Patricia Suhomske Passes Away

 

Douglas MacArthur High School Class of 1965 graduate Patricia Jean Suhomske, Patricia Jean Hood (born January 5, 1948) died on July 15, 2022.

Patricia Jean Hood also known as “Pat or “Tish”, 74, of Decatur, IL, passed away at 5:47 A.M. on Friday (07-15-2022) in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Pat was born on January 5, 1948 in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Theodore Walter Suhomske and Ruth Jacqueline (Paye) Suhomske. She married Martin D. Hood on May 31, 1984 in Decatur, IL. He survives her.

She worked at the Clinton Power Plant, Decatur Memorial Hospital, for Dr. James Allen at Allen Chiropractic Clinic, Memorial Imaging Center, Forsyth, IL, and for Dr. Merle Schrodt, MD. Pat also enjoyed car racing.

Pat is survived by her husband Martin of Decatur, IL; son – Ted W. Wright and wife Lori of Forsyth, IL; step-sons: Tracy Hood and wife Lisa of Arthur, IL, Brad Hood of St. Charles, MO, Kevin Hood and wife Brandy of Maroa, IL, and Tim Hood of Peoria, IL, fifteen grandchildren; sister Cheri Sharp of Decatur, IL, and two nieces Terri Moore and Kristi Palmer both of Decatur, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Funeral Service was held at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home with burial at Graceland Cemetery, Decatur, IL.

Dianne Gustin Passes Away

Unfortunately, over Thanksgiving 2021, a third classmate passed away.

Dianne Elizabeth Gustin was an active member of the Douglas MacArthur Class of 1965. As a Freshman she was the Girl's Choir Treasurer; on the Girl's Choir as a sophomore; "Take Five" as a sophomore; and "Musical Montage," "Curtain Raiser," and Fall Concert as a junior. As a senior, Dianne was on the A Choir and Choraliers. She participated in the Christmas Programs, every year, from Freshman to Senior.

Dianne was a Class Council Representative, Student Council, and Homecoming Committee as a freshman; in the French Club as a freshman and sophomore; Art Club member as a sophomore and junior; and was in Music Man as a senior.

For the Mac '65 reunion, she noted her first car was a Mazda 626, and she went on to be the director of marketing as her career. She said she married "Steve Kirtley."

On Facebook, Dianne Gustin Kirtley listed herself as living in Mission Viejo, California, but then she added "Just moved back to Decatur Feb 2011! Had lived in Orange County, CA for 34 years. Have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. Married to my best friend."

Her obituary lists her as having moved again.

Dianne Gustin Kirtley 

(February 26, 1947 ~ November 14, 2021)

Dianne Elizabeth Kirtley passed away at her residence in Delta, Colorado on Sunday, November 14, 2021. She was 74 years old.

Dianne was born February 26, 1947, to JoAnne Faye (Allsup) and Dale Gustin in Decatur, Illinois. She graduated from MacArthur High School in 1965 and then attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

She was a “Total Craft Lady” that loved any and all crafts from jewelry to home décor. She was always on a search for “Pretty Little Things.”

Dianne is survived by her husband Malcolm Steve Kirtley of Delta, CO; two daughters Julie Baker-Sweet of Rancho St Margarite, CA and Betsy Johnson of Lake Forest, CA; brother Mark Gustin of St Charles, MO; and three grandchildren.

Dianne is preceded in death by her parents; sister Nanette “Nan” Smith and an infant son James.

This is a December 6, 2011 photograph in which Rita Ooton hosted a Christmas luncheon of MacArthur High School friends. In front is Rita, left to right is Millicent Smith, Dianne Gustin Kirtley, Judy Wayne Rexroad, Susan Wakeman Lemons, and Carol Carter Hill. A fun Christmas memory!

2010

2011

Di and her daughters ~ 2016.

Her obituary photo published in 2021. Di suffered from Alzheimer’s in recent years.

Our condolences to her family, and friends.

Two Passed Away Over Thanksgiving: Mary Ann Bass and Leslie Jane Glynn

During the days surrounding Thanksgiving (November 25, 2021) this year, we have separately learned of the deaths of two women who are MacArthur High School graduates of the Class of 1965. 

Mary Ann Bass  

On Thanksgiving Day, after an ongoing battle with cancer, Mary Ann Bass Davis, whose home was in Hanover Park, Illinois, died.

Her Matt wrote on Facebook on November 25, 2021:

"It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news that Mom has passed away this evening. She is no longer in pain and back with Dad. MaryAnn Bass Davis was an amazing woman and me, Dawn, and Dominique are so happy that we got to call her Mom/Grandma!! Give Dad a big hug for us!! Love you Mom!!"

June 14, 1947 ~ November 25, 2021

In the Class of 1965 yearbook, The Cadet, Mary Ann Bass was listed as the Vice-President in the senior year. She was in the Orchestra, Pops Concert, and the Fall Concert from the freshman to the senior year. Mary Ann Bass was in the Girls Glee Club her freshman year.

Leslie Jane Glynn

Douglas MacArthur High School graduate of the Class of 1965, Leslie Glynn Lowe of the Warwick, Rhode Island area, passed away on November 18, 2021.

Leslie Jane Glynn was in MacArthur High School's Class of 1965 French Club during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She also was in the American Friends Society Club as a sophomore, and on the Cadet yearbook staff as a senior.

Leslie went on to study at University of Rhode Island.

Her former husband Lynn Lowe wrote:

"Leslie was a wonderful mother to three children and grandmother to six.
She was a medical secretary working for the chief of staff at Brigham and Woman’s hospital in Boston, at Albany Medical Center, and at Woman and Infants hospital in Providence.
She loved to knit and cross stitch and loved her pet dogs.
She will be missed by all."

John Massey Dies

 

John Massey III was born on June 25, 1947, and grew up in Decatur, Illinois. 

John passed away August 3, 2021, reportedly from COVID-19, while living in Fort Myers, Florida.

While at Douglas MacArther High School, John was involved in Vocational Arts Mechanics as a junior and senior; Football as a sophomore, junior, and senior; Basketball as a sophomore; and Track for all four of his high school years.

John graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1965, and joined the military on December 15, 1965. 

John Massey trained at Fort Leonard Wood, where the above series of photos were taken.

John married Connie Erue Massey on July 28, 1968. She graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1968. 

John noted in the Mac65 50th reunion survey that he was a Caterpillar employee from 1965-1998, and that the first car he ever owned was a 1940 Ford coupe.

Another Caterpillar employee whom John knew, Bill Tuttle, died only a few days ago, on July 27, 2021. 

The Massey couple remained together for life, having children, grandkids, and enjoying their retirement in Florida.

Our condolences to Connie, their children, their family and friends.

Elam's Drive-In Silverfross Root Beer

Do you remember Elam's?

When I was 14, I worked at Elam's exactly one night. What an experience. Worked one shift and had to pay management because two jerks stole two entire trays and mugs I served them. 

Rough night.

But I still loved their root beer, years later.

An antique store now occupies the former building that was Elam's Drive-In Silverfross Root Beer.

Have you visited there?

I wonder if they ever have Elam's souvenirs for sale? They had cute "baby mugs."

Jackie Clark Cole Has Passed Away

Jacqueline Lee Clark was a member of the Douglas MacArthur High School graduating class of 1965.

As a Freshman, Clark was involved with Big Mac Day, and as a Senior, she was on both the Homecoming and Homecoming Assembly committees.

When I gathered information for our 2011 reunion, she shared that her first car was a 1962 Chevy Nova. 

Early Monday morning, November 30, 2020, Jackie Clark Cole, 73, passed away at home. She lived in Lutz, Florida. She formerly called Hollywood, Florida, home.

Please share any memories you may have of Jackie, what she did after graduation, and any other information of her life. 

Thanks to Charlene Miss Tuttle and Millicent Smith for conveying this sad news.

Linda S. (Barnes) Whitaker Dies

Linda Sue Barnes (incorrectly spelled as "Barns" in the Cadet), with the married name Whitaker, 72, died on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. She was a 1965 graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School, Decatur, Illinois.

Linda's cause of death is not noted in her published obituary.

The Decatur Herald and Review published Linda S. Whitaker's obituary on June 11, 2020.

Linda S. Whitaker, 72, of Decatur, [Illinois] passed away June 10, 2020 at her home.

Graveside services will be 10:00 AM, Monday, June 15, at Graceland Cemetery, Decatur. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur is assisting the family. Memorials in Linda's honor may be given to Camp Wilson Foursquare Church, 7570 W Main St, Decatur, IL 62522.

Linda was born September 4, 1947 in Decatur the daughter of Teddy R. and Doris B. (Eaton) Barnes. She married Charles “Bud” Whitaker in February of 1968. He preceded her in death in August, 1995. Linda worked as the office manager for the Macon County Health Department and also worked for Sangamon Card Company in Taylorville. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, reading books and watching old mystery movies.

She is survived by her children, Angela (Danny) Lowe of Decatur, William Joseph Whitaker of Decatur; sisters, Cindy (Don) Sutman of Decatur, Vicki (Ralph) Schultz of Decatur; brother, Stan (Diane) Barnes of Oreana; grandchildren, Miranda, Danielle, and Wyatt Lowe; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her parents; husband “Bud” Whitaker; and sister, Pamela Jean Jones.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes.

Thanks to Richard Williams and Millie Smith for the alert to the notice of Ms. Whitaker's passing. 

Our condolences to all her family and friends. 

May all of you remain safe and healthy during the pandemic.

Tracey Boyle Devore Passes Away

The always-smiling, humorous, friendly Tracey Boyle, 72, has passed away, according to her daughter, on the evening of Halloween 2019. Tracey loved Batman, and I'm certain she would enjoy her final event synced with this costumed holiday. We all are in mourning, and yet celebrate having known this wonder woman of justice.

Tracey was forever popular. At Roosevelt Junior High School, before Gary Devore, whom she would go on to marry, I was one of Tracey's boyfriends.

Moving on to Douglas MacArthur High School, Tracey Boyle got more involved in the broader social life of high school and beyond. She was in French Club 1; Big Mac Day 3; Prom Committee 3; Office Assistant 3; Class Float 2, 3, 4; Student Government Day 3; Homecoming Decorations Committee 4; and Class Council Alternate 4.

In high school, her first car was a 1960 Pontiac Starchief.

After graduating, Tracey studied at Sparks Business College, married Gary (Mac ’65), and eventually moved to the American Southwest. I once asked her why she and so many others in the Class of 1965 moved to locations like Albuquerque, New Mexico, and cities in Arizona. She told me that one Mac '65 person moved there, and through word-of-mouth, other families would follow, based on the good reports of the weather and work.

Tracey Devore found work quickly in the SW. She was a civilian employee of three police departments for 25 years, as a Police Records Division transcriber. She retired as a Police Records Technician with the Glendale, Arizona, Police Department.

Tracey and Gary would end up living in Sun City, Arizona, which is where she was when she died.

Tracey and I would privately message each other about serial and mass killers, attempting to figure some things out and covertly help the authorities. She was always in communication with her old police contacts.

But in the last two years, Tracey began to detail her health concerns at length. In December 2018, she shared with me, in part, that:

...I had an exacerbation of my COPD. My oxygen level was 83, which is bad. I went to a sleep center to see if I have sleep apnea. I didn't sleep all night. When it was over I was really sick and couldn't breathe. They called 911 and I had an ambulance ride to the hospital. I was there five days. They gave me LOTS of prednisone, and shots in my stomach to stop bleeding. (That was proactive.) Anyway I went to the lung unit and was then transferred to the heart unit. They think my heart was weakened by the attack. I didn't go for the stress test (chemical) until next month. So they put me on a no or very low salt diet, limited my fluids, and can have chicken, turkey or fish if it is broiled, boiled, but no breading and nothing fried. I am so limited that it is miserable. I used to love to cook, but not now. Even going to the store is difficult. I can't have anything in a can, frozen, it has to be fresh. I am still tired, but worse. So many doctor appointments. You know how it goes....
Oh, and all the heavy prednisone doses have given me diabetes. So I have to watch sugar for the next three months, then they will test it again. Are we having fun yet???

Tracey's 72nd birthday was on August 26, 2019.

In September 2019, she back channeled me some of the following:

Hang in there, Loren! I have had a copd exacerbation where oxygen was 83%, which was like that for too long. Long enough that it caused heart damage and had only 40% left. Now I have 20% left with heart, congestive heart failure, very low blood pressure (used to be 140/70), but 85/40 now. I've fallen several times, the last was in front of the restaurant where 12 people were waiting on me for my b'day party. Hurt my foot and thought it was broken as the pain was over the top. However, they said it is gout. LOL Gary has had it for 20 years, but I've never had it. Anyway, that's my story. Still in rehab. Haven't been home in 17 days. I got over my stroke almost immediately because I thought it could be one and took an aspirin immediately. It was in my left eye. Was only blind about 5 minutes....
I was in the hospital in Phoenix from 9/3 to 9/13. They sent me by ambulance to this care home/therapy location that is closer to the house. I have been taken care of from 9/3 to 9/26. They are trying to build me up enough to have open heart surgery, to walk again, etc, Starting tomorrow trying to walk. Every time i turn around its something new.

Publicly, on Facebook, Tracey then wrote on October 16, 2019: "Hi...at home, doing fine. Still ornery and positive. :) Gary says to tell you we are hangin' in there. Love you all and thanks for your many prayers."

Then, Tracey stopping writing.

We all sadly will miss her. She was greatly loved by the Class of '65. And she loved Gary and her family so much...