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.

Gary L. Thompson Leaves Us on the 4th of July!

Gary L. Thompson, Douglas MacArthur High School Class of 1965, passed away on July 4, 2015. In high school, he was involved in playing in the band all four years.

This statement was placed on his Facebook page on July 5th:

This is Gary's daughter, Kristy. Dad went home to Jesus yesterday. He fought that stupid cancer to the very end....Your prayers for the family would be appreciated.

Gary was born September 30, 1947, and married to Carolyn Ann Verrill Thompson on June 5, 1976. He loved his children and grandchildren, and posted his favorite photos of them on his Facebook page, proudly.

Gary was very family-oriented. Here he is (in the middle) with Edward Pashkov, Kristy Pashkov, Carolyn Ann Verrill Thompson, Bill Thompson, Trinity Thompson, Kevin Thompson, Sara Thompson and others in the Thompson Family photograph that Gary liked.

For the Mac 65 Reunion, Gary shared this for the book:

Rochester, IL ~ AT&T telecommunications specialist. First car: 1958 black Thunderbird. Gary writes: “Fast cars were always a lot of fun. My old 58 Thunderbird wasn't fast off the line but it would do 140 easy. Then I had a 1966 candy apple red Ford Fairlane 2 door hard top with a 390 4v 4 on the floor sleeper. Traded that off for a 1969 Ford Torino fastback Cobra with the 428v8 one big holley 4v; now that was fast off the line and on top end. After that settled down to run-of-the-mill stuff, until 1989. I bought a 1987 Mustang GT with T-tops 5 speed. Now that was a sweet little car. Sold that; bought a big Ford conversion van (4 kids). During this time I started restoring a 1968 Thunderbird 2-door coupe. Took the engine and transmission out; had them all gone over. The engine was a 429; had enough torque to pull a 10 bottom plow..:). Put an isky cam in with a little more overlap. Machine shop said it should have been putting out around 410 hosepower with the holley 650 on it. But alas totaled it on his way to work one morning. Sold the engine to guy for use in a tractor pull tractor. The big c6 transmission sold to another guy. I now have a 2007 Ford Edge with 10:1 compression and 270 hp. New ones got 305hp now. Man can it merge nice on the interstate; not too bad on gas either.”

He also sent in the following photo of himself for the last reunion:

Gary's formal obituary was published in the The State Journal-Register, on July 6, 2015:

Gary Lee Thompson
ROCHESTER, IL - Gary Lee Thompson, 67, of Rochester died Saturday, July 4, 2015, at his residence.
Gary was born Sept. 30, 1947, in Decatur, Ill., the son of William Richard and Louise Marie Moore Thompson. He married Carolyn Verrill on June 5, 1976 in Decatur.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving during the Vietnam War from 1966-1968. He worked for AT&T as an electronic technician for 40½ years. He attended Lakeside Christian Church and was a member of the American Legion and the NRA. He loved shooting, politics, trains and Ford cars. He was also an avid golfer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Jacob Thompson.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Rochester; three sons: William (Brandi) Thompson of Greenwood, Ind., Timothy Thompson of Springfield and Kevin (Sara) Thompson of Normal; one daughter, Kristy (Edward) Pashkov of Afton, Mo.; seven grandchildren: Gary Tyler, Ruby, and Trinity Thompson, James, Abigail and Christopher Pashkov, and Keean Reininger; one niece; and one nephew.
Visitation will be from 4-6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at Lakeside Christian Church, 225 Toronto Rd., Springfield, IL. Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at the church with the Rev. Fred Johnson officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2015, at Camp Butler National Cemetery where the Inter-Veterans Burial Detail will conduct honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to: The Animal Protective League.
Wilson Park Funeral Home, 200 E. Main St., Rochester, IL 62563 is in charge of arrangements.

As noted, Gary was an Air Force veteran, a proud patriot, and thus this date of his departure struck many as quite appropriate.

This message is typical of the feelings of many:

Such a loss for me as well. Gary and I go back to kindergarden, played clarinet together. Mike and Gary Farr, Gary Deadmond, and I grew up together. [Gary] and I were even in basic training at Lackland AFB at the same time. Saw him briefly at the last reunion. Like his dad, a proud veteran, patriot, a dear old friend, but most of all, a strong Christian. We'll see him again....Comfort and Blessings,
Bob McQuality

Gary was also a great supporter of connections with old classmates, and many in the class kept in touch with him. He posted the following elementary school pictures from Decatur. (Click on the images below to reveal the names at the right.)

Mary Carolyn Hutchins Has Passed Away

The excitement of the 50th Reunion is mixed with the sad reappearance of a few announcement letters that were sent out by Mac 65 committee members Millicent Smith, Donna Camp Maddox, Sandy Porter, and others. The reasons they are "returned to sender" are usually mournful ones.

One such returned missive was marked "Deceased," and informed us that another classmate had passed away.

We are sorry to convey the news that Mary [nee Hutchins] Slover, 66, of Decatur, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2013, while at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Illinois.

Mary Carolyn Slover was born August 20, 1947, the daughter of Edward and Mary L. Hutchins. 

Mary Hutchins was a 1965 graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School. Her senior photograph acknowledges she was in the Girls and Mixed Chorus during her Freshman year.

Mary was, as her Graceland/Fairlawn memorial page notes, the loving wife of Ken and the stepmother of Kenny, Kathy, and Stacey. Mary was an avid cat lover, and loved her pet cats.

Surviving are her husband, Kenneth Slover of Decatur; stepchildren; brother Ron (Fran) Hamson of Decatur; sisters Karen Price of Decatur, Dorothy Robbins of AZ; Patty (Tony) Matthews of Des Moines; Edna Goodman of Decatur, Tina Hutchins of Stewardson, and many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Mary's family asked for memorials to be directed to Decatur Macon County Animal Shelter.

Our condolences to Mary's family and friends.

(For more information on registering for the 50th Reunion, please click here.)

Murder

Murder is a harsh reality of being a human being. It is unbelievable and it is believable.

Murder occurs everyday in America. But it should not, we all feel, because we are civilized, so the thinking goes.

Yet, here we are, members of the graduating class of 1965, and why should we have thought we would be untouched by murder.

Still, when I heard from a classmate that one of the deceased people about whom I was doing research, had been killed, I was taken aback. Sure, in a class of over 350 people, who today are 62 or 63, you'd expect some would have passed away, sadly. These people were gone, I was finding, from accidents, from cancer, and even from Vietnam. But murder?

Statistically, yes, it made sense. But in my heart, in the realm of "this couldn't happen to anyone I went to high school with," no, I didn't want to think murder visited so closely to people with whom I had spent four years of my life.

But it had.

"Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has to take the place of the victim and on his [her] behalf demand atonement or grant forgiveness; it is the one crime in which society has a direct interest." ~ W. H. Auden (1907-1973, English-born poet and man of letters).

We all knew her as Mary Ann DeCrevel. Her smile still stares out from the 1965 Cadet, topped by the high-hair style that was beginning to fade, but which you could imagine her mother might have made her wear for her senior picture.

Mary Ann had been born on Flag Day, June 14, 1947. Her mother, Mary T. Stewart DeCrevel, lived long after she had to bury her daughter. Mrs. DeCrevel was born on March 14, 1923, and died September 25, 2003. As it turned out, Mary Ann's body was found near her mother's home.

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 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.

I struggled with how to share this, and decided, reality is not always beautiful. There is no sugar-coating murder. It is awful, disturbing, and yet it occurs.

I am shocked and saddened for Mary Ann, and those she has left behind.

The graduating class has many stories to tell. This is one of them. Most will be ones, of course, with happy endings, like we enjoy in our stories.

But life and death do happen, and sometimes we cannot pick the last chapter.

"Murder is terribly exhausting." ~ Albert Camus (1913-1960, French novelist, essayist and playwright, 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature).