40th Class Reunion - 2006

August Summer Nights Camp Fire
EHS Class of ’66 – 40th Class Reunion
August 4th-5th, 2006

What a time was had by all who attended the first weekend in August 2006, EHS Class of '66 - 40th Anniversary Reunion!!

George was literally the "last comic standing" by the end of the evening. Who knew he was so funny!! He kept diving into his mother's "shed" and coming out with all sorts of “gifts” to bestow on his fellow classmates!!

Dick Hermsen even received his very own personalized paddle, after all these years. It was similar to the “Big E” paddle that senior EHS athletes carried…
Some came just to say a quick "hello" and leave...others came to see "who was there" and others came "just because" they wanted to be near their dear friends of almost 60 years!! As it turned out everyone stayed and had a great time! It's too bad it got dark and late so quickly. I am told George took a dip in the pond before the night was over….



Bobbie Jo McCarty Ross lit ten candles, set in a wreath that was floated on the pond, for the classmates we’ve lost over the past forty years, as George Gollehon read off the names – Richard Austin, Eddie Christensen, Dale Dow, Ernie Haarstad, Buddy Norman, Manning Games, Gladys Rhodes Treadway, Michael Elston, Karen Robbie Vojtecky and Melody Marshall.

AND to top it all off, “the” Mr. Dick Hermsen presented yours truly with her very own Eatonville, 8th Grade AND high school diplomas!! I have the photographs to prove that they meant business, too, with a real EHS cap and gown. I was so proud!! So thank you George and Rhea, Joyce and Tim, Robin and Bobbi Jo, Susan and Lynn!! It was worth every minute of your time and effort!! This will remain one of my happiest moments. I can't even begin to tell you. I found out later that Ms. Thorvaldson was in on it, too!! I also received a wonderful engraved vase and flowers. I have it sitting on my desk at work, my "trophy". It’s beautiful!! Thank you!!

Attendees on Friday night were:
George Gollehon and his mother, Bev
Rhea Hogan and Lance Gillispie
Tim and Aleta Curtis Daniel
Lynn Rave Dow Arneson (husband Rick joined us on Saturday)
Joyce McBride and LC Campbell
Bobbie Jo McCarty Ross
Diane Jellison and Alan Grant
Robin Butler and Lanny Jaquish
Susan Sjoblom and Fred Miller
Corky Hale
Randy Wilson
Nancy Harless Wilson
Cathy Coburn Shelley
Pete Hollis (wife Pai joined us on Saturday)
Ed and Sharon Inwards Vormestrand
Phil and Marie Smith
Steve Dawkins
Donna Hendricks Collins and friend Ralph
Nancy White and Rory Buck
Chrystal Lawyer and Mac Chapin
Lloyd and Jill Emery
Denny and Delite Morris
Georgia Collins and Rod Farris
Janis Henley and Dan Ahrendsen
George and Chris Schutte
Pam Simons and Dave Latourette
Sharon Rembusch Clevenger
Kathy Kizer and Joe Sisko
Marlayne Allison and Rich Elliff
Erik Pedersen
Lynda Sivertson Hussain
Dick and Val Hermsen
Rosemary Tomczak and David Wassenmiller


We met again at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning, at the annual Eatonville Art Festival for breakfast. Mary Lytle Gronzo and Dave and Linda William (no "s"), along with Margit Thorvaldson and Shirley Daniel met us there, along with most of the crowd from Friday night.

We had also invited Velma Kjelstad Boyles, Clarence and Colleen Pearson, Betty Murphy Meyers, John “Jack” DeFigh, Sharon Van Eaton, Margo Bloom and Chuck Snyder to join us for a salute to our teachers, principals, coaches, parents, classmates and shopkeepers but they were unable to attend. We were privileged to have Dick and Val Hermsen, Margit Thorvaldson and Shirley Daniel, in attendance.

There were a couple of first time “reunion” attendees whom we welcomed with open arms: Nancy Harless Wilson, Pete Hollis, Dave William, Mary Lytle Gronzo and Georgia Collins Farris.

The tour of the high school, and what used to be the grade school, was next on our agenda. Danny Dawkins was gratuitous enough to give us a tour of the hallowed halls of EHS and provide commentary of the many changes over the past forty years. He also gave us the latest update on the renovation set to start next summer.

Next was a photo op on the front steps of the “old” grade school and before we knew it, it was time to catch the party bus to Kirkland for the Argosy Dinner Cruise. We were joined, for the cruise, by Darrell and Billie Mooers. A great time was had by all.

All agreed this two-day event was one of the best yet. Tim and George have already started “planning” our 45th but wouldn’t elaborate on the details. Remember there will be a Class of ’66 - 41st Reunion gathering on Saturday, August 5th, 2007 at the annual Eatonville Art Festival.

Due to technical difficulties, the only copy of the EHS Class of ’66 - 40th Anniversary Cruiser “book” I had on hand was the draft copy I’d given to Joyce McBride to review for me. Maybe that was a good thing as over the course of the weekend I realized I’d forgotten to include two bios and received another new bio. Steve Dawkins also provided a few more photographs from out of our past.