Linda Taylor, Class of 1965, Dies

Linda Diane Taylor Coon passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 2014. Linda's funeral will be on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, at 10:00 at Epworth UMC, with lunch to follow.

Linda Taylor was in the Girls Glee Club her freshman year at MacArthur High School in Decatur, Illinos, a member of the Homecoming Decorations Committee as a sophomore, Officer Messenger as a junior, and a Junior Typist as a senior. After graduation from Mac in 1965, she studied at Parkland College.

From 1994 through 2010, Linda worked at American Freightways and FedEx Freight.

Linda at our 46th Year MacArthur High School Reunion, 2011.

As was posted on her Facebook page by a friend: "Linda Coon left Cleveland Clinic this morning and was almost home to Toledo when she died peacefully and without distress in the ambulance."

On November 17th, after waiting for a lung transplant match, Linda shared this: "Word is in - disappointed but I can accept the decision. The transplant team does not feel I am a candidate for a transplant due to weakness in my heart and my Barrettes esophagus condition. It was the consensus of about 20 on the team that a transplant would be more detrimental than good. The plan now is to try to get me stronger - PT etc to reduce my oxygen requirements. I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support and know that God is in charge."

Our condolences to her family and friends. 

Linda lived in Toledo, Ohio. She is survived by daughter Michelle; son Ric; sisters Kathy and Jodie Ann; brother Kermen; nieces Tanya, Crystal, Jamie, Jennifer, Rosemary; grandsons Nathan and Seth; great-nieces Cassidee, Taryn, Abbigail and Jazmine; great-nephews Bryson and Derek; great-great nephew Gavinall; and her friends and her dogs.

As her niece Tanya Flowers wrote me: "When I was a child, the family always gathered at Aunt Linda's house for Thanksgiving day, losing her yesterday reminded us all of those wonderful memories. Aunt Linda is already greatly missed."

Linda's formal obituary has been published and follows:

Linda Diane (Taylor) Coon was born September 23, 1947, in Clinton, IL to Delores and Gail Taylor. She passed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2014 in Toledo, Ohio.
She lived in Decatur, Il and was married to Jerry L Coon for 23 years. She raised two children, Richard C. and Michelle Coon.
She retired from Fed Ex as an account executive; was a member of Delta Nu Alpha transportation Fraternity, and was a Stephen Minister at Epworth United Methodist Church. Linda was an avid golfer and volunteer, a member of the Emmaus community, loving leader in her singles group at Epworth and she loved cooking and crafting.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and faithful companion, George.
Surviving members of her family are her son, Ric; daughter, Michelle; sisters, Jodie, Kathy and brother, Kerman; nieces, Tanya, Crystal, Jamie, Jennifer and her chosen family, Scott and Margie Smith and family and her dogs, Nikki and Sammy. - Toledo Blade, December 1, 2014. 

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Bob Rock Has Passed Away

Milly Smith was informed by Marlene Rock, the wife of Robert (Bob) L. Rock, this morning, that Bob passed away suddenly at the end of July.

The young man with the perfect name for being in a rock band did actually play music at Mac, as a member of the Class of 1965. As a Senior at Douglas MacArthur High School, Bob was in Band, French Club, Orchestra, and as a Junior and Senior, in the National Honor Society.

Here is the formal obituary published in Munster, Indiana's NWI The Times on July 31, 2014:

ROBERT L. ROCK, JR. VALPARAISO, IN
Robert L. Rock, Jr., 67, of Valparaiso, passed away Monday, July 28, 2014. He was born May 20, 1947 in Appleton, WI to Robert L. & Eunice (Brauer) Rock, Sr., graduated from Valparaiso University and went on to receive a Master's degree. Bob had owned and operated AutoQual in Valparaiso for the past seven years and was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He will be fondly remembered as a kind and gentle man who enjoyed being outdoors and the wonder of nature. On December 6, 1969 he married Marlene Horst, who survives along with their children Bethany Rock of Los Angeles, CA and Ian (Sarah) Rock of Kouts, brothers: Dennis (Karen) Rock, Tim Rock, David (Kim) Rock, sisters: Linda Rock (Jeff White), Jane (Lyle) Mortensen, Nancy Adkins and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces & nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Nathan Rock in 1977. Source. 

Our deep condolences to his family and friends.

Sorry to write of another classmate moving on to the next horizon.

Everyone take care.

The 50th Reunion!

SAVE THE DATES

THE MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1965

OUR 50th REUNION IS UPON US!

We are almost there!

DATE: SEPTEMBER 18 & 19, 2015

PLACE: DECATUR CONFERENCE CENTER AND HOTEL

Watch here for more future details.

Stan Taylor's Novel Published

Stan Taylor has passed along the following note about his new novel, Twisted Tears:

Fellow MacArthur classmates of 65!  On August 8th, my first fiction (murder mystery) book was published.  It is a story that weaves its way around many unknown factors, and I really think you may enjoy it.  A freelance female detective, best in her field, tries to solve the perfect crime. 
As of now, it is in E-Book format (Kindle, Nook, I-Pad with a Kindle app, or your own personal computer with a Nook or Kindle reading program. Paperback to follow in the future, but it may be a while.)

Twisted Tears may be obtained from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Here is an overview of the novel's plot:

Kit Carrone, a beautiful, high profile detective based out of Miami, meets her ultimate challenge when she stumbles upon the crime of the century. Due to one bad choice during her investigation, she now has all the time in the world to review the cases which continue to haunt her. With an adversary that turns simple lives into a twisted, multi-storied, psychotic puzzle, Kit’s new life will never be the same again.

Meet the Author
(From Jonathon Jones Publishing)

Born in a small, Midwestern city, Stan Taylor spent most of his life with a blue collar work ethic deep under his skin, and uncanny, sometimes twisted stories trapped within his imagination. Only after his retirement did he ever think of putting his multitude of little worlds on paper. From mystery and mayhem to fantasy and love, retirement is about to take on a whole new meaning with this author. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

That "small, Midwestern city" won't be Decatur, now would it? Ha.

Stan contributed these words to the MacArthur Class of 1965 Reunion and Directory Book (Loren Coleman, ed., 2011) ~ “After 42 years of postal life, I retired and moved to sunny Florida. Living in Palm Coast, and I love it. Working part-time for a marketing company. Lots of travel, but I enjoy it. Married for 42 years and 2 grown sons.”

Congratulations to Stan!

David Brookman Has Died

Another Mac 65 classmate has passed away.

Above is David Lee Brookman's Senior Class photograph from the Generals Yearbook, The Cadet. It noted he was a member of the French Club his junior and senior years.

David Brookman loved his family and his hunting.

The Decatur Herald-Review carried the following obituary:

David Lee Brookman, 67, of Decatur, [Illinois] passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

He was born January 18, 1947 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, the son of John and Bessie Brookman. He proudly served his country in the USMC in Vietnam. He was previously employed with Wagners retiring with over twenty-nine years of service. He then became an over the road truck driver. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He married Betty Hunter April 8, 1978. She preceded him in death June 5, 2011.

He leaves behind his daughters Kimberly (Michael) Wright, Stephanie (Tim Simpson) Brookman, and Patty Witt, grandchildren Melanie Hoffman, Timothy and Matthew Wright, Brittanee Hokenson, Sheila Williams, David and Jared Gallahon, Dustin Scroggins, Linsaie Gatons, Emily Compton, Molly and Cheyenne Wakeland, and Alex Hanstedt, seventeen great-grandchildren with one on the way, brother Robert Brookman, and sisters Doris Jean Haberland, Carol Sue Marques, Mary Lou Rankens, and Ruth Ann Howell.

He was reunited in Heaven with his parents, wife, brothers Don and John Brookman, sister Alice Baugh, and son-in-law Randy Witt.

Services to celebrate David’s life will be 1 p.m. Friday, May 30, 2014 at Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the funeral home. Family requests casual attire. Entombment will be at the Pieta Mausoleum in Graceland Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the wishes of the family in c/o Patty Witt.

The family of David Lee Brookman is being served by the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur, IL.

New View of Transfer House

Herald and Review's Steve Wetherholt has given permission for my posting of his new watercolor-screened photograph of Decatur, Illinois' Transfer House. It gives an amazing painting-like feel to the iconic image.

Compare it to the old postcard picture above.

Bob Dondeville's Vietnam Art

MacArthur 1965 graduate Bob Dondeville was filmed in a series of Herald and Review videos discussing how his art relates to his Vietnam experience:  

 You can click on the entire series of "parts" at the end of viewing the above segment.