Hear ye Hound Dogs of Yore!
Following the Millennium Reunion of the NHS Classes of 1950-1960 held in October, 2000, I scratched out a Miles' Files entitled "All Roads Lead Home" in which I shared my experience of crashing that reunion party of "old dogs" ten to twenty years older than I and the "rush" that overwhelmed me as I stood in the very middle of "Memory Lane" that night with faces from the past swirling around me on the dance floor at the Silver Moon.
Then in January several of us who walked the NHS halls together from 1967-1972 gathered at the King of Clubs north of Swifton as a circle of friends to remember the life and times of Richard Brand (Class of '72). Smiles were abundant!!! As a matter of fact, with each thought of RB and the day of his funeral, my smile returns. Just a week later, I made another trip "home" upon the passing from this life of Mrs. Dorothy Pennington. More hugs, a few tears, a lot of laughter, a crowd of sweet memories! On each journey "home," my mind rekindles the smiles and the laughter that were so prominent when we were "young pups" searching for a little mischief in and around the Port. I must admit that an occasional tear will find itself in the corner of my eye, but the thoughts that create the tears are most often filled with joy rather than sadness. I do indeed believe that the common bond of Newport memories we share can virtually lead us back home at any time we choose. All one has to do is follow the heart.
I did just that on Monday of this week. I followed my heart home again. The earthly life of Sarah Ellen Davis Morgan, mother of 1970 littermate Bobbye Ellen Davis and Connie Davis (vintage 1965), came to an end. Most of you will remember Miss Sarah Ellen as the "kind and gentle" school nurse. I was informed by Connie that she was the "first" school nurse in Newport. Miss Sarah Ellen had been living in Hot Springs near Connie and her family since 1983 when she retired. Bobbye Ellen and Connie honored me by asking me to serve as a pallbearer for their mother. This simple act allowed me to walk through some doors to the past that had been closed for many years. Observations expressed in a January Miles' Files, "2001 - A Hound Odyssey," resurfaced during my visits with family and friends of Miss Sarah Ellen and her daughters. The ways in which each life touches another linking it to an ever-growing circle of friends are somewhat astounding, but pretty easy to understand.
And I repeat ... so often the common bond is a memory of someone or something associated with our taproot - Newport. At Sarah Ellen's funeral service in Hot Springs I saw Ann Gardner and Peggy Cox (littermates of Bobbye Ellen and mine) as well as Bobbye Ellen's aunt Pauline Owens, Mr. Mullins' secretary. Seeing Mrs. Owens reminded me of my trips (only a few mind you) to Mr. Mullins' office back in my high school days. Such trips were serious business for a "pup" always looking for the loophole in school rules. In addition, I discovered that Connie's husband, John Cook, owns a paper products company with whom I do business and her oldest son, Jay, coached at Newport last year. Small world it is!
Newport memories also leapt out at me as I introduced myself to my fellow pallbearers Monday. There was Porter Brownlee whose name I knew from the Short & Brownlee Implement company located in Newport in my youthful days. Dr. Steve Owens, cousin of the Davis girls and Newport Class of '73. Bob Powell who some of you may have had for history in your junior year between 1965 and 1969. Bob is also related to the Davis sisters, but he assured me that he gave no breaks to Bobbye Ellen in his class (yeah, right!). Ronnie Twyford, a fellow banker from Hot Springs, whose uncle, Mickey Twyford, was the Executive Vice President of the First National Bank in Newport for many years. My Aunt Pat Bowie worked for Mr. Mickey Twyford in the bookkeeping department of the bank in the late '50s and early '60s.
Memories from my days at Arkansas State also reappeared when I talked with Tommy Gibbs, Bobbye Ellen's brother-in-law, who attended ASU at the same time I did. After the funeral service in Hot Springs, we drove to Newport for the burial in Walnut Grove Cemetery. I drove alone listening to music provided by a few of my "spiritual advisors" - Bonnie Raitt, the Beatles, the Allman Brothers, and Sam Cooke. Music brings your faces back to me as they were "back then" when we were young.
Upon arrival at the cemetery I immediately saw some of those "young faces" and enjoyed brief visits with Cherry Lou Smith, Betty Smart Walker, Jamie Hopkins, Sharon Haigwood, Mickey Doyle (all littermates from 1970) and Karen Fortune. I got hugs from Betty Ann Gardner (Ann's mom), Carolyn Thaxton (Gail's mom), Angela Coe (Joey's mom), Virginia McDonald Van Hook (Rob's mom) and Joyce Ahart (Steve's mom). Talked for a minute with Mr. Ahart and Ewell (my seventh grade math teacher) & Shirley Davis. More importantly on this occasion, I got to know Connie's sons, Jay and Will Cook, and Bobbye Ellen's children, daughter Lindley Gibbs and son Shea Gibbs. Lindley, an aspiring actress in LA (no, not lower Arkansas, but the legitimate LA, the City of Angels, Los Angeles), was made aware that her mother and I were not only recognized by our peers in the Class of 1970 as the wittiest twosome in all of that Class, but that we were the "stars" of the Senior Class play, "Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys" (I may have to devote a future Miles' Files on the "acting" ability of some of our classmates).
About being recognized as "wittiest" by our classmates, I am certain that many in the Class of '70 were not exactly clear on the attributes of a quick wit. We were probably more silly than witty, but the votes have been counted and a final tabulation is safely clutched in the heart of Mrs. Eubanks. Furthermore, there was not a category for "Silliest" in the Class of 1970. To my friends, the Davis sisters, I express my appreciation for asking me to serve their mother's memory. It is only fitting that members of our generation carry to rest those of the generation before us. My thoughts flicker back to the late '60s and a visit to the Davis household on Holden Avenue. Billy Bob (Bobbye Ellen's father) always struck the fear of God into me (maybe it was the uniform and sidearm), but Miss Sarah Ellen, while often firm in her words, reassured me there was no reason to be fearful in her home. And I will always remember Bobbye Ellen's laughter when told her dad caused me concern. That spirited laugh should have been my clue that Billy Bob was a kind and loving father.
As I left the cemetery, I walked past stones marking the final resting place of J. W. Cordell, J. D. Williams and others who spoke words of encouragement to boys like me, childhood friends of their sons and daughters. They have taken one of those "roads" that lead "home." They now make heavenly glances upon us as we revisit the "home place" from time to time.
One year ago today, I scribbled out a short notice to 1970 classmates informing them of the death of Becky Scroggs, our littermate. Subsequent messages have come to be the Miles' Files. Many of you have contacted me expressing your appreciation for the memories these musings nurture. Believe me, these periodic missives that result in your replies do wonders for my soul. In the past three weeks, I have received cyber notes from Mike Stephens, Kathy Foley, Scott Baker, Margaret Ann Gillihan, Mary Lynn Pinkett, Mark McGaughey, Mary Wynne Parker, Laura Benish, Harry Goodyear, Nancy Rhodes, Dinny Bullard, Bill Lindsay, Paul Burton, David Sibley, Peggy Cox, Joy Stanfield, Carl Cross, Cherry Lou Smith, Kathy Spann, Paul McGinnis, Alannette Hare, George Rogers, Freeman Travis, Dale Hunter, Terry & Lee Scoggins, Ann Conner, Victor Proffitt, Sharon Stites, and Gail Thaxton. Thank you all for celebrating the first anniversary of the Miles' Files with me! In addition Joy Stanfield McDaniel and husband Ervin came through Arkadelphia and treated me to lunch last Thursday. And Buddy & Carolyn Cross Jones came by the bank while they were in Arkadelphia visiting their son, Lee.
We are truly blessed by a strong circle of friends with White River water flowing through our blood. To close this chapter of the Miles' Files, I am reciting a poem entitled "Our Lady in White" that was presented to Sarah Ellen Davis upon her retirement as the Newport School nurse. The poem was found in Miss Sarah Ellen's possessions and the author is an unknown faculty member from the Newport schools.
Tis soon to come an era past
With memories that are so dear.
Of a flash of white - a squeaky shoe
That we so often used to hear.
There will be a void in our lives
As each school year marches on.
As more and more we realize
Our Lady in white has gone.
We're glad that she has been a part
Of our lives and the work we do.
Her helping hand has touched us all
In our jobs of teaching school.
We'll think of her in days to come
For to memories we usually cling.
But we hope when she leaves us here
She'll go on to better things.
We hope that when she departs
She'll feel the same as we
And regardless where our roads may lead
That friends we'll always be.
A most appropriate closing, don't you think? Read again the two closing
lines --- "And regardless where our roads may lead, That friends we'll always be." God bless you all!
I remain Miles from Nowhere ... guess I'll take my time, oh yeah!
joe
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