SNIPPET FROM A DECEASED CLASSMATE

I believe I sent around a message in 2008 when our classmate Linda Barclay Doyle was killed by a wreckless driver in her hometown in Oklahoma. I did not know Linda well at KHS but I did know her. Many years later I knew her mom Marge who joined the St. Louis group of the National Society of New England Women. We in that group knew her from the Mayflower Society. Linda had been a Mayflower member, as was her sister Madelyn, but they were never in town for a meeting that I know of. Through Marge I kept up with Linda and Madelyn but never saw either of them after high school I don't believe. Marge was a great gal who was funny, adorable as she aged, as was her husband, and an accomplished crafty artist. They spent time in Florida and she loved making things with and collecting seashells and other natural materials. After Marge died, I wrote a letter to Madelyn which she shared with Linda.

Today as I was cleaning out an old file, I found an undated letter from Linda to me after she read the letter I sent to Madelyn. Some of us have been discussing our mothers' passing on Facebook lately, and my parents' birthdays would have been in the past couple of weeks, so parents are on my mind. I decided I would share the letter I received from Linda so that any of you who remember her might have a bit of insight into this very nice family who shared our Kirkwood upbringing. You'll probably recognize bits of their habits from your own childhood.

"Hello Leslie!
The letter you wrote to Madelyn was heart-warming for me to read and realize how much my mother's life touched you too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories.

Our holidays, like yours, are full of wonderful memories and all sorts of items made by Mother. [I still have little table favors Margie made for our Mayflower meetings for many years.] Everyone who enters my home during the holidays shares her many treasures. From the decorations we had throughout our childhood to decorate the many Christmas trees, to Easter placecards, to the massive Thanksgiving items to the seashells. I miss her so much but plan to divert all the attention to my father who is also coping with the loss of his wife. I purchased a home for him here in Oklahoma City, went and moved him and his beloved cat (the entire universe to my mother-quite a cat!), and have him unpacked and doing quite well. I have 24 hour care for him, just in case, but he is pretty active for 89! He of course has his own health issues but we plan to make the most of time we have together. All is well~ Sincerely, Linda"

Marge died 3 July 2005 and her husband, Linda's dad Leroy, died 13 Jul 2006 ; Linda died in November of 2008. So sad to lose our classmates so early.

I almost forgot, there is a funny story, really not so funny, a good "small world" story. When I was at UMSL & Washington University I worked at Barnes Hospital in the admitting department. My first assignment was admitting officer for Maternity and McMillan hospitals. In those days the famed Dr. Masters and Mrs. Johnson, the sex therapists, had their offices in Maternity Hospital so I was acquainted with them and their staff. One such person was a Mrs. Carole Lane. One night years later when my kids were little and everyone was hungry at 5:30 and mothers are always harried, my phone rang. It was a wall-mount phone, on which I could talk while standing at the sink peeling potatoes, & staving off crying kids hanging onto my legs. I answered and a lady said, "Mrs. Cavic, you don't know me but I want to join the Missouri Mayflower Society and I was told to call you, I am Carole Lane...." I nearly dropped the phone and began laughing. I said, "Well Carole, you DO know me, I am Leslie Vander Meulen and we've known one another for years!" Of course the conversation was lively; she joined the Mayflower Society and New England Women, and was a fun member for years, along with her SISTER, Marge Barclay! It was already a small world even before email, websites and Facebook! I have other such stories but this one is at least pertinent to this post, so I won't bore you with more!