Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my old high school friends! Even though I live many miles away from practically all of you, I do think about you often. You mean more to me with each passing year.

It’s nearly noon on Christmas Eve, and we are certainly going to have a green Christmas. We’ve had a couple of snowstorms, but the weather has been too warm for it to last, and the ground is almost entirely bare of snow at this point.

A thought on Christmas: It’s the time of year that softens our hearts a bit, to the extent that we can feel sorry for the poor Christmas tree ornaments that won’t be hung this year, because no tree that will fit in our living room could possibly hold the number of ornaments we have accumulated over the years. And if we tried to hang them all, it would be Epiphany before we finished and time to take the tree down.

I’ll close with the blessing the shepherds gave to the Holy Family just as the Family was departing for Egypt (or so the story goes in Berlioz’ work “Childhood of Christ”):

May you never feel the blows of injustice. May a good angel warn you of the dangers that hover over you.

Peace, prosperity, health, and happiness to all in 2020!

Roger Cooke

BELATED CONDOLENCES

Reverend Charles T. Gill, 76, received eternal rest and peace on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at 3:55 p.m. at Rosewood Care Center. Our condolences, much belated, go out to Charles's family and friends. Thanks to Larry Donahue for alerting us and to Janice Gill, Charles's widow, for specifics so his obituary could be found and published on the "In Memory" page.  You may leave personal remembrances on "In Memory." 

2019 Classmate deaths:  Note- We have lost another dear classmate

Margaret Anne (Thies) Macias, 77, died at 2:50 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 at Willow Rose Nursing and Rehab in Jerseyville. Born Aug. 17, 1942 in Alton, Illinois, she was the daughter of Orville and Lorene (Baldridge) Thies. Our sincere condolences to family and friends. 

Gary Don Ralston, 77, peacefully passed from this life on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Godfrey, Illinois with his devoted wife by his side. Our condolences to his family and friends. 

Donna Marie (Musgrave) Covington, 76, formerly of East Alton, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. See In Memory for funeral details for Feb. 15-16, 2019 in Alton. Our condolences go out to her family and friends. 

Paul Phillips Jr., 76, of Peoria passed away at 12:02 p.m. on January 18th, 2019 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Our condolences go to his wife, our classmate, Nancy Conour Phillips, and his large family. 

2018 Classmate deaths:

Gary L. Bogart,  75, of St. Pete Beach, Florida, died on June 19, 2018, after a long illness. Our condolences to his family and friends. 

Thomas M. Stuchlik died on Friday, March 23, 2018. He was in the midst of his loving family, with the exception of his dear brother, Terry, who had died just a few months before. Our condolences to his family and friends. 

Mr. Errol Floyd "Dutch" Hauhe died February 19, 2018. He is interred at Bellerive Gardens. Our condolences to his family and friends. For more information and pictures, go to "In Memory." 

2017 Classmate deaths: Sad news, another classmate loss in 2017 

Miriam Ann “Sis” Norman, 74, died at 5:42 p.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, MO.  Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton where funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2017.  Our condolences go to her family and friends. 

Sandra K. “Sandy” Beattie, age 74, of Alton, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family. Our condolences go to her family and friends. 

2016 Classmate deaths:  

Alice A. (Harris) Martin went home to be with  the Lord Tuesday, October 11, 2016,  at Robing Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Brighton, Illinois. Our condolences go to her family and friends. 

Jeffery  "Jeff" Dean Pinkerton passed away on August 29. 2016 at his home in Centennial, Colorado, following a lengthy illness.Our condolences go to his family and friends.

Lathan C. Ruffin, 74, departed this life on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Alton Nursing & Rehab. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. 

You may post remembrances of any of our deceased classmates on the "In Memory" site. Please do. If you knew someone who has passed, leave a memory for the rest of us and their families. 

LET US KNOW! Hi, everyone. Just a thought. Please let your next of kin know about our website, so that if anything happens to you, they can LET US KNOW! 

Donna Musgrave Covington has been moved to a new care facility. Details of this move and her mailing address are given on her profile page. Thanks to Karen Hatcher, Jim Hatcher's wife and Donna's sister for the information. 

I am sad to say I lost my Sister to Alzheimer Feb. 7, 2019 She was 76. Her arrangements will be in Alton on Fri. Feb.15, for visitiation from 4-8 and Funeral Will be Sat. Feb.16 at Calvary Bapt. Church on Washington Ave. Alton at 10:00 a.m. She battled this horrible disease for almost 5 yrs. Rest in peace dear Sister. You will be greatly missed by your sister and husband (Karen and Jim Hatcher)and her three children and their families. Obituary can be found at Gents Funeral Home in Alton. Karen and Jim Hatcher

Technical Glitches - When removing announcements from the site, we've been experiencing some glitches. They show up as removed, and then later appear on the HOME PAGE as new. Apologies to Donna Covington's family for the recent re-emergence of a note about her.  We renew our condolences on your loss.