St. Mary's class of 1954 holds June reunion

The weekend of June 25 to 27 was celebrated by 32 of the 42 students who graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1954. Four members are deceased and six were unable to attend.

Activities at the Drury Lodge included musical entertainment from the 1950s supplied by Charlie Wipfel and son, Matt.

Memory keepsake books were distributed to each classmate complete with senior pictures; updates on families, employment and activities; and addresses and e-mail addresses. Local sights like the new bridge, the Red House, floodgate murals, Cape Rock, the Show Me Center and Southeast Missouri State University were visited by tour bus.

St. Mary's High School was located on the corner of Sprigg and William streets, in what was formerly old St. Francis Hospital. The class of 1954 was the 25th and last class to graduate there. The new school's name became Cape Catholic High School and evolved into Notre Dame High School. Classmates later toured the new Notre Dame Regional High School.

Dinner was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, where presentations were made by Sister Marie Diebold and Sister Maureen Elfrink.

A brick for the grotto at Notre Dame was purchased with collections solicited at the reunion.

Classmates attended Mass at Old St. Vincent's Church, followed by lunch and the reunion's end.

Committee members included chairman Mary Kay Day; Carolyn Clayton in communications; Jim Clayton, Dorothy Holland, John Knaup, Marlene Morton, Laura Jean Robert, Loretta Schneider, Mike Schwartz, Don Schuck and Don Ziegler.