Bio, 2014: Gay Criswell Kincaid
When Doctor Seuss wrote “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,’ he wrote the truth. As I read the bios , I am amazed by all the places we’ve gone and the experiences we’ve had. Who would have believed? When I finally realized how quickly time passes, I sometimes wondered why I was in such a hurry to precede the class of ‘64. Still, if I hadn’t left early, I would be writing a completely different sketch of my life. I’m happy with the one I have.As a OSU student, I pledged Theta, and at the time there was a “houseboy” named Dennis Kinkaid, who evidently wanted to met me. When we did met, the courtship started and ended at graduation with marriage in 1967. Dennis’ military obligation took us to Ft. Monroe, Va. Instead of Vietnam, he was lucky to spend his service as manager of the officers’ club at a fort with few junior officers. I taught high school English in Newport News at a school known to the minister who married us. Also, Colonel Tutin( sp?) who had been assigned at OSU in the ROTC department when I was in the Army Blades, spotted us at the club ,and we were invited to several dinners in their historic home on the fort. I don’t think many junior officers and their wives were treated to such hospitality.
Dennis’ career in hotel and restaurant took us many places: six week living in a hotel in Cleveland during training, Lexington, Ky., Columbus, Oh., Indianapolis, Ind., Cleveland ( Strongsville ), Oh., Kansas City, Ks., St. Louis, Mo., Kansas City ( Lee’s Summit ), Mo., and finally Ponca City, where he managed the country club. During these years we had two children, David and Krista. Because his job was time-consuming and the moves frequent, I was able to stay home with my children through their childhoods. I stayed busy with family and volunteering and don’t regret a moment of those years.
I started teaching composition and English literature at Ponca City High School in 1982. So, at last, I was able to “participate” in the last school year for thirty years of seniors. I often had the same students each semester or trimester, so I was able to trace their growth throughout that last exciting year. I loved my subject, and I was enriched by my relationships with so many students.
During these years, Dennis left after 24 years. But I kept teaching and went back to earn a graduate degree. In the meantime my kids grew up and married. David is a man of integrity, an involved father, and a loving son. He lives in Bixby and works for Stinnet and Associates. He also saved the life of his sister Krista.
Krista was a fearless athlete and horsewoman. She took us from soccer fields to Philmont where she was a pony wrangler. We went from concert halls ( she was a violinist) to body building contests, from couny fairs at horse showing events to Tennessee mini horse shows. In 1998 she learned she had two kinds of leukemia and three months to live unless she could find a bone marrow donor. Then she had a 5% chance. David was a good match and his marrow saved her life. However, the effects of the treatment still last, so she has had to redefine her life, accepting her limitations and drawing on her strengths for others. She has two more major surgeries we expect.
Worrying about filling my time but looking forward to focusing on one thing at a time ( rather than multi-tasking ), I retired in 2012. I was wrong on both counts. My time is filled without effort and I still multi-task. I spend time with friends and family ( in Stillwater every week), genealogy, quilting and my QT, a Maltese found at the Humane Society and Spruce Pawsworthy, a cat courtesy of Krista.
I know our class is made up of people who make positive differences to others, their communities or their workplaces. I just want to say that Yvonne and Bud are two such people. They have been such good friends and neighbors to my parents and especially, to my mother in recent years. And to me!! Thank you, Yvonne and Bud.
Thank you, Ann, and all the others who have kept the class together, planned all activities and coordinated all the internet fun. I am grateful to be included in the class of ‘64. I will miss seeing you this weekend. Mother will be 101 tomorrow, and friends and family chose this weekend to be in Stillwater to celebrate. I will think of you. Have fun! I’ll see you next time.
©2009 Stillwater High School Class of 1964