Gary W. Deadmond Has Passed Away

Gary Deadmond was a member of the MacArthur High School Class of 1965, and was involved in Cadet Band 1; Concert Band 2, 3, 4; Ensemble 2, 3, 4; and Dance Band 2, 3, 4.

Sandy Deadmond, near Decatur, Illinois, posted this:

My baby, my Gary W. Deadmond is gone now and at complete peace 11:25 pm on 22nd [November 2016]. Nobody like him, he was the Best. I love him so much. No more dialysis, amputations, hospitals, tests, surgeries, he's FREE now!! I will always LOVE him ♡♡♡ He was my Cowboy!! Thank You everyone for all the prayers.

Gary's memories focussed on his loves and his music. We all will remember his spirit forever. Here are some photos that he had used to share how much he celebrated living.

Gary W. Deadmond's life was his family, his music, his memories of the band, and his many relationships - whether they be of relatives, friends, classmates, horses, dogs, or his cars. He enjoyed life, and his biggest recent wish was to be at 2015's MacArthur Class of 1965 50th Reunion. Gary was the topic of so many conversations that he were certainly there with us in our thoughts and in spirit.

In 2011, Gary sent this overview of his life along to me for the Reunion book:

I am married and have lived back in Decatur, since 1994. We returned from California due to illness of both my parents, who both have since passed.
I had to retire due to cancer [when] I was given four months to live in 2006, after a lung biopsy, which showed both large cell and small cell cancer.
I worked and lived in California for several years in the aerospace industry, as an engineer on such programs as the Space Shuttle, B1 Stealth Bombers and many missile projects.
I have been married to my wife Sandy since January 29, 1982, and together we have six children (all grown with their own families) from previous marriages (four children of mine) and (two of hers). We have 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
We enjoy times at the Moose Lodge and also kareokeing at various places.
Still play the trumpet some but am very restricted due to health issues. Used to play in church regularly in the past.
My passions are my wife Sandy and all of my grandchildren.
Just wanted to let you know that my wife Sandy and I also had a horse ranch while we were living in Lucerne Valley, California. We bought and sold several horses as well as my wife trained them.
I was also VIP of Equestrian Trails International, Chapter #70, for the High Desert. Also was a judge at many horse shows and events.

Gary attempted to get well for the 50th Reunion in 2015, but had a relapse, and was not able to make it to the dinner events. But, as mentioned, he was on the lips of everyone, and thus he was there in spirit. Afterward, he got better and his wife Sandy shared his recovery adventures on Facebook.

Gary with Stay Gold in California, 1990.

Gary was born on October 5, 1947. The day Gary was born, the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman made the first televised statement from the White House. Gary saw in the modern age, but slowed his life down with, for example, his Sandy, his music and his equine loves, not to mention his family too.

Gary had been sick for awhile, and passed away on the anniversary of the JFK assassination, on November 22, 2016. His physician, Dr. Richard H. Fritz, another member of the MacArthur High School Class of 1965, a little over a year ago, died on November 7, 2015.

Gary's now with his horses and more, in a peaceful place.

Joseph Garvin Passes Away

Joe Garvin passed away on October 6, 2016.

Joseph Don Garvin, Jr., was a transfer student from Lakeview High School as a Junior, and joined the Vocational Drafting club as a Senior at MacArthur.

But as Joseph related in the information he shared for the 2011 Class Reunion Book, he found something lasting for his heart as a member of MacArthur High School's Class of 1965:

Decatur, IL ~ "I went into active duty in the Navy directly after graduation; (Vietnam veteran [blue water vet] and cruised around the world). Married my childhood sweetheart (Linda York, Mac 66) in September 1965 (still going strong); first and only child born in 1971; grandfather of two. Presently working at Mueller Company (31 years). Hold two patents through Mueller (boltless gate valve and adjustable firemain indicator). " 

The Decatur Herald & Review published Joe Garvin's formal obituary on October 9, 2016.

DECATUR -- Joseph D. Garvin Jr., 69, of Decatur passes away on Thursday, October 6, 2016 in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
Joe was born on February 21, 1947 in Decatur the son of Joseph D. and Mamie (Wesselhoff) Garvin Sr. He served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy and was retired from Mueller Company.
Surviving are his wife Linda (York) Garvin; son, Eric Garvin of Georgia; and other family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside service to celebrate Joe’s life will be 11 AM Friday October 14, 2016 in Macon County Memorial Park.
The family of Joseph D. Garvin Jr., is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. Send condolences to the family (here).
Obituary written by family members.

 Above, Joseph and Linda (York) Garvin. 

Thanks to Milly for letting me know she saw the H&R obit. 

Susan McKenzie Dies, 9/11/16

Sad to report that we have lost another classmate. Susan Grace McKenzie passed away on September 11, 2016. Susan's death date (9/11) is to be noted as historically coincidental (November 22 - JFK) as much as her birthdate is.

At MacArthur High School, Susan was a Class Council Alternate 1, Homecoming Publicity 3, Homecoming Decorations 4, Spanish Club 2, and a Girls' Chorus member.

The Springfield State Journal-Register published her obituary on September 13, 2016.

Susan Grace Dove 1947 - 2016

RIVERTON, IL - Susan Grace Dove, 68, of Riverton, died at 10:40 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, at Vibra Hospital in Springfield.
She was born Nov. 22, 1947, in Decatur, to Charles E. and Alice J. French McKenzie. She married William "Bill" Dove of Riverton on Oct. 4, 1969, in Springfield, Ill., and he survives.
Also surviving are her daughters, Laura Kennedy, her husband, Rusty, and children, Grace and Anna Kennedy of Rochester, and Gwen Clayton, her husband, Jarrod, and children, William, Katherine, and Henry Clayton, of Stokesdale, N.C.; and brothers, Scott McKenzie, and his children, Jason, Todd and Jillian of Columbus, Ohio, and Daniel McKenzie, and his son, Daniel, of Springfield.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sandy McKenzie.
Susan attended MacArthur High School in Decatur, Ray-Vogue College of Design in Chicago, and University of Illinois–Springfield. She was Executive Director of the Sangamon County Department of Community Resources for 17 years.
She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Springfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. Daughters of 1812, Daughters of Union Veterans, and Daughters of Colonial Wars.
Visitation: 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at Staab Funeral Home–Springfield. There will be a second visitation from 9–9:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Funeral Service: 9:30 a.m. on Friday at Westminster Presbyterian Church with The Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer officiating.
Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery.
Share stories, pictures, Facebook and Twitter here.

Thanks to Stephen Haury and Delinda Chapman for passing along the sad news.

Delinda shares that Susan "was just as sweet and caring as she was when we knew her in the '60s."

55th Reunion in 2020?

Could there be a 55th Reunion for Decatur, Illinois' Douglas MacArthur High School Class of 1965?

I have been approached about the Class of '65 being involved in a combined 1960s class reunion in 2020! Please take a minute and respond to let me know if you would, or would not, be interested and would try to come! There have not been any plans made at this time.....just trying to find out if there is any interest in doing this! 

Thank you,
Millie McCaddon Smith
Mac Class of 1965

Please leave a comment below or on the Class of 1965 Facebook page.

Obituary Updates for Dick Huston and John Moore

This blog earlier alerted you to the deaths of Dick Huston (see here) and John Moore (see here). Both of those alerts had info from their MacArthur years and other photos.

The following are the recently published formal obituaries of these two members of our Mac Class of 1965. Continued condolences for continuing losses.

Richard Lynn Huston, 68, of Decatur, died 9:00 P.M., Friday April 15, 2016 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. 

A Family led Memorial Service will be 4:00 P.M. Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Mound Chapel Church of God. There will be no visitation. Tanzyus Logan Funeral Services is assisting the Huston Family with these arrangements.

Richard was born June 27, 1947 in Decatur, the son of Earl Wayne and Marguerite Elizabeth (Scheef) Huston. He worked for Wabash Railroad and Later Norfolk Southern. He then worked for Traver Block Supply through Teamsters Local #279. He married Mary Thompson on February 20, 1992 in Decatur and she survives.
Surviving are his wife Mary of Decatur; Sons David Lee Gunter and wife Kathryn of Harrisburg, Il., Daniel Leon Gunter and wife Amber of West Frankfort, Il, and Richard Lynn Gunter and wife Christa of Cedar Hill, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren; and sister Mary St. Pierre and husband Charles of Des Moines, Ia.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents.
The Family would like to thank Dr. Collins, Dr. Arnold, and the staff of D.M.H. cardiac care unit for the excellent care that Richard received.
Obituary written by family members. Source.

John M. Moore, 69, of Decatur, IL passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
In keeping with John’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

John was born on December 29, 1946 in Decatur, IL, the son of Roy and Loraine (Brown) Moore. He worked at Firestone Tire Co. for 34 years. John married Bonnie Ruby on July 20, 1968. John loved hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife: Bonnie Moore; children: Sherri (J.D.) Miller, Shon (Melanie) Moore and Mathew (Gidgetta) Moore; grandchildren: Gage and Garrett Miller, Jordan Miller Sims, Samantha and Drake Moore, Aesha Bunch and Briana Roe; great grandson: Hunter Pierce.
He was preceded by his parents, grandparents: Wilber and Ruth Moore, Earl and Ethel Brown and his brother: Roy E. Moore, Jr.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.
Obituary written by family members. Source.

John Moore Passes Away

John Moore, a member of the Douglas MacArthur Class of 1965, died at a bit after midnight on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at the Northwestern Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. According, to Bunny and Mike Braughton, to whom John was a close lifelong friend, he had had "some serious health concerns this last year. He was in Chicago to see a specialist there."

John, at MacArthur, played football his freshman year, then switched to track as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was part of Election Assembly as a junior.

For the 50th Reunion survey, John said he was living in Decatur, Illinois, and had worked as a Firestone employee. His first car after graduation was a 1950 Chevy.

John Michael Moore is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 47 years, three children, and four grandchildren.

John loved his family's pets.  Facebook, 2010.

The Braughtons and others express deep sorrow at the loss of John.

"We will miss him," wrote Bunny and Mike.

Donna Maddox sent along the "sad news," and said, "John was such a good guy and his wife Bonnie is a doll....We ran around with them when we lived in Decatur and Wayne hunted with John and Mike [Braughton]."

Our condolences to the Moores.

Richard Huston Passes Away

Richard Lynn "Dick" Huston has passed away. On Thursday, April 14, 2016, Dick had a heart attack and died.

Richard Huston as a sophomore, 1963.

Richard Huston was a Douglas MacArthur, Class of 1965 graduate. He was involved with Football 1, 2, 3; Wrestling 1, 4; Track 1, 2, 4; Big Mac Day 2, 3; Spanish Club 1, 2; Class Council 1, and Student Council Assembly 3.

2012

Dick Huston was living in Decatur, Illinois, at the time of his death. In recent previous years, he had been living in Douglas, Wyoming. (More info will be added, when available.)

Douglas is an interesting town in which a former Decatur resident might live. A center for horse culture and the birthplace of the jackalope, the origins of the name "Douglas" is intriguing - linking it right back to Illinois.

Douglas was platted in 1886 when the Wyoming Central Railway (later the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company) established a railway station; the settlement had been in existence since 1867 when Fort Fetterman was built and was first known as “Tent City” before it was officially named "Douglas," after Senator Stephen A. Douglas. Source.

Stephen Arnold Douglas (April 23, 1813 – June 3, 1861) was an American politician from Illinois....He was a U.S. representative, a U.S. senator, and the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 1860 election, losing to Republican Abraham Lincoln. Source.

Our condolences to Richard Huston's family and friends.

+++

h/t to Millicent Smith ('65) & Carol Doolin ('66) for this sad news.

Charles G. Oliver Dies

Chuck G. Oliver

Charles “Chuck” or “Ollie” G. Oliver of Hope Mills, North Carolina, or Greer, South Carolina, died on Tuesday afternoon, March 29, 2016.

Charles studied at SIU Carbondale. He married Debbie Oliver on April 12, 2012.

Graduating from MacArthur High School in 1965, Charles Oliver was involved in many activities, including Wrestling 1, 2, 3, 4; Track 1; Manager 2, 3; Baseball Manager 4; Cadet Band 1; Concert Band 2, 3, 4; State Band Concert 3, 4; Brass Ensemble 2, 3, 4; State Solo 4; Ensemble Concert 2, 3, 4; Student Council Elections Assembly 3; Spring Sports Assembly 2, 3; Homecoming Dance Committee 4; Dramatics Club 1, 2, 3, 4; “Frankie and Johnnie,” 1; “The Boy Who Said No,” 1; and Senior Class Play, “Our Town,” 4.

May he rest in peace, with condolences to his family, friends, and all.

Click on the montage above to see all 9 images.

Courtesy of Facebook.

Mary Ann DeCrevel Recalled

Douglas MacArthur 1965 graduate Mary Ann DeCrevel listed, in the Cadet yearbook, her activities as Girls Glee Club, Office Assistant, and Office Occupation Club.

Some of us remember her as friendly and always smiling.

After doing researching and finding out the specifics of her death, I wrote an essay here entitled Murder.

I tried to frame it in the context that we should not be surprised that a violent death ended the life of one of our classmates. The details of her death were sad, and certainly not something Mary Ann deserved:

When Mary Ann passed away, the newspaper called her Mrs. Kerry Kuster, 42, of Decatur. She was murdered on Monday, November 13, 1989, in Decatur. At the time, Mary Ann was a secretary for Decatur Blue Print Company. She had been married to Kerry Kuster since 1965. The Kusters had two sons and a daughter. Mary Ann had a sister, and two grandchildren, when she died. Her father passed away before her, in 1987.
The details of Mary Ann's death are not pretty. She allegedly had broken up with her husband and was dating another man. She had gone to the man's grandfather's house to meet this new guy. Reportedly, there the grandfather [Ronald Glas] stabbed the sweet classmate we knew as Mary Ann DeCrevel multiple times. When dead, she was then put into the trunk of her own car. Later, she would be discovered a few blocks from the house of her mother.

The trial was the media fodder of the day, even involving stories about the children who had played in the car being brought forth to testify.

Decatur, Illinois, Herald & Review, April 24, 1990, page one.

Decatur, Illinois, Herald & Review, April 24, 1990.

Decatur, Illinois, Herald & Review, September 17, 1991.

Mary Ann was buried in the North Fork Cemetery, Long Creek, Macon County, Illinois.

Legacies continue. Memories live on.

Last night, Mary Ann's granddaughter wrote, sharing the following with this blog. It was sent as a comment to my earlier May 1, 2010 entry, but I have decided to elevate it to a new posting:

Mary Ann was my grandmother. My mother was pregnant with me when she passed so I unfortunately never got to meet her. Her husband Kerry passed away yesterday [February 20, 2016] and as I am sure you can imagine, a lot of people were speaking of Mary Ann this weekend. It is so nice to hear happy things about her, as she was not spoken of much when I was growing up as my family continues to grieve for her. Thank you for your kind words and memories of her. ~ Emily Ann Kuster

May Kerry and Mary Ann rest in peace. Our condolences to the family and friends of both.