
Neodesha, Kansas, Historical Home Page
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Hot off the press 2008:
The Neodesha High School
Alumni Association invites you to the annual meeting:
Saturday, June 14, 2008 at North Lawn Elementary School, 620 Granby Street, Neodesha. Friday June 13th: 4th Annual NHS Alumni Golf Tournament, 1:30 pm @ Sycamore Valley Golf Course. Saturday, June 14th: North Lawn
Elementary There will be a car show held in Neodesha May 17th, graduation weekend. They hope to expand the show this year and have food and vendor booths, climbing wall, as well as many showpiece cars and tractors. You may get to see the green Edson Thunderbird mentioned below. For further information contact john mills The NHS Class of 1943 will be holding their 65th Reunion on June 13th. Any interested classmate please contact Charles Dillmore at cdillmore@centurytel.net or Marie Clegg in Neodesha at 620-325-3347. David A. Garber, 74, passed away April 13, 2008. Former policeman and sheriff deputy. Ernest Ballard, 59, passed away April 8, 2008. Ernie was the brother of Rubie Ballard Kirk and his deceased brother Everett Ballard.
Blanche Reed, 90, passed away April 8, 2008.
Blanche was the mother of classmate Geneva Reed Greenlee, Larry
Reed, Katherine, and Evelyn.
Hi Kerry,
My name is Shawn
Gentry I graduated in Neodesha in 1996. I have a portrait studio in
neodesha I have had open since 2003. I closed for a year or so due
to my youngest born in 2006 being 8wks premature. We soon found out
she has a brittle bone disease. Laci is almost 2 now and doing better.
I am reopening the studio in my home. We have remodeled the garage I'm
ready to get back into shooting portraits full time again. My reason
for this email is I have shot Class reunion pictures since 2003 and
really enjoyed it. I didn't take every class each year but I did
several each year. I have a good portfolio of Neodesha Class reunions!
Thanks,
Shawn Gentry
gentry's
photography
620-325-4133
Here are the reunions that I know
about:
1943 June 13
1948 June 13-14
1953 October 10-11
1954 September 14-17
1958 June 13-15
1963 June 13-15
1968 June 14
1973 June 14
1978 June 14
1983 not known, no plans so far
1988 October 3-4
1993 June 14
1998 September 12-13
2003 June 14
You can see that there will be at least 9 reunions during the
Alumni Association Annual Meeting in June, so if you wish to have
Shawn do the photography you might call her or e-mail her at
gentrysportraits@cableone.net .
April 26th will be the Multiple Sclerosis Contribution drive
in Neodesha complete with chili cook-off. If you are an annual
contributor as I am, you can mail your donation directly to Sue Reed
Wilkes, NHS 1963:
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
c/o SUE WILKES
4915 NEWTON ROAD
NEODESHA KS 66757
The Neodesha High School Class of
1953 will hold their 55th Reunion which will be held on October 11th in
Neodesha. For information please contact: Ada Belle Hunter Davis - 1515
Evergreen Place - Fircrest, WA 98466 253-565-3061 - e-mail -
adabelle@wamail.net The NHS class of 1954 will meet in Branson again this year - September 14 thru 17 (2008). Classmates may contact Janis Hawthorne Moore at Janismoore@worldnet.att.net
The class of '55 will meet for lunch in the Kansas City area.
If you are a Neody Grad or have ever attend school in Neodesha (any year
- spouses welcome too) and would like to join us we would be glad to
have you.
Just let us know in advance so we can save you a seat.
Meet for lunch on
Monday, May 12, 2008 at 1:00 at Hereford
House.
5001
Town Center Dr.
Leawood
KS
(North side
of Town Center near Roe)
Please RSVP if you plan to attend. (So we can
save you a seat.)
Joanna Holt Caudell, NHS 1953, passed away in 2008. George Lux, NHS 1950, passed away January 12, 2007 from cancer. Father of Larry Lux. Pamala Reves Drake has sent pictures of her mother, Charlene Ayars Reves, as Neodesha's May Fest Queen in 1933. Click here to see the three pictures: REVES Pamala is related to Neodesha Derry. Laura Gildart, 80, died March 23, 2008. Mother of Randy, Rick & Jackie. Sarah M. Weems, NHS 62, passed away from a brain tumor on March 3, 2008. Sister of Janet and George IV. ![]() Marjorie Hemme, 89, passed away March 8th, 2008. Mother of Keith, Don, Linda and Nancy. From David & Vicki (Carver) Pendleton:
Today Vickie and I became
owners of the Brown Hotel Properties. We will commence construction on
the 15th of April. I want to take a moment and thank you and your staff
for the many times you were of assistance in getting this project
underway. It has been a struggle to commence, but it will be an endeavor
that I believe will be worth our while.
Thank you all for being there when we needed
you.
From Terry Peck & Tonya Peck Cox:
Just wanted to tell you that my mom and dad (Loren and Ramona) and some
friends have been remodeling Lou's Smokehouse for Lou Greaves. It is located
in the old Chambers Jewelry building and the building just east as well
(adjoining rooms). We knocked a hole between both buildings, and put in a
bar. We also built in a stage with sound and lights for our Friday night
Coffee House with our local young and old musicians to entertain. It's
really cool.
We are now getting ready to start with the decor. I have some old pictures
of Neody musicians like Haywire, John Deer, Grimes Poznikov, and even
Electric Fuzz at TeenTown. We also have some older pictures of Neodesha.
What we are looking for is to borrow Neodesha Memorabilia from folks who
would like to donate them. We would tag them for ownership and proudly
display them on Lou's walls. I didn't know if you could post this on your
website. My contact information is:
Terry Peck
522 Osage
Neodesha, KS 66757
cell: 620-205-7221
home: 620-325-2345
work: 620-325-2653 ext. 550 (Cobalt Boats)
T. T. "Bud" Sutton, 87, passed away February 27, 2008. Father of Bobbi Katzer & Richard Sutton. Robert "Bob" Allen, 66, passed away February 13th, 2008. Former police officer. Howard Howell, 80, passed away February 8th, 2008. The Neodesha High School Class of 1959, 50th reunion to be held in the summer of 2009. Peggy (Talley) Winfrey would like for class members to send their addresses, phone numbers and emails to her at pegstr7@yahoo.com . Special thanks to the Neodesha Alumni Association for their continued financial support for this website. In addition, thanks to the recent contribution by Robert & Marilyn (Smith) Graham, NHS 1963 as well as Dennis & Peggy (Talley) Winfrey.
The class of '55 will meet for lunch in the Kansas City area.
If you are a Neody Grad or have ever attend school in Neodesha (any year
- spouses welcome too) and would like to join us we would be glad to
have you.
Meet for lunch on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 1:00 at Mimi's Cafe.
8301 W.
135th St
Overland
Park, KS
913-897-5669
Please RSVP if you plan to attend. (So we can save you a seat.)
Irene Howe, 92, died February 8, 2008. She was owner of Merle Norman Boutique and worked for the First National Bank in Neodesha at one time. Mother of Gerald, Katherine, Charlotte, Wesley, Helen and Mort. Max Allen, 87, NHS 38, passed away February 8, 2008. Husband of Gayle Killion Allen. Father of David, Jeanne, Nancy and Charlene. Lawrence J. Katzer, 96, died January 23, 2008. He graduated from NHS in 1929. Larry Meigs, 57, of Altoona, NHS 1968, died in an automobile accident January 21, 2008. He is survived by his brothers Claude Meigs of Thayer and Vincent Meigs of Altoona.
Edson's Thunderbird:
Gary Smith reports his band, The
Haywires, had their picture taken about 1980 with the car:
Da Bell:
Approximately 50 years ago marked the end of an era. Neodesha would play
a Thanksgiving Day football game each year against their rival Fredonia.
The winner would get to display the trophy bell for the following year.
But this time it was stolen or removed after Neodesha won it. The bell
was an old Frisco locomotive bell and was painted half in our colors and
half in Fredonia colors. It had caused many fights and "rumbles"
following the games, and was often the target of thieves from the rival
town. However, this time the bell never reappeared. No police were
called about the break-in, and the bell was gone forever. The most
common theory is that it was thrown in the river. Now that Ed Lyon has
passed away, we will probably never know if it was removed by the
administration(s) and mutually agreed upon. Any later bell not matching
the original is probably not it. Some claim to have seen and rung it,
but that bell does not come close in description. Do you have a theory?
You can e-mail me your facts at
THE BELL
or tell Joe McGuire or Pattie Deer Bailey (NHS 62). |
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Darren Livingston, a past Neodesha student, sent a picture of the 5¢ Coke Machine that stood in front of the Ben Franklin store. Darren owns the machine. To see the picture click here COKE
Can you connect the following five
items?
Bill Lee, NHS 1965, is President
of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame at Lawrence, Kansas. He was busy
collecting Rock & Roll memorabilia when an apartment complex fire
destroyed about everything he had. Here is a link to his website:
Kansas Music
Hall of Fame and here
is a link to the newspaper article with footage of the fire last
December:
Fire survivors have new outlook on life
I was sent this picture by
someone many of us know. Click on the picture for details:
Kathleen Hartman of Colorado
recently found a brick from Neodesha VVV plant where the name was not
spelled correctly. Here is a picture and and article: |
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The Neodesha Library has copies of
many of the Class Annuals on file, in addition to Joe Allen's files. I
have a small collection of Annuals that I am slowly getting scanned into
the computer to share with you. If you would like to donate an annual
that I do not have, you may mail it to the address at the bottom of the
page. Here are the annuals I already have:
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You can now search this website with
this page:
NeodySearch |
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May: |
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I have processed the pictures
submitted by Warren McClintock of the Stephen's Grocery Store and of the
Argo Pump Station (NOT the postcard picture). Again, thanks for the
donations:
WARREN |
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From Rich Lovett:
The Class of 1964 has a new web site
http://www.kcwordworks.com/classof64. |
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April: Lloyd Fernandez Junior has sent
me 3 pictures taken in 1954 of my father, Esley (Junior) and my mother
Ocie Lee Elkins. The third picture is of Lloyd Fernandez Senior and my
father. My father also went by the name of Elko. Here are the three
pictures:
ELKO |
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My mother, Ocie Lee
Elkins-Gentry, collected many articles about Neodesha and saved them in
a scrapbook. After two fires and 60+ years of wear, I have begun trying
to scan some of the information into my website. One article she kept
was about a fire in 1944 at 8th & Main in Neodesha which killed John W.
Deer and his married daughter Vivian Brown. Pattie Deer Bailey has been
kind enough to provide us with a picture of the fire and comments from
her scrapbook. She now has the article and now we have the picture and
more information. |
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March: Gather around, boys and girls.
Uncle Kerry has another story for you. Click
WW2 City Canteen |
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February: Lloyd Cecil Fernandez
attended Neodesha's Central Elementary School until age 9, when he moved
to Florida. He has sent some pictures of his class (NHS 65) at the
Shelter House, pictures of the school playground, and of him on the lap
of Smiley Burnette. You can see them here:
CECIL |
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There are a good hundred people in the
Neodesha area that have unclaimed funds. They can range anywhere from a
dollar to millions. The service is free and it sometimes take a lot of
work to collect the money, because documentation is required. Here is
the site to search for Kansas Claims only:
http://www.kansascash.com or you may use a national site search,
also with no fees, here:
http://www.missingmoney.com |
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Becky Bodley Moar has sent me some of
her favorite things about growing up in Neodesha. Her parents ran Bodley
Hardware and they left Neodesha when she was 10 in 1961.
UPDATE |
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Janna Watson Swizercek, informed
me that her sister, Cathy, died after a very short illness in
California. Her father and mine owned Watson-Elkins Dodge on Main
Street. Leon Watson taught Spanish for many years at NHS, and his wife
Dorothy
was well known to us all. |
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December: Grimes Poznikov graduated from Neodesha in 1964. He passed away in September on a street corner in San Francisco. I have copied an obituary from the San Francisco Chronicle by Kevin Fagen and is available here: Grimes Known as The Human Jukebox, Grimes played his trumpet in the Wharf for many years, succumbing to alcohol and the ravages of years living on the street. He has been cremated and his ashes were spread over the bay. Grimes did leave his heart in San Francisco. One reader informed me that she is planning an opera about his life. Here is an article about him written in 2002: Poznikov . Here is a collection of pictures: Jukebox
This website is only possible with your contributions. I have grouped some of the many people that have recently assisted with this project:
Neodesha Alumni Association, Dennis &
Peggy (Talley) Winfrey, Bob & Marilyn (Smith Graham), Doug & Ruth Ann Guess,
Cheryl (Fenner) Ivy, Edna Smith, Allen & Betsy Zadorozny, Gary Smith, Pat
(Casey) Hamilton, and the NHS Class of 1982. |
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VISIT THE OFFICIAL NEODESHA
WEBSITE
VIEW THE NEODESHA BUSINESS INDEX |
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VISIT THE NORMAN NO. 1 MUSEUM |
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VIEW A MAP OF NEODESHA |
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REGULAR FEATURES |
| Google Search
NeodyGrads.com or use Yahoo to search the pictures on this website: Yahoo Search NeodyGrads Pics |
| Listen to Neodesha's "On Neody! NEW! |
| Neodesha in 1963 or "Let's Drag Main!" |
| Our Guestbook You're Invited to Sign our Guestbook!! |
| Old
Photographs Of the 4 Neodesha Schools Past Articles from the website |
| 1963 Graduation Neo-D-Kan |
| Class of 1963 Newsletters |
| Reunions Send me your reunion picture if not shown! |
| Yearbooks |
| Businesses and Businessmen |
| Old Photos of Neodesha & Surrounding Areas |
| Slides taken in 1960 around Neodesha |
| The final days of the Rainbow Bridge |
| Famous people from Neodesha |
| Archive of past articles I have had on the internet |
| HOW TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION |
| In Memoriam You may add anyone here you wish |
| Kerry's List of Obituaries |
| Neodesha Links |
| Norman No. 1 Museum Information |
| Neodesha Alumni Foundation and Scholarship Fund |
| Kerry's Confused History of Neodesha |
| Motels in the Neodesha Area |
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The Freshman College
Student Today |
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RECENT DEATHS |
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David A. Garber, 74, passed away April 13, 2008.
Former policeman and sheriff deputy.
Ernest Ballard, 59, April 8, 2008, brother of Rubie Ballard Kirk and his deceased brother Everett Ballard
Blanche Reed, 90, April 8, 2008. mother of
Geneva Reed Greenlee, Larry Reed, Katherine, and Evelyn
George Lux, NHS 1950, passed away January 12,
2007 from cancer. Father of Larry Lux.Laura Gildart, 80, died March 23, 2008. Mother of Randy, Rick & Jackie. Sarah M. Weems, NHS 62, brain tumor on March 3, 2008. Sister of Janet and George IV Marjorie Hemme, 89, passed away March 8th, 2008. Mother of Keith, Don, Linda and Nancy. T. T. "Bud" Sutton, 87, February 27, 2008. Father of Bobbi Katzer & Richard Sutton. Robert "Bob" Allen, 66, passed away February 13th, 2008. Former police officer. Howard Howell, 80, passed away February 8th, 2008. Irene Howe, 92, died February 8, 2008. Max Allen, 87, NHS 38, died February 8, 2008 Lawrence J. Katzer, 96, NHS 29, died January 23, 2008 Larry Meigs, 57, Altoona, NHS 68, auto accident January 21, 2008 Ramona Charlene Ayars Reves, NHS 1932, died at the age of 94. Edwin G. Lyon, 89, November 19,2007. Connie Goodmon Johnson, NHS 70, 55, in Neodesha November 1, 2007 Rachel (Mrs. Russell) Vickers, 103, passed away October 25, 2007. Jeffrey Geoph Kozney, 57, NHS 67, passed away October 22, 2007. Robert Bo Jansen, 56, NHS 69, passed away November 6, 2007. Thelma Chambers, Chambers Jewelry, November 11, 2007 in Cherryvale, Ks. Pauline (Mrs. Dale) Pfeifer, 89, November 7, 2007. Mother of Roger & Dick. Donald Watson, 93, NHS 32, Oct. 15, 2007. Father of Barry Watson & Ronda Quinn. Al Kiddoo, 95, NHS 30, died August 12, 2007. Glenn Weatherby, Jr., 85, NHS, passed away June 4, 2007. Billy B. "Corky" Padley, NHS 83 had he completed here, auto accident, Oct. 11, 2007. Violett M. Klingenberg-Tincknell, 93, September 30th. Mother of Ron (dec), Sharon, Richard, Jon & Gary. Lloyd "Jack" Marler, 87, October 1, 2007. Normandy Invasion participant and a WW2 POW. Lewis A. "Red" Kammerer, 89, of NHS 36, died 9-17-07. Father of Robert & Steve Kammerer Darrell "Duke" Donnelly. August 25, 2007 Neodesha High School Instructor Gerald "Cayle" Gray, son of Linda Arnold Olson & Mark Gray Randy Osburn, NHS 66, August 12, 2007 Earl Campbell, 88, father of Jim & Roger Campbell Ellen Northrup Pond, 56, August 4, 2007. Wife of Mick Pond of Sedan Carlie Goode, 89, July 29, 2007. Father of Ronnie, Kellie & Wayne Evelyn Ruth, 72, July 14, 2007 in Frontenac. Past school teacher Forest Tinknell, 85, July 10, 2007 Randy Chamberlain, NHS 67, June 24, 2007 Gary Clover, NHS 64, June 30, 2007 Mike Perry, 42, son of Marty & Dorothy Perry, June 2007 Max Loflin, June 1, at the age of 82. Harvey Campbell, May 14, at the age of 87. Ganell Hall, May 12, at the age of 92. Forrest Cranor, Altoona, May 6, at the age of 86. Delores Bryan Cohee, NHS 1961, passed away April 27th, 2007. Daryl Lewis, 40, NHS 1985, was fatally injured April 14, 2007, in an automobile accident. Meredith Carpenter passed away April 14, 2007. Mother of Rick, Kent, Julie and Kelle. Thelma (Yoho) Roberts Caven, longtime downtown Neodesha ladies clothing store owner, passed away April 9, 2007, at the age of 90. Opal M. (Johnson) Lowry Vorderbruegge, 93, mother of Jimmy Joe Lowry, Patricia J., Loretta, Judy Ann, Robert, Charles (Chuck), Jerry, Linda Sue and Vera Kay. Montie Wallace, NHS 59, died March 20, 2007 at the age of 66. Al Goering, 91, past vocational instructor and scoutmaster, died March 14, 2007. Augusta "Jackie" Hope Lovett, died February 22, 2007, mother of Rodney & Sherry. Don Robson, NHS 50, died February 23, 2007 Lola Ferne Taylor, NHS 66, died February 13, 2007. Betty K. Piatt, NHS 41, mother of Sharon Rhodes and sister of Janice Lopez, 1-27-2007 Aloma Beard, Independence High School 1947, passed away January 21, 2007. David Glynn, NHS 63, passed away January 6, 2007. Lloyd Cecil Fernandez, formerly of Neodesha, died Sunday, December 31, 2006. Dan Cohee, NHS 61, passed away in Neodesha on December 26, 2006. Jerald "Jerry" Hare, NHS 72, died December 4, 2006, at the age of 52. Gene Bongiorni, Jr., November 13, 2006. Rock 'N Roll saxophone player. Wayne Smith, November 12, 2006. Father of Marilyn Smith Graham & Gary Smith. Oris R. Killebrew, October 30, 2006. Father of Lewis and John Killebrew Marion Bailey, October 6, 2006. Mother of Graham, Jeff, and Naida Scott Laforte, NHS 74, October 2, 2006 Paul Beckner, October 1, 2006 Betty Cooper 2006 Sept 26, 2006. Mother of Susan Cooper Lopez Doug Bicknell 2006 NHS 56, September 25, 2006. Brother of Ann Bicknell Bennett Arlene Schoonover Busick, September 25, 2005 Nyla (Upson) Dillmore NHS 43, Sept 10, 2006. Wife of Charles Dillmore |
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Leonard Johnson, August 22, 2006. Photographer. Father of Ralph and Ron Johnson |
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Gladys May (Jackson) Clanton 7-27-2006. Mother of Jimmie Clanton, Janice Marten and Judy Mann. |
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Terry G. Wilkes, NHS 1962, died from heart complications, July 20, 2006 |
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George Dale Carr, NHS 1962, died of cancer July 8, 1006 at 61. |
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Jolene Marler Secrest, NHS 1972, passed away July 8, 2006. Wife of Ron Secrest. |
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Mike Brady, NHS 1965, passed away June 2nd, 2006 |
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Ruth Greer, NHS 43, my aunt, February 16, 2006 |
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This site is privately owned, donation funded. |
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Contributions may be mailed to: Kerry
Elkins, 1153 Glen Drive NE
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