Blog 88 Homer, Pictures, and a bit more

With Christmas past and the new year waiting, probably with holiday gorging still taking place, perhaps a small intrusion is not out of place.

First and foremost, I wish for each of you a grand 2019. Grand probably has many definitions, depending on where you are. For those in good health, may it continue! For those whose health is declining, may it remain constant where it is right now or, better yet, improve. Most importantly, may we all still be erect when 2020 rolls around. Sadly, not all of us will be.

Homer Shanks–and so it was with Homer, whose obituary follows. I did not know Homer well at Jefferson. What I do recall is that his sense of humor was one of the driest I have ever enjoyed. Homer was droll, witty, and fastest on the draw with a sly or uproariously funny comeback. Homer worked with the reunion committee at various times since we graduated.

Homer Kuykendall Shanks, Jr.

July 17, 1936 – November 4, 2018

Homer Kuykendall Shanks, Jr., beloved husband and father, passed away on November 4, 2018, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mickey Anne McKee Shanks; his daughters Eleanor McKee Shanks, Rebecca Pauline Shanks, and Barbara Anne Shanks Geerdes; sons-in-law Donovan Buck and Gregory Geerdes; and grandchildren William Alexander Geerdes, Catherine Anne Geerdes, and Harrison Jacob Buck.
Homer was a proud graduate of Texas A&M College, Class of ’58, and participated in the Fightin’ Texas Aggies Band. He served his country in the US Army after graduation, then came home to Texas and married Mickey in 1962.

He was an avid reader, sharing his love of books with his children and grandchildren. He was known by many for his quick wit and clever sayings.

The family will gather to reminisce about their lives and times with Homer at a later date.

You are invited to sign
the Guestbook at
www.porterloring.com

Where are we now?
As I hear from classmates, I will include comments herein.

Bill Robinson
is in Tennessee! He sent along the following update in November:

I want to thank you for keeping me up to date over the years. My mother passed away in ’06 and I haven’t been back to S.A. in over 10 years, but I do enjoy your newsy emails. Good to know our numbers are still holding up. We left Cincinnati three years ago and now live in Franklin, TN –just a skip down the road from Nashville– and we are loving it here. Huffinton Post lists it as a primo place to retire, and every new comer wants to be the last son of a bitch to move in. Can’t blame”em. Wishing you and yours happy holidays and good health. With warmest regards, Bill

Mike Gill
has lived in Germany for decades. Last time Mike was in town, he and I were joined by George Pierce and maybe Bob Blake for lunch on the patio at Crumpets (now closed.) That must have been at least 10-12 years ago. Mike also wrote in November:

Have not heard or seen any news about our class except for your (Jack) conducting the luncheons. I just saw the obit ON Homer’s passing from the Texas A&M Former Students Assoc which maintains a blog – “Silver Taps”- which sends out a list of recent deaths 2-3 times a month. Do you have any rrore recent names from, our class to add to the last blog?

All is gang smoothly in Germany – I am comfortable in my little suburban village, Kirchheim, outside of Heidelberg, and we only one hour from Frankfurt AP (world-wide connections) and just 5 hours from Berlin or Paris on high speed trains-(a treat I indulge in two or three times a year!). I am holding up pretty well against the Parkinson’s mainly feeling fatigue in trying to write family history or taking short walks in the local forest. Otherwise no real issues – as long as I stick to my daily medications (12 tabs from 07000 to 22.00 daily ).

“bout all the news for now……

Michael

A few Pics

From the lunch last October, our intrepid photographer, Patsy Patterson, shot a bunch of photos. I will dribble a few of them into upcoming blogs. I will cull out the really awful ones, though if I exclude all those with eyes closed, it will be a small collection.