Nickname (that you know of!): "Jake" and Crickett
Martial status: Married
Spouse's/Significant other's name: Marvin Black
Home address: 306 Genesis Drive
Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone #: 479/464-8003
Cell phone #: 479/644-4312
Your life since 1963: Some of you may remember I got married the first summer out of high school. Being 9 yrs. older, Marv was ready to settle down after finding Ms. Right (or so he thought back then....hahaha). We have 3 daughters: Melanie born in 1964, Alisa born in 1967 and Elizabeth born in 1970. Marv stayed in education most of our married life. He was an administrator, teacher and coach during his 37 years in education. I stayed home and took care of our little girls for the first 12 years of our marriage.
In 1977 we moved to Ames from Fairfield, IA. Marv taught in Fairfield, Ames and Des Moines. One of my dreams in life was to earn a college degree and I took classes at NIACC, Indian Hills C. C. and Iowa State University but never got that coveted degree. But, I got to enjoy college life as an academic advisor in the Engineering College at ISU for most of 10 years. That was the most fun, rewarding and challenging job I ever had. In a department of 630 students, half of them (mostly upperclassmen) were my advisees. That was a great time in my life. During that time I was also a state director for a teen scholarship program/pageant.
In the early 1990's when much of the administration at the University was changing, I could see the handwriting on the wall (my job was changing considerably). I went to work as an Associate Director of Development for a health facility in Des Moines. At that time, Marv and I were both commuting from Ames to Des Moines. I enjoyed my work there also; I got to do lots of traveling in and out of state and met some wonderful people.
Some of you may remember my mother who worked for the CL School System for many years.....she moved to Ames in 1989 to be closer to family and she passed away in 1992.
Marv retired in 1995 and we purchased 2 lots and built our dream home in the middle of the Ozarks with mountains, trees and lakes all around. At that time we had 2 daughters and their families living in Texas and we left our youngest daughter in Ames.
Your life now: That pretty much brings us up to our current status. Two of our 3 daughters have moved to NW Arkansas and we have 4 grandchildren nearby. Melanie and family, which includes 3 of our grandsons, lives in Austin, TX.
Marv took the term retirement seriously and he stays busy with woodworking, lawn care, grandchildren and our church. I have done only part-time work in the past 9 years. I've worked at an Edward Jones office, our church and in the past 3 years I have worked for 3 medical doctors in a clinic close to our home. I love the people and the challenge to my brain in that fast-paced environment.
My passions in life have been mostly centered around family...............and more recently our 7 wonderful grandchildren (5 boys and 2 little girls). I have always loved nature and animals of all kinds. We have had 5 Sheltie dogs over the years. I have dabbled in photography and had a photograph of two of our dogs published by the International Library of Photography. I have my Master Gardeners certification and have earned some blue ribbons at our county fair with my flowers/plants. I have served on our local Humane Society Board, Bentonvilles' Landscape & Tree Committee, been a member of PEO for 33 years and am currently an Elder in our church.
What classmates have you kept in contact with? Mostly Paula Kitchen and more recently Mavis Whelan too.
What classmates would you like to hear from? : Anybody that wants to call or write me.
Would/could you help find classmates? Tell me what to do and who to look for.
Any hobbies? : I love working outside in our yard tending to my flowers, love hiking and spending time in nature with Marv, spending time with my dog, Cheyenne, and cooking.
Favorite song of 1963 or earlier : "A Summer Place"
