Barbara Cummings-Giles

Barbara Cummings Giles

Stats: Married 44 years to Jim Giles, class of '56. Two children, Jeff and Michelle. Both married, we have four grandchildren: our first grandgirl, seven years, set of twin girls four years and a baby boy to carry on the "Giles" name.
Left College in my junior year to come to the "Golden State". Began my career in the San Francisco Bay Area at Stanford University in the Internal Audit Office. Left to begin a family and stayed home for their "formative" years. Taught art to elementary students in a grant program and then as a volunteer for the afterschool programs.
Moved to Southern California and took a position as assistant to the president of four art galleries in the broader Los Angeles area. That is my true passion. After the president moved to the east coast, I began a career in the local real estate market. My "coup" was a property I sold to a member of Motley Crue, and my son still thinks I'm cool.
Personally, we have been very lucky to take advantage of traveling to wonderful places in the world. And, to marvel at the growth of our wonderful grandchildren. I look upon our high school years as a time of America at its best.

Sincerely,
Barbara

Crover-Reed, Barbara

I’m married to Glen Reed, Oregon City class of 1956, and no he didn’t steal the Lion. We’ve been married for 32 years. Between us we have five children. One son and four daughters, ten grandkids, and three greats. What fun.

We live in Redland on the property Glen moved to in 1947 with his folks. We really enjoy being country folk.

I enjoy reading, antiquing, and collecting. We like to camp and ride motorcycles. Mostly Glen rides but occasionally I go along for the ride.

We go to church in Gladstone ( Gladstone Christian) where I have attended since 1954 or so. It plays a big part in my life. I grew in the church there as well as my kids.

I’ve worked at various jobs over the years and retired twice. From the old West Linn Inn as a waitress to a machine operator for P&C Tool, a vet assistant to managing the OC Christian Supply. I retired from there then several years later my sister talked me into working for her and her husband in there garage door business. I retired from there in 1999 and now I am just tired. We do enjoy the retired life.

One of my fun trips was to Korea and Thailand with Brenda Yeaple Laughterbach. We were visiting my daughter and family. While in Korea we visited the DMZ. What an interesting and very sobering place. While in Thailand we went on a Safari. We got to ride an elephant, paddle canoes down a river, visited the worlds largest jewelry store. What an experience that trip was. I really enjoyed visiting different countries and soaking up such diverse cultures.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.
Barbara





Barbara Crover Reed

Steve Immer

Hi, West Linn High School alumni! Steve Immer here, with a quick bio over the last 50 years since we finished our high school life in June 1960. I graduated from Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA in 1964 with a B.A. degree. I also began an on-going interest in outdoor adventures,starting with mountain climbing in the Cascades, including reaching the summits of Rainier, Hood (twice) and St. Helens (it was taller then). Next was a stint in the Coast Guard Reserve (with Bob Keeney, interestingly enough) to get my military obligation out of the way. I then attended the University of Oregon for two years, getting a Master’s Degree (M.A.) in History in 1968. I then taught history for three years in the south, in predominately African-American colleges in North Carolina and Mississippi. I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1972, where I worked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for six years, picking up a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. along the way. I then moved to Denver, CO, in 1978, taking an assignment with the U.S. Department of Housing and urban Development (HUD), where I worked until 1981. At that time I had a classic, textbook mid-life crisis, the details of which I will not bore you for even a second. At the age of 40 my life basically came crashing down, with my career, my relationships and my identity all seriously in question, if not total disarray. It seems like guys in that position only have two locales from which to choose to work through all this: the mountains or the beach. Since I like to ski, I chose Breckenridge, CO. I then started a new career, this time in real estate, working as the general manager for a property and vacation rental management company for 12 years. My partner and I then sold our business for a ridiculous profit in 1996, and I have been a semi-retired ski bum in Breckenridge ever since.

OK, so much for the standard job-oriented personal history. The more interesting stuff is my own private journey, the zigs and zags of love, adventure and even occasional insights of wisdom that one picks up over time. For openers, I have stayed single all these years. I like freedom. Plus, I watched most of my West Linn High School classmates (all of whom had much more developed social skills than me) fall in love, get married and eventually end up in divorce court. The astronomical divorce rate of the WLHS class of ’60 was an excellent role model for me on how NOT to do things relationship-wise. I instead put my non-business energies into more fun things like health, fitness, music, skiing and travel. Example: I attended the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler, B.C. as a Volunteer Ski Jumping Distance Judge, where I got to hang out with classmates Carol McCarty Greenough and Denny Latham, a Volunteer at the Alpine Skiing events. At the age of 67 I can say with all sincerity that I have had a lot of fun with my bachelor lifestyle, and I look forward to many more years of spontaneous, free-wheeling experiences. I’ll see all of you in mid-August, so be sure to say hi so that we can all get caught up in each other’s experiences perceptions and wisdom over the past fifty years. See ya soon!!

Doug Mock

Doug Mock
When I left Oregon I moved to Nevada. I lived there for about four years.
From there I moved to Mexico and was there for six years. Then back to
Portland. I currently live in Long Creek, Oregon, not far from John Day.
I have four children. Three sons and one daughter and I have eight grandkids

Anderson-Barham, Jane & Barham, Ken

Anderson-Barham, Janie & Barham, Ken

Married almost 48 years

Had 3 daughters and they have had combined 4 grand children all living close.

Janie worked for Kaiser for a while after school until Ken and her married and quit to take are of the family.

Ken worked for Boeing 37 years prior to retirement.

Ken hunted for many years.

Both are now retired and enjoying it a great deal.

Ken is still working on older classic cars

Both are looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

Gewecke-Hamilton, Kay

Boise, Idaho
August 1, 2010

To the Class of 1960,

Unfortunately our grand niece in Seattle announced 2 years ago that August 21, 2010 would be her wedding day and we were to be there. So that means that I will not be able to attend the gathering and celebration of our 50 Golden years away from good old West Linn High. In glancing at the responses of those who have responded with information on the blog, I believe it will be an interesting time; although I am not sure just how many folks I would actually recognize. Other than Linda Bancke and Mary Forsberg Latulippe, I have really not kept in touch with classmates. I think it would be interesting to hear what everyone had done these past 5 decades.

Upon graduating from West Linn High I trundled off to Cottey College in Nevada, Mo. Cottey is a 2 year women’s college owned by the PEO sisterhood. I received my Associate of Arts from there and then went on to Washburn University in Topeka, Ds. Where I received my BA in Political Science and History with a minor in Secondary Education. I enjoyed my 4 years in the mid west & the opportunity to become acquainted with a totally different environment from Oregon. Cottey provided me not only with an education but helped build my self confidence and leadership skills and friendships with women around the world.

Upon receiving my BA and teaching credential I ended up as the only female faculty member in the very small ranching community of Bruneau, Idaho @ their High School. Bruneau is located in the SW corner of Idaho & the high school has since been consolidated with the Grand View High School and is called Rimrock. My husband, Bob Hamilton, was introduced to me by his sister who was married to a local rancher. Bob was with Mountain Bell telephone Company & upon our marriage we moved to Caldwell, Idaho where I taught first in the junior high and then at the Marsing Job Corp Center,

After the birth of our first son, John, in 1969 I quit working outside the home & remained home with John and his brother Jason who was born in 1971 and 1976. In 1953 23 moved to Boise and I dabbled in politics, first as committee woman and then as a candidate for the State Senate on the Democratic ticket. Idaho is the second most Republican state in the USA, so needless to say, I was not elected. However, I was appointed to the Idaho Human Rights Commission for a three year term which was followed by a six year term on the Idaho Women’s Commission.

I returned to school @ Boise State University in ’78 for a master’s degree in Public Administration. Simultaneous to my return to school I began a part time position with the El Ada Community Action Agency developing a program with the courts using misdemeanor defendants for community service in lieu of jail or fines, From that association with the courts I was appointed as a no attorney Magistrate Judge for the State of Idaho. Upon taking the bench I was required to successfully complete an extensive education program to retain the position, along with courses from the National Judicial College in Reno, NV.

Idaho Magistrates stand for election every 4 years on a retention ballot and I was fortunate enough to receive 75% or more yes responses each election until my retirement. It was an interesting, and rewarding career. I found that being a woman in a position of authority could be very challenging. If I made a decision that was not popular it was because I was a bitch & I received a great deal of criticism…when a male colleague made a similar decision he was lauded and praised for being assertive. So as my case load expanded and attorneys began to look for jogs it became apparent that an early retirement was a good choice.

Along with being a wife, Mom and judge I have also remained active in our community & church. I have served as a Presbyterian elder & deacon, youth fellow ship leader, Sunday school teacher, etc, etc. I continue to be active in the Boise Soroptimist, as a volunteer for the Visitor’s Center, as a leader in my PEO chapter, and have been able to resume an active interest in local government and politics.

Our son John is a successful choral director currently in Los Angeles at the Hamilton Music Academy. His choirs have been very successful in Jazz competitions and chosen to perform for the National Association of Choral Directors. A couple of years ago he was asked and directed the Oregon High School Jazz Honor Choir. He has also been an adjudicator at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. Our son Jason is a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. Although the Coast Guard sent him through law school at the University of Washington his current assignment is as the XO on an ice breaker the Polar Sea & he is stationed out of Seattle. Jason and his wife have blessed us with 2 beautiful granddaughters, which makes we wish we lived closer so that I could really spoil them.

We are very happy to be healthy and living in the clean and bustling small city of Boise. We are avid fans of the Boise State Bronco’s and enjoy traveling when time and money allow. Greeting to all my fellow 1960 West Linn High graduates.

Hooray for the green and gold,
Kay
Kay Gewecke-Hamilton

Elledge-Bruffey, Cathy

Cathy Elledge Bruffey

I graduated from Oregon State University
and married a Naval Supply Officer.
We had two children Crystal and Peter.
We were stationed in California, Georgia,
South Carolina, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
Virginia, and the Philippines. I enjoyed being
a stay at home mom. We parted ways and
now my husband is from North Carolina and
is a computer analyst. I am an accountant and am partly retired.
We have been in Columbia, South Carolina for the last 12 years.
We are both active in Duplicate Bridge and enjoy traveling.
I have really loved reading about all the people. Wish
I could have made it to the reunion. Have a great time.

Click on Picture for it to show better(Sorry Scott)