Ronnie Stewart

The class of 65 at JTH was such a huge class, and it is so easy for us to look over someone. Von ( Butch ) Lester, and Lewied Lamar Lester were one in the same. Butch and I were close growing up. He went to Catholic school untill he got to high school, and wanted to take building trades, so he transfered to JTH. He lived on Academey street just down the street from me. we lived on Mockingbird Lane. At that time there were so many of those kids that grew up around that time in that neighborhood, David Burnett lived just down the street. Jack Isom lived a street over, Nole Taylor lived there Linda Engle, the litles. There were so many kids there in that neighborhood. I lost touch with Butch when we moved away in the summer of 65. I saw him again in 84 or 85 when he came to Mt. Pleasant for the company he was Repping for, It was a hardware company and he sold nuts and bolts. I really dont think he liked that work because he got out of it and went into the plumbing business. Growing up he grew pigeons for a hobby. When he got out of High School he joined the Marines, served 4 years and got out and went to college. Butch was a good friend growing up, I should have kept up with him. I'm not at all sure what happened to him, but I think it's the very least I can do now to see that if he's remembered, It's for some of the stuff he did................

                                                                             In Memory

                                                                                 Ron Stewart

Linda True (Weesner)

Ronnie, what a nice tribute to a friend from the past.  I think we all know someone

we wish we had kept better track of.

Linda (True) Weesner

Donna Johnson (Mott)

Thanks for your comments on Butch.  I wish all of our surviving classmates would check in to our website and let us know where they are so we can stay in contact.  Every year brings the sad and shocking news of the loss of one of our friends from "back in the day".  We all have that guilty feeling of wishing we had stayed in touch.  We can't start sooner than right now.  Last year I was fortunate to get back in touch with Karl Frederich after learning on FB that he had published a book.  I am the proud owner of an autographed copy of  "Wings".  Sadly, we lost Karl in December. 

Every day is a gift. 

Lyle McCLELLAN

 Butch Lester (Lewied Lamar Lester) was born in Houston, Texas, on November 4, 1946, and died in Tyler on August 23, 1996,  He is buried at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler.  This information comes from a website named findagrave.com, which has a picture of his gravemarker.

Lyle McClellan

Hardee Tapp

After I moved back to Tyler, I ran in to Butch at Whataburger..  He had been out deer hunting.  He was an avid hunter.  He was married and had a daughter.  We were friends in High School.and resumed our friendship.  He passed away from a heart attack.

Ronnie Maynard

butch and  our  fellow class mate Gregory Peters and myself, went to school together for 13 years, 6 years at saint gregory , 2 years at catholic high.We all failed the 7 th. grade, 2 years at Hogg jr, high and 3 years at john tyler. butch and I took  building trades, and all joined the military and went to viet nam 2 times. we all went to TJC at night on the G.I. bill for 4 years and we all graduated . when you spend that much time with people, you have a bond like brothers. I am 68 years old and I think about those 2 guys on a regular basis, and have been for the past 30 years. I guess I should look up Gregory Peters before it is too late. Good by old friend. Ronnie Maynard

Ramon Ivey