In Recent Years

Over the past years, information has been provided us about classmates who are deceased. Each time a new name surfaces, it is a personal loss for us. These people were good friends that we grew up with.

We definitely will miss them.

FRED ELLIS We have learned that Fred Ellis died at his home in Memphis on Nov. 24.

CARVA FREDERICK ELLIS, 73, of Memphis, passed away at home on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. He grew up in Memphis, graduated from Central High School in 1954 and attended Memphis State University. He was a longtime member of Decatur-Trinity Christian Church. Fred was retired from the Memphis Police Department. He was past president of the Tennessee-Mississippi Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and former member of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Association. He leaves his wife of 49 years, Mariglyn Ellis, one daughter, Sheila Ellis Cross (Steve) and one granddaughter, Emily Cross, all of Memphis. His service was held on Saturday, 1 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home, Poplar Chapel with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family asks that any memorials be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

BILLY M. MCLEMORE We have learned that Billy McLemore died on Oct. 15 Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis

Billy M. McLemore, 73, of Memphis, passed away Thursday, October 15, 2009 at Baptist Memorial Hospital after a 2 1⁄2 year battle with cancer.

Billy was born in Corinth, MS on December 20, 1936. He was the first son born of Colleen and W.F. McLemore. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Civil Engineering degree in 1960 and returned to Memphis, and with his parents starting McLemore Markets.

He served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was also a 33 Degree Mason. During his lifetime, Billy was an avid University of Tennessee fan, serving as President of the local Big Orange Club from 1976-1977. He was a founding member of Tennessee Grocers Association, serving on their Board of Directors from 1984-2001, and the Legislative Committee Chairman from 1985-2001. His contributions to the grocery industry where recognized with the Spirit of America Award from the National Grocers Association. Billy was an active member of the Wolf River Chapter of Quail Unlimited and enjoyed assisting the chapter with their conservancy efforts re-establishing quail habitat in West Tennessee.

He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Jackie McLemore; his daughter, Dana (Neal) Edwards; sons, Todd McLemore, and David (Tiffany) McLemore; brothers, Shan McLemore and Dennis McLemore; three grandchildren, Ann Ashford McLemore, Mabry Edwards, and Whit McLemore. The family will receive friends and family from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2009 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 19, also at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Wolf River Chapter of Quail Unlimited or Cornerstone Church.

JEAN GREEE PETTIS We have learned that Jean Greene (Pettis) died on July 30 at her residence in Tupelo, MS

TUPELO - Jean Greene Pettis, 72, died Thursday, July 30, 2009, at her residence after a sudden illness. She was born Sep. 11, 1936, in Memphis, Tenn., to Lester George and Beulah Louise Meadows Greene. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work.

Jean married Dr. James Leighton Pettis Jr. on Jan. 28, 1956, and for the past 47 years made their home in Tupelo. During this time, she was extremely involved in our community. She started Special Olympics in Tupelo, volunteered with the Tupelo Children's Mansion, Board Member of Safe, Inc. and a founding Board Member of the Sanctuary Hospice House. She was also past-president of Tupelo Junior Auxiliary, serving twice as chairman of the annual Charity Ball. She was also past-president of the Christian Woman's Club. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and served as past-president of the Women of the Church, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was full of life and enjoyed tennis, bridge, cooking and reading. She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend to all.

JIMMY BALLARD

DAVID LOUIS SIMPSON III

David Louis Simpson III was born in Memphis on May 1, 1936. He was the son of Allane Simpson Demetrio and the late David Louis Simpson, Jr. Mr. Simpson graduated from Central High School, from Rhodes College and from Vanderbilt University Law School. He began his practice of law in Memphis as an assistant city attorney. He was an associate with the law firm Larkey, Dudley, Blanchard and McRae. In 1968 he joined the legal department at Conwood Corporation where he became Secretary and General Counsel. He retired from Conwood in 2001 after 33 years. Mr. Simpson served on the Board of the Memphis Pink Palace for a number of years acting as its legal counsel and was instrumental in obtaining the museum’s IMAX Theater. He was a past president of the Rhodes Alumni Association, a former member of the MIFA Development Board and was a longtime member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church. In past years he served as a coach in the church’s recreation ministry coaching boys’ soccer and baseball. For the past 4 years he has been a part of the church’s tutoring program serving as a tutor at Idlewild Elementary School. Mr. Simpson leaves his mother and step-father, Allane and George Demetrio. He leaves his wife of fifty years, Beth, and his children, David and Erin Simpson, Elizabeth and Doug Alrutz and Ted Simpson. He leaves six grandchildren; David and Jack Simpson, Jim and Liza Alrutz and Edward and Carolyn Simpson. He also leaves his brother Jon Simpson and his wife Caroline and his sister, Amy Redmon.

THERESA STEUTERMAN HARDISON

FRANCES THERESA HARDISON, 72, of Memphis, retired from Memphis City Schools, died May 17, 2009 at Methodist University Hospital. Services were on. Wednesday, May 20 at Calvary Episcopal Church. Theresa was a member of the LeBonheur Club, member of the Women’s Exchange, member of Calvary Vestry, President of Calvary Friends of Music, current President of St. Elizabeth’s Guild, past President of Friends of WKNO and a member of our class Reunion Committee. She leaves two daughters, Laurie (Brooks) Monypeny and Lynn Parsons, all of Memphis, and three grandchildren, Thomas, Virginia, Theresa Monypeny, all of Memphis.

CECILE MEAD CHURCHILL

Cecile Mead Churchill passed away suddenly Saturday morning, February 21, 2009. Her obituary is listed on the In Memoriam page.

Joan Clare Beaudoin - recent loss

JOAN CLARE BEAUDOIN

Joan Clare Beaudoin, 72, of Bartlett, passed away on January 23, 2009 in Memphis. After Central, Joan graduated from Tennessee Tech. University in 1958 and received her master's degree from Syracuse University. She had retired after 28 years with the U.S. Government.

Reverend Taylor McGown

At the 50th Reunion in 2004, it was our good fortune to revisit old times with a CHS friend....Taylor McGown. That's why hearing the news recently that we had lost another classmates hit especially hard.

TAYLOR MCGOWN

Reverend Taylor McGown, died on December 21, 2008 in Bluffton, South Carolina

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Taylor served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following military service, he earned a degree from The University of Memphis. He entered the Investment Banking industry, which led to his initial involvement as Director of Development for Evangelical Christian School in Memphis during the founding of the school. From there, he took his family to Mississippi to completea theological degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson.

Reverend McGown's first pastorate was Zion Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Tennessee from 1979-1981. He pastored several churches throughout the southeast before moving to Columbus, Mississippi as Executive Director of Palmer Home for Children. Eventually, he returned to banking, melding his experiences and handling investments for ministers.

HERBERT MORRIS

Last November, we heard that we lost another good friend who was with us at our 50 reunion in 2004.

HERBERT MORRIS

HERBERT MORRIS, passed away at his home in Olive Branch on November 4, 2008. He was a native Memphian, where he attended Central High School and the University of Memphis, earning his M.Ed degree.He married (fellow classmate) Sara Hamilton on June 9, 1957 and worked at the U. S. Post Office, W. R. Grace and retired from Memphis City Schools. After his retirement in June, 1991, they moved to Leadville, Colorado for 9 years. He owned antique shops and played drums in various local bands. Herbert is survived by his wife, Sara, a daughter and son, and six grand-children.

COACH LLOYD MCDOUGAL

In August 2008, we lost a good friend of our class.

LLOYD MCDOUGAL “Coach Mac” was born in Tishomingo, Mississippi on May 5, 1921. He passed away August 30, 2008 in Germantown.

He received his Bachelor’s Degree at Mississippi State University and completed his Master’s Degree at Memphis State University. At Tishomingo, Mississippi High School he was All State in Basketball for three years. At Mississippi State University he lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track, serving as Captain of the Basketball team for two years and received the SEC Sportsmanship Award. He was inducted into the Mississippi State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as the last four sports letterman.

He was a Teacher, Coach and Administrator in the Memphis City Schools at Treadwell High School from 1954 to 1957. He coached at Central High School from 1946 to 1953 and from 1958 to 1984. He served as the West Tennessee Representative on the Board of Control for Track from 1949 to 1980. He also assisted the Executive Secretary to write the Track rules for the state of Tennessee. His teams won city championships in Football, Baseball, Basketball and Track with State Championships in Football, Baseball and Track. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Barner McDougal, and three sons and a daughter, and seven grandchildren,.

Earlier sad news

During the year we had been trying to locate C.F. “Joe”Johnson, one of the lost alumns in 2004.

We finally heard from his son that he was looking forward to attending the 55th reunion. Recently, we got word....

“Sadly, I must tell you that Dad died today, June 3, 2008 in Alexandria, La at the age of 73.  He leaves behind a loving wife, two sons and 4 grandchildren who will miss him dearly.  He wanted so much to be at next year’s reunion. He often talked with great fondness of the years he spent in Memphis and the friends that he made there.”

Dot Adams Watts told us about the death of Doris Coleman Sadler's death in Williamsburg, Virginia. Her husband, Warren, had passed away the week before.

Peggy Evensky passed on some more sad news...Betty Hanover Carney died on February 15 of pancreatic cancer.

We also learned that Charles Hunter had died on February 3. His wife had preceeded him in death about 20 years ago after 30 years of marriage.

On October 28, Carole Seymour Willis passed away in Memphis.

Paul Williams died on September 24 in Chattanooga from complications of diabetes which he had been battling for some time.

It's hard to learn about these events, however, most of us would like to know.