Laura Miller Beck

All in Wichita unless otherwise noted:
USD259--North Registrar
Lear Jet--Parts Expeditor for wing shop
Boeing (Auburn, WA)--Fiberglass lay up & supplies
Petroleum, Inc.--Secretary
USD259--East Attendance Office & P/T Bookkeeper
USD259--Human Resources Front Office Reception
USD259--GEAR UP Administrative Secretary
USD259--Native American Program Administrative Secretary

Retired March 2012

Granddaughter, Brooklyn (born 2008)
Granddaughter, Kaitlyn (born 2016)

I wanted to leave Wichita for years but I kept coming back. I've learned to appreciate Kansas and guess I'll stick around. I especially enjoy reliving the happier days of our youth with my old school friends and getting to know classmates that I share common interests with now. I love how digital media and social media have opened up our world and put us in touch with people. Now I talk to Our Lord and my Savior all day and night in my shack on the tracks in the Flint Hills! Blessings!!

I've never been a model driver. My mom warned me when she tried to teach me how to sew that I'd drive the same way and she was right. I'd put my foot on that pedal and zoom--there was no stopping me. Mr. Hudson was my summer school drivers ed teacher and the first day I got to drive, I hit the only parked car in the parking lot! At least that's the way I remember it. I may have embellished the story some...

Mary Benton, Pearl Kensler

Hadley!!

Gosh, there were so many great teachers:
Glenn Blakemore, Dennie Bretz, Shirley Gabrielson, George "Bud" Hudson, Margaret Hunnicutt, Thomas Kemp, Nancy Lackey, John McEachern, William Mitchell, Arden Sanderson, Bill Scherich, Evelyn Thompson, Marc Webb, Lois Wisler, Jack Wooten...
and I remember other memorable staff: Marvin Cross, Gertha "Sunshine" Hicks, Ralph McCune...
and let's not forget our principal & vice principals! Mr. Olson worked at West until just a few years ago. There are many that I saw years after we graduated and some I still see. They seemed so adult and even old back then, but now here we are the age they were when they were our teachers. Can you believe it?

The boys!

We don't want to go there!

Once and I got caught. A group of us drove out to Cheney in my VW and had a great time. I think my mother turned me in. I was called into the office and chastised. I cried and thought I was ruined.

Turns out, it was all crap! Who knew?

Whatever it was, it didn't happen. I was so naïve!

Get serious about what I wanted to do with my life and set goals to get there.

Wichita, KS
Fort Lauderdale & Winter Haven, FL
Lawrence, KS
Seattle, WA area
Wichita, KS
Matfield Green

Cindy Lauper
Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas and Joey Bishop at Cypress Gardens (I was in a made-for-TV water show with them in 1960)

Live this long.

Go scuba diving!

That I never finished college...

Tell your family and close friends that you love them and appreciate them.

No worries!!