGinness:  It's no small coincidence that Kathy VanAmburg died the same day her historical building collapsed, and Roger Slusher died on the Fourth of July.  They were certainly two people who appreciated history and brought it to life for the rest of us.  Their footprints will long outlive Lexington's current existence.  I value the lives of Roger and Kathy and the contributions they made to all the dear hearts and gentle people of my hometown.  It was an honor to have known both of them.

 

Mary Pat Gueguen ’58 Miller: I, along with all the rest, salute and thank you for once again keeping us in touch with our hometown.  Nothing like hearing your gentle humor, candor, wit and pearls of wisdom.  Your presence in our lives was truly missed.  A note of news:  One of the leaders of our class of 1958, John Cross, died recently in South Carolina, leaving his wife, Frances, also an alum of LHS.  Bob Ball, Diane Gibson Conger and myself wrote a memory of him to some in our class.  I'm sure there are also some on this list who knew him well and who might be interested in reading those comments.  Reprint from Bob Ball if you want. Incidentally, I recently ran across the little booklet announcing the appearance and program of the Concert Band of Notre Dame on April 9, 1956.  It contains quite a few pages of advertisements of businesses in Lexington, mostly right on Main and Franklin and surrounding area.  It is astounding to see so many OLD, familiar names.

 

We will work on this too.

 

H. J. Guillia (LHS ’53 or ’54?) touched base for the first time:  Susan, I am Humphrey Guillia and live in Phoenix Arizona, and am very glad to receive your emails again. I used to own a gymnasium and one of my trainees was Waylon Jennings.

 

Cool! Tell us more.

 

Jim O’Malley: I've been trying to find out what happened to Gene Payne, Lexington High School Class of '49.  The last time I saw him was at out 1999 50th High School Reunion.  He had remarried after Lorraine died, and moved to Florida.  I knew he had coached at the high school in Kankakee, Il, so tonight I googled Edward Eugene Payne/Kankakee, Ill/ obit and found out that he had died in 2005 and was buried in Kankakee.  Here's the link to the google page I found.  Thought you'd be interested in what happened to our classmate.   http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/edward-e-payne/74450386

 

 

Harvey ‘Bud’ Hulver inquired: Enjoy your newsletters. Just wondering if anyone is considering a plaque/marker for Riley's Irish Pub site? Did Frosty Riley originate the St. Patrick's Day parade? He had quite a career with Paige Airways and other business.

 

Yes, Harvey, I believe Forrest Riley did originate the Parade. I simply don’t know the answer to your other question. Maybe someone will write.

 

Don ’43 Stephenson wrote: I'm glad to see that you are sending out TLC's once again.  But I'm sorry to hear of the death of your husband.  I've had my own personal tragedy this year with the unexpected death of my daughter Jamie Ann this past January at age 57.  A down side of living to a ripe old age (88) is to outlive one of your children. 
On the positive side, I was pleased to see a member of the Kehrees family write in because some members of that family took piano lessons during the period when I did from Miss Carrie Loomis at her home at the corner of 12th Street and Franklin Avenue.  I remember Katena, Sophie, and, I think, George Kehrees.  If you see this, Katena, do you remember the taffy pull parties that Miss Loomis used to have for her students?  By the way, I still have in my home here in Gilbert, Arizona the piano that my parents, the late Patrick and Florence Stephenson, bought for me when I was still in grade school at Central School.  I recently had it refurbished and it looks almost brand new.  It is a console grand by Weser who made pianos from 1887 until the mid-1930's.

 

Folks, your letters are more appreciated than you can imagine. Please consider writing soon!

 

Your devoted scribe,

 

Susan