I have changed this Message Forum to Member Chatter so we do not have two different Message Forum web pages.  Member Chatter is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no topics, subtopics, etc. like there is in the Message Forum web page.

Member Chatter works when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry.

John Schmidt Jr.

Armando, it was great seeing you again at the reunion and thanks for keeping us up to date on our good friend Louie.  I too have Louie and his sweet wife Dora in my prayers.

Armando Maldonado

Glenn and John, I received the DVD and class picture which really came out great.  Thank you so much for putting in all of the time and effort into the reunion and the DVD. 

I visited Louie Saturday at the hospital, but have to say it wasn't easy to see him.  He is on a respirator, feeding tube and IV.  He was heavily sedated so he spends much time sleeping.   He did recognize I was there, but poor guy couldn't keep his eyes open to look at me.  Let's all keep him and his family in our prayers and I will continue to keep you aprised of his condition. 

Steve, thank you for your concern and prayers.  They are needed now more than ever. 

Claire Meckler

Dear Glenn, John, and the alumni committee,

Thank you all so very much for all the work you did to made the reunion such a wonderful time for all of us! Seeing the group pic and all the fun photos on the DVD made the sweet memories come back afresh--and made me realize I'd neglected to express my heartfelt appreciation in writing.  This is actually the first time I've attempted an entry on the website (old fashioned, lo-tech me!).  

So please know that every detail of your team effort is warmly remembered--from the name tags to the gift bags (am using and enjoying my Irvin water bottle!), from the variety of planned activities (historic tours, casual gatherings, and elegant last evening!)--each giving opportunity for good interactions as we mixed and mingled to get re-acquainted with old friends.  Thanks again to each of you in whatever part you played to make it all happen.

May God continue to bless you in the coming Christmas season--and throughout the New Year.

Sincerely, Claire 

Armando Maldonado

I wanted to let everyone know that Louie Carrillo is now out of ICU, but still remains very weak.  He is to begin rehabbing to gain strength and speech and to be able to eat without feeding tube.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  I will let you know how things progress.

Armando

Steve Clemens

Great news Armando !  Thx.

Glenn Gonzalez

Thank you, Armando.  Your update on Louie is promising.  We'll keep praying for Louie and Dora.

Martha (Marty) Vass (Townsend)

Mando,

    Thank you for the update on Luis.  I will keep he and Dora in my prayers.

Marty

Sherry Shutt (Reed)

I also want to thank you for posting the update, Armando, and will keep praying for Louie and Dora.

Armando Maldonado

My dear friend and our classmate, Luis Carrillo passed away this morning at 4:00 a.m.  He is now free of all the pain he endured the last two years.  May he rest in peace and enjoy the choir of angels in heaven. 

Glenn Gonzalez

Armando, thank you for posting the very sad update on Louie.  His wife, Dora Smith, also posted info on his death earlier today on Facebook.  We are terribly saddened that Louie has passed away.  I recall meeting him in the sixth grade, when we played on the same football team - along Armando Maldonado.  He was at Crosby, while I was at Stanton.  He was a good friend since that time.  I am sure many recall his great friendship and humor during our high school days.  Louie loved being with classmates.  At our 45th reunion in 2011 he was the very first to sign up for the reunion and really looked forward to our 50th this past October.  We thank his wife Dora for bringing Louie to the reunion.  He was happy to see us, and we were equally thrilled to see him.  We pray that Louie will have eternal rest and peace for his family and friends.

Martha (Marty) Vass (Townsend)

I am so sad to hear about Louie.  I met him when I cam to Crosby on the Sixth Grade.  My prayers are with his wife and family.      Marty

Janett Sarracino

Cheryl Greer, Sandy Messer and I had lunch on Monday and we were thinking of Louie and Dora. So sad and so grateful for getting to share a little bit of precious time with them at our reunion. Armando, we thank you for making that happen.       

John Schmidt Jr.

What a sad day, we all lost a great friend and I know Dora has lost her best friend.  We didn’t become good friends until our senior year of high school.  I, like many of you have great memories of Louie.  One memory that sticks out is that Louie and I went many times to the illegal drag strip to run his, which I believe was a 56 Chevy.  That usually meant work when we got back.  I can’t count the times that he would snap a leaf spring and one time blew a head gasket.  We would always do the repairs ourselves and had fun doing it.  Louie and I have stayed in contact all these years even if it was only exchanging Christmas card every year, I will truly miss my friend Louie.  My prayers go out to Louie, Dora, and their family.

Judy (J Ann) Lee (Sjostrom)

Mary Allen (Lambert)

It's so sad to hear about Louie's passing.  I remember him at the reunion and how brave he was.  My condolences to his wife and family.

Armando Maldonado

I met Louie in sixth grade at Crosby with both of us in Mrs. Gross' class.  I remember him as a slightly built, gangly kid.  We would play touch football before school and lunch time and Louie would be the most elusive runner with the football.  I swear he could move in six different directions at once.  Glenn mentioned the three of us playing on the same tackle football team as 11 and 12 year olds.  i remember playing a game against a team that had won all its games and had not allowed a point to be scored against them.  I was quarterbacking and recall rolling to my right and seeing Louie all by himself at the left sideline where upon I threw the ball to him.  Unfortunately he tried to run before catching the ball and dropped it.  We lost 80 to 0, but could have been the only team to score against them.  I would remind Louie of that every time we met.

Once we got to high school we weren't as close as grade school, but I remember Louie and I as seniors, beiing in the same typing class with all freshmen.  Louie was amazing on a typewriter.  The teacher let him try the one electric typewriter we had in class and boy, he could type more that 100 wpm.  After high school we all went our separate ways and didn't see Louie until after we both left the Army and Navy respectively.  We went out one night and didn't get back home until 5:30 in the morning the next day.  I found out later that my mom stayed up all night waiting for me to return.  That was the last time I saw Louie until I believe, our 30th class reunion. 

I'm not sure if anyone knows this, but Louie was a combat Vietnam veteran.  He told me that in order not to worry his parents, he told them he was a clerk/typist and not involved in combat which was not true as he was a "grunt" in the field.  Unfortunately, the war was what eventually killed him as he was exposed to agent orange with all of his health issues attributed to it according to the VA doctors.

I feel blessed that Louie and I were able to reconnect thanks to the class renuions.  That is when we began seeing and communicating with each other more frequently.  He would be my "date" for the reunions and would make connections with other classmates so easily.  I am going to truly miss him.  I know that he thoroughly enjoyed the 50th reunion and was pleased to have all come by to visit.   He will be sadly missed. 

Martha (Marty) Vass (Townsend)

Beautiful tribute, Armando!

Glenn Gonzalez

Armando, thanks for sharing your thoughts on Louie.  He is a first class guy and a friend to everyone.  He especially loved coming to our reunions.  Like you, I also became closer to Louie and his wife Dora through our reunions.  I am so thankful he was able to attend our last reunion and thankful to all who visited with him. It was a special time for him, as well as a special time for us.  I am glad we were able to provide a little happiness to Louie before he departed.  We pray for Louie's eternal rest. 

Tom Seitz

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and may forces bring you a PROSPEROUS YEAR!      Tom and Greta Seitz

Nancy Dralle (Elson)

Annie Henry Billingsley suffered a heart attack on Christmas Day. Doctors did everything possible and with prayers from multitudes of family and friends, our sweet friend peacefully went to be with her family in Heaven on New Year's Day.

Annie's sister, Sue Henry Teas, and her aunt, Judy Springer Propest, were by her side in Temple, Texas.

Glenn Gonzalez

Thank you, Nancy, for sharing information on Annie Henry Billingsley.  We are deeply saddened that Annie has passed away.  I was blessed to have been her friend for many years and will miss her.  Though we did not see each other for many years after high school, we reconneceted in 2007.  Since then, Annie was active with our classmates and renewed many friendships.  I am so very glad that we had time together before her passing and was looking forward to her return to Hill Country.  Sadly, that will not happen.  We cherish our time with friends.  Please hug your family and friends and say a prayer for Annie and her family.

Sharon Burman (Bidwell)

Thank you Nancy for letting us know about Annie. You have been so kind to keep us updated on Annie's condition from the beginning.  I continue to pray for Annie's family during this difficult time.  

Judy (J Ann) Lee (Sjostrom)

Harriet Hayth (Garcia)

May Annie's loved ones be comforted by beautiful thoughts of her kind and gentle nature. After having not attended any of the previous reunions, I am so grateful to Glenn for calling me about the 50th reunion and encouraging me to attend. It was amazing to see such wonderful classmates after 50 years and hear about their lives and families. From humble beginnings at Irvin they have gone on to accomplish so much to make this world a better place. I only regret that I did not attend some of the earlier reunions, especially after seeing the in memorium list of names and the classmate losses that have occurred since the reunion. God bless all of you and I am so grateful to have been your classmate. 

Nancy Dralle (Elson)

John Schmidt, I just watched the 50th reunion DVD! Wow! What a collection of wonderful moments. Though Merle and I missed Saturday, and I really missed seeing some folks I would have loved to hug and talked to, this reunion looked to be the best one ever! Thank you.