Bio, 2014: “Jim” Everett Ely
It has been a true joy reading the biographies that have emerged from our relatively small class, I however, have faced the task of responding with my own story with more than a little trepidation. I’m not sure how to do this without it sounding like a curriculum vitae or a very boring travel log! Unlike many of my classmates I didn’t go directly to OSU, I could hardly wait to leave home. I was not necessarily anxious to leave Stillwater but, had a less than ideal upbringing, and was ready to split! I attended Emporia State University in Kansas after high school graduation, and after completing my first 30 hours of higher education achieved a solid 1.9 GPA—an auspicious start to a long academic career! Needless to say I left school for a time, grew up a bit, but only a bit. I married Linda Lamkin in 1968 (one of the few truly smart things I managed to get right!).
I returned to school after Linda completed her B.S. in nursing and was absolutely astounded to find that if I attended class, paid a modicum of attention to the teachers, and stayed home at night there was a marked improvement in my GPA, and in addition, really enjoyed learning stuff—almost anything—you know—stuff. (A true insight into the world of academics-right?) I completed Medical School at Mizzou in ’79, did my residency in Ob-Gyn in North Carolina. After completing my residency we moved to Bay City Texas, where we continue to reside. I passed my specialty boards (whew) and have delivered about four thousand babies. I continue to work part time doing gynecology only.
We raised three children who are, of course, now grown, and we consider our foray into the child rearing process to have been a success! We all still love each other; all three have at least one college degree and none of the three are in prison. We now have four grand children and agree with what seems to be the general consensus among our classmates—grandkids are fantastic!
In 1997 I came to the realization that God had other plans for my life, (God and I sometimes argue—He always seems to win). I was called to the Priesthood in the Episcopal Church, and for a time wasn’t certain whether I was to leave medicine, which has been, for me, a ministry most of my career, or to study for ordination while continuing to practice medicine. Ultimately, I continued to practice, and study for ordination while attempting to maintain currency in my medical specialty. (God may show us the path, walk with us, and guide us, but sometimes the path is tortuous!)
That pretty girl I married in 1968 developed breast cancer at age 60. She underwent surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. She is now eight years out and is well physically, however was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Ds a few years later. It’s a lousy disease! But, she has refused to let the disease dampen her joy of living! She traveled widely before her diagnosis, and as recently as Jan of 2014 we were in Galapagos (along with John and Claudette Selph). We both enjoy travel, and although she has accompanied me to a few dive destinations and has enjoyed scuba diving as well—she has openly preferred Europe over a live aboard dive boat somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. We did celebrate our fortieth anniversary a dive resort in Indonesia, and I have been blessed to leave bubbles in places I could never have dreamed of as a youth in Stillwater, Ok
I am confident that every member of the SHS class of 1964 has had moments that we would just as soon not be reminded of and some few moments the memories of which are fond and which make us pleased with the outcome of our labors. There are some accomplishments of which, I too am proud. I am proud of my role in helping establish the Women’s Crisis Center in Bay City. I am pleased that I was able to help found Kid’s in Distress Services an organization that helps find and fund counseling for children who are victims of childhood sexual abuse, and I am pleased with my role in the establishment of Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program (MEHOP) which seeks to make healthcare available to those would otherwise be left without care or rely on already strained emergency services for healthcare. In addition, it was a proud moment indeed when I was presented with a trophy for the sexiest legs in the operating room in 1996—woo-hoo!!
As a well established old curmudgeon I seem to continue hobbling along. I am most certainly enjoying retirement!! I no longer work cows (my neurosurgeon said no more horses after my last back surgery, (thank God he didn’t mention motor cycles). Spending more time with my sweet wife is such a blessing, and we really enjoy our time together. I manage to keep the freezer stocked with trout and redfish, work a day and a half in the office each week and continue to do some surgery. In addition, I continue with priestly duties filling in for vacationing priests a couple of Sundays a month, and am also serving on the board of our local hospital district.
©2009 Stillwater High School Class of 1964