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Yes, my new E-Mail address is jenniel@relia.net. Thanks for all you continue to do for the class of 53. Most especially for your patience and perseverance. Those strong qualities get the slow pokes like me involved. Looking forward to August 29th and September 1st. Warmest Regards, Lorraine Underwood

Hi Jerry, I found your Christmas card I specifically stored where I wouldn't lose it, before my date with the surgeon. With computer in hand, I just wanted to ask if you received the letter I wrote? The bio, with mistakes, and the two black and white pictures, also my E Mail address? If not, it should come back to me.

As I reread your Holiday letter, I realize in a small way all you have tried to do for the success of this class reunion. Everyone of us owe you a debt of gratitude. Thanks is a very small word, still it means that you are deeply appreciated. Your wife also. Without her patience and support your tasks would have been far more difficult. How grateful you must be for her. Thanks again Jerry for all you have accomplished for all of us. Lorraine Underwood

Hi Jerry, After talking to Fern Vest on the phone the other night I got your message on my E Mail. Fern talked about our 50th class reunion next year and all the great ideas you have concerning the expected get together.

I looked at the names on Ferns E mail list and I can smile. All those kids I went to school with are almost as old as I am now. That was a whole life time ago and it is great that there will be so many of us still around to celebrate together for the grand reunion. We won't be worrying about loosing all that weight, the money we earn, or how important we are in the world, to impress anyone. All that matters now, is each new day we spend with those we love and cherish. How much we love and serve our brothers and sisters that we come in contact with every day and that we love life, with all it's challenges and opportunities.

Have a great day there in Sunny Las Vegas. It has been snowing here in Salem Utah all day. We are so grateful for it. We desperately need the water for the coming summer season.

Have a great one. We will be looking forward to the class reunion. My husband Don always said he enjoyed my class reunions better than his own.

P.S. We celebrate our 50th on the 18th of July this year. And they tried to tell us we were TOO YOUNG!

Picture and bio will be forthcoming! We celebrated our 50^th Wedding Anniversary on the 18^th of July. Our family hosted an Open House on the 19^th for all our friends, ward members and family. We had family come in the 10^th of July from Pa. Also from Washington State. The last ones left on the 8^th of August. It has bee a very busy month. I’ve been busy putting together a Photo Journal of this wonderful event to remember always. We are aiming for 60 years - one day at a time.

Jerry, while searching for 50's music for a family video, I found the slides of Payson "The Way We Were" in the 50's. Ralph Daniels helped me put this together for our 40^th Class Reunion. I’m not sure who is on the 50^th Class reunion Committee besides you. Traditions dictates the original Class Presidency do the job for the 50^th. But nevertheless, these slides are available if they would mean anything to those putting this project together. I looked at them and felt a tug of the heart, back to those days when we were Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Payson as we knew it then. Let me know if you want these slides. Okay?

Sincerely, Your Classmate -- Jennie Lorraine Gale Underwood (Now , That’s a name no one will forget!)

Finally !!!!! I am getting around to doing the things you asked of me last May. I have several good reasons for putting this off, but not any reasonable excuses. Most recently, I have had a total knee replacement. I am told that within six months I will be happy that I had it done. As of this moment in time, I'm not so sure about that. It has been much more difficult that either one of my hip replacements.

Last November or DEcember when my Webb Unit died, I lost everything I had saved from the "Class of '53" Now that I have a computer, perhaps there is a chance that you can resupply me with the class web page and the Bio's that our classmates have emailed to you. My email address is jenniel@relia.net I am enclosing my bio and a black and white picture. I am sorry it has taken mo so long. I am looking forward to our class reunion this September.

During the summer of 1952, family and friends "Tried to tell us we were too young." Don Underwood and I, two happy kinds in love, ignored all their advice. We began our lives together on July 18th of that year.

Don worked full time at the Illinois Powder Plant at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon while pursuing a degree in electronics. That fall I began my senior year at Spanish Fork High School. Full time student and part time homemaker, anticipating the day when we could move into a place of our own.

Not too many things work out the way we plan. Instead of graduating from High School I graduated into motherhood with the birth of our first daughter, Judy, on June 6, 1953. We did move to a small basement apartment, which seemed like heaven to me at the time. My full time occupation as homemaker and mother expanded when Terry, our first son was born in December 1954. Also, another daughter Dee Ann in December 1955.

Our marriage was later solemnized, September 21, 1956 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Eventually, we built our own home in Salem, where we still reside. Three more sons, Scott Andrew and Jason joined our family. Don's career in Electronics changed course several times. He was hired at Utah Valley Hospital, advance to Director of Engineering for IHC. I finally earned my elusive High School Diploma through the Adult Education Program in 1976. I was quite a bit slower than my classmates, but determined to succeed. Our four sons earned the coveted Eagle Scout Award, while Don and I worked in the Cub Scout and Scouting programs for more years than I can remember.

Our daughters married, our eldest son Terry served an LDS mission in the state of Washington, later settling in the northern part of that state with his wife and family.

We saw changes in our church and community service. Don was called to the Bishopric and High Priest leadership. I taught in many organizations of the church. I was active in the Republican Women’s organizations and served on the State Board of the Utah Association of Women for a time.

Our two youngest sons, Andrew and Jason, served LDS Missions in South Carolina and Calgary, Canada, later married and began families of their own.

In 1983 I organized the Family of the Year Award for Salem City. This special honor was patterned after the award given by the State Women’s Organization. Salem City continues to recognize a special family every year during the Salem Days celebration. I was the chairperson over this event for ten years.

Don served two terms on Salem City’s Town Council. In 1989, we were asked by our Mayor to be the chairperson’s over the "Salem Days Family fireside." Mayor Brailsford, knew of Family Firesides we held in our home with our family and friends for more than twelve years. Those experiences helped us to bring inspiring speakers and entertaining choral groups to fill the stake centers each year on the first Sunday, during Salem Days week long celebration.

My husband retired from IHC in 1995. We spend wonderful months much like a couple of carefree kids. Often traveling with other retired friends, sharing the fun.

We spent several summers re-landscaping our back yard, creating a lovely place for family and friends to gather.

We learned the real meaning of "loving others" as we served a two year LDS Stake Mission. Also four years in the Provo Temple Baptistry. Presently, we are Service Missionaries at the Spanish Fork Employment Resource Center.

Through the years we have enjoyed traveling, camping, hunting and fishing trips with our children. Creative writing is a hobby of mine and I have always loved to sing. Our bookcases are lined with family photo journals. I also enjoy the challenge of keeping a personal daily journal.

Three years ago, we began a small family home business, combining our hobbies and interests. Don carves gunstocks for sportsmen and enjoys wood turning. I find creating delicious goodies very rewarding. My "Jennies Sweet Creations" were in demand here in Salem for a few years. I also have fun drawing graphite portraits of our family ans wood burning Western Landscapes.

2002 was a Jubilee year for the Underwoods. Don and I celebrated our 50^th Wedding anniversary. The majority of our family came, some from Washington state and from Pennsylvania, as well as Utah County to share in the event. Another grandson, Elder Colt Brunson, accepted a mission call and is now in Russia. Three more great-grand children joined the family. Our 42 year old son Scott, became engaged. Finally! He married a lovely lade from Springville with two teenage children. We have 2q grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and another on the way.

During that celebration time, we gathered for family pictures, marveling that so many of us could be together. It is an incredible blessing that we have made it this far, considering the many challenges we have experienced. Adversity is a great teacher, helping us learn that every day is a precious gift from God.

I know this was to be a "short" bio, but I just couldn’t leave out the most important part of my last half-century . . our family!

I am looking forward to seeing all of our classmates at the 50^th class reunion.