My sister Marcie Hester Anderson Palmer,
was married to John "Cactus Jack" Anderson
in 1953. They had my nephew Ed "Eddie" in 1956.
The marriage ended in 1959. He was a very well
liked by our family. He didn't speak much about
his experience on the Arizona until later years.
**John passed away November 13, 2015 in Roswell and joined his brother being buried onboard the USS Arizona.**

Nancy and I visited the VA Nursing Home in Bonham today. Her brother stays there. Because it was a "day of infamy" we also spent a lot of time walking the halls thanking the some of the veterans for their service. They have some interesting stories to tell.

12/07/25 06:05 PM

#8611

My sister Marcie Hester Anderson Palmer,
was married to John "Cactus Jack" Anderson
in 1953. They had my nephew Ed "Eddie" in 1956.
The marriage ended in 1959. He was a very well
liked by our family. He didn't speak much about
his experience on the Arizona until later years.
**John passed away November 13, 2015 in Roswell and joined his brother being buried onboard the USS Arizona.**

John Anderson, one of the last USS Arizona survivors, dies at 98

John Anderson stayed aboard the USS Arizona as it began to sink into Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Later he went back — to look for his brother.

12/08/25 05:43 PM

#8612

Sherry,

I understand Cactus Jack met Elvis when Presley came to Roswell in 1955. Before the "Hank Snow All-Star Jamboree" that night at North Junior HIgh, Elvis played a recording of his at KSWS radio station, and the DJ (Jack) played it for Roswell's listeners. I've read the audience at the Jamboree show was yelling for Elvis to perform more... as they liked Elvis much better than Hank Snow! Of course, much to Hank's chagrin. Did Cactus Jack take your sister, Marcie, to see Elvis perform at North Junior High that night on February 14?

12/08/25 06:58 PM

#8613

Yes, Rex, I actually got to go too!
I remember standing near John,
my sister and Elvis!
It was really a treat! Do you think I, as a
12 year, or any of us, thought about taking
Pictures?? NO! Of course not! So, sad to say,
I have no proof! Today that would not happen.

12/08/25 07:34 PM

#8614

Sherry,

Well, Lucky You! I bet everyone had a great time! Musta been a thrill for you! So, did you buy every record that Elvis ever made?

Do you remember Danny Caussey? His older sister was an RHS 1958 graduate. Another older classmate who went to the show with her said when the show was over, Jeannie went backstage, and she and Elvis ran off together!

I heard several years later that Jeannie was a showgirl in Las Vegas and an actress in Hollywood. She came home one year to attend a RHS reunion. A few classmate's wives were not too happy about her visit... ha! Jeannie drove into town sporting a customized 'pink' 1959 Thunderbird!! Think I have a picture of the car somewhere...

12/10/25 08:48 AM

#8615

Okay, alright, already! A few have asked me to search the back roads by the rivers of my memory and ever gently post the picture of Jeannie and her '59 customized T-Bird. No whistling or wolf-calls permitted...

The caption reads: Actress Jean Caussey posing proudly on the hood of her own

pink "T-Bird" painted by Watson in 1959. This great faded shot was taken in Las Vegas

12/10/25 09:48 AM

#8616

Paula, found a good project near you in Lufkin. They were gonna tear down this old jail for redevelopment, and they uncovered this old mural under several layers of paint. So now they are going to put it up for bids. The Dr. Pepper mural has to be restored along with the building.

That building, when restored, would make a great shop location. I always think Quilt Shop because I have been in so many shops because Nancy is a big quilter.

12/11/25 08:32 AM

#8617

Cal T is a big supporter of Dr. Pepper. And I must admit I'm guilty of imbibing a bit of the brew too. Now, if the makers of Dr. Pepper joined in this crusade to save the mural, money better spent, could put clothes on the backs of disadvantaged children of Luftin instead...

12/11/25 08:51 AM

#8618

Rex,

RE: your post 8600...

I'll see your full moon and raise you a extra large meteor streaking across the south Texas sky. Part of the Geminid meteor shower that ends Sat. night.

12/11/25 04:10 PM

#8619

Rex,
I did know Danny but did not know his sister,
Jeannie was a Actress!! My sister Marcie
graduated in 1952! She was 10 years older
than me and John was 17 years older than Marcie.
How the world turns!

12/11/25 06:57 PM

#8620

Sherry,

It sounds like your sister was a lot of fun and you both had a close relationship.

Ha! I had to chuckle a bit with your "As the World Turns". My boater friends and I used the saying "As the Prop Turns" as a good-natured way of poking fun at soap operas.

12/12/25 10:44 AM

#8621

Dana Jennings (Garlow)

Back in 1955,my parents knew Slim Whitman and Elvis was a protégé of Elvis. He arranged for us to go back stage and talk with Elvis and then Sonny James came over to our house and played our piano and we sang YOUNG LOVE. I called Linda Ingram (Beasley) and she came over. Great memories.

12/13/25 09:19 AM

#8622

Dana, Thank You for posting that. I have racked
my old brain since I came back to Roswell!!
in 2022.
I remember that, I came over to your house too!!
I started to post that but I could not remember
whose house we went to I remember you call
and I came over and several of us girls were there.
We had a slummer party and Sonny James come
and singing to us!!!!
You lived on the corner of Union facing, was it Deming?
I could not remember!!
What a great memory

12/13/25 07:13 PM

#8623

Dana and Sherry,

That was so cool of "you girls" and Sonny James singing " Young Love" all together!!

How bout a 'treat' for all you young ladies who enjoyed Sonny James?

12/14/25 09:51 AM

#8624

Dana Jennings (Garlow)

Sherry, Yes, such great memories, Linda lived on Demming and Union and I was the next street South. Thanks for the song Rex, so much fun listening to it and looking back to good times. The last reunion in 2018 that Linda (Ingram) attended before her passing away, she brought it up and we had such a good time reminiscing, Loved that lady.

12/15/25 02:46 PM

#8625

John Landess

Well, before I have a memory lapse myself, I just wanted to say to all :

Merry Christmas

and a great 2026

12/15/25 07:32 PM

#8626

Dana,

I remembered a cute little curly-haired girl who lived on South Union near Deming who showed up one Saturday morning in front of my house... sporting a brand spanking new "Donald Duck" bicycle! Yes! This cute little girl was so proud of her new bike, she asked me if I'd like to ride it! So off we went, with her sitting on the handlebars, and our hair sailing in the wind! When I stopped the bike, she reached around and pressed a button, and instead of a horn beeping... I heard this: "Quack, Quack, Quack"!!

This was the summer before a bunch of us went to school at Missouri Avenue with Mrs. Ludow, as our first-grade teacher.

Can anyone take a guess... at the name of this cute curly-haired girl...?

12/15/25 07:57 PM

#8627

Best line I have ever heard from a cop stopping someone....

Deputy Frank Sloup, Pinal County, AZ has over 100 videos on You Tube. One day he stopped a lady for not using her turn signal for a left turn at an intersection. He walked up to the car, told the lady why he was stopping her.

And then he asked her, "I was just wondering if you might be running low on turn signal fluid?"

"Classic Car Humor"!! - The Shadow Knows...

12/17/25 05:52 PM

#8628

Barbara (Bubbles) Lankford (Carlson)

What? Nobody ever went to Missouri Avenue ...??

Am I gonna hafta send up a smoke signal to Pat Riley? For re-con troops who went to First Grade at Missouri Avenue...

12/18/25 11:09 PM

#8629

I went to Missouri Avenue for 1st through 6th grades. First grade began with Mrs. Ludlow, but when the new school was completed, I was placed in Mrs. Spencer's class.

12/18/25 11:15 PM

#8630

Barbara (Bubbles) Lankford (Carlson)

I know that Linda Ingram Easley was in Mrs. Spencer's class and I believe Dana was also in Mrs. Spencer's class. Linda had red hair, Dana had strawberry-blonde, or very light red hair. We all started with Mrs. Ludlow then were moved. Great memories!

12/19/25 05:32 AM

#8631

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

Sherry, yes I saw the info about the old Dr Pepper sign that had been covered up. I understand that they are still trying to figure out how to save it from destruction.
And Rex, I went to Missouri Avenue but I was in Mrs Buchannan's first grade class. I transferred to Valley View after it was completed-5th grade I think.
The lively discussion about Elvis was quite interesting I didn't have a clue about any of that happening

Hopefully all your Christmas shopping is done and you're just lolling around waiting for the big day. On Christmas Eve our family will travel to Palestine (Texas) and ride the "Polar Express" to Rusk and and back. Merry Christmas to All!

12/19/25 09:54 AM

#8632

Bubbles and Paula.

Thank you for your Missouri Avenue posts!

But yet, can anyone solve the "mystery"... who the cute curly-haired girl was in Mrs. Ludlow's class at Missouri Avenue Grade School...? (See post # 8626)

Hint: She was in the Choir at Roswell High

12/19/25 02:33 PM

#8633

The only curly red heads I can remember are
Linda Ingram, Jeanie Sacra, Dana Johnson and
I think Kay Schrimsher. I am sure there were more
but I have redacted spots in my mind so I have
forgotten!
Anyway I am guessing It was Probably Linda who
showed up with her shinny new Bike!!

I went to Washington Avenue! How many of of
you went there. Here is a Picture sitting on the back
steps. I am on the 3rd row 3rd child inn (with the
short bangs!

12/20/25 09:01 AM

#8634