Dianne Zachry Meaker

Panhandle, TX

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Thought I had better get busy and do this bio before the reunion is over.  Ha!  After I graduated high school, I went to West Texas for one semester.  I got Mono, moved home at semester, and went to Frank Phillips the second semester.  I then transferred to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.  I spent 3 years there but still didn’t obtain my degree.  During my last year at Hardin- Simmons I started going with Meradith Meaker on weekends when I came home.  Meradith started farming when he graduated from high school.  We fell in love, and I didn’t go back to school in the fall.  We got married in January 1963.  

I went to work for Pan American Petroleum and Meradith farmed.  Meradith went to work for Cities Service Gas in 1965.  Our son, Meryl Todd, was born in 1965, and I became a full time mother and homemaker.  In 1967 we got a chance to move to Meradith’s Granddad’s farm east of Panhandle, and we jumped at the chance.  This city girl was now a farm girl.  I loved farm life and still do. 

Our daughter, Lauri LeAnn was born in 1968.  Meradith continued to work in Pampa for Cities Service, and I had a huge garden to take of.  I also learned to plow and plant crops.  Sometimes my rows weren’t real straight, but mother said there was more grain in crooked rows.  The kids became involved in 4-H, and I became a 4-H leader.  They raised lambs and pigs.  Meryl was active on the rifle team, and Lauri was in the food show and sewing.  She went to the state 4-H food show her sophomore and junior years.  We all stayed very busy. 

In 1979, I was falsely diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  While on the medication I  got worse .  Meradith took me to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where they confirmed that I did not have Parkinson’s, but rather, had an essential benign tremor.  It is the same thing that the actress Katharine Hepburn had.  I have a head tremor, but it does no damage.  It is something that I just have to live with.  I am so lucky, and God has richly blessed me.  The rest of my health is good except for a knee replacement, but other health problems are sneaking up on me.

On May 27, 1982 the day before my 42^nd birthday, Meradith died in his sleep.  It was a very sad day for our family.  Meradith was a good man and had lots of friends.  We were buying the farm, and I wondered if I would ever get it paid for.  Thanks to God’s many blessings, I made it.  I haven’t been on any cruises or to any foreign countries, but I am happy to have my home and my farm. 

Lauri was married and divorced.  She then married  Scott Minton (no children). Scott is a friend of Tye Pendergrass, Jim’s son.  Small world.  Meryl married Tessa who has two children (Kristen and Colton).  They are great kids, and I am lucky to have them for the past 13 years. 

In 1982 I went to work for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (USDA) office.  The name changed to Farm Service Agency (FSA).  I was able to go to College Station for numerous trainings, then return to teach other counties what I learned.  I retired November 30, 2005.  Now I can pursue my hobbies of quilting, crafting, gardening, and fly-fishing.  Speaking of quilting, Lauri and I were at the International Quilt Show in Houston several years ago.  Someone called my name.  When I turned around, there were the Bailey twins, their mother and sister.  Like I said earlier … small world. 

Since my retirement Carol (Miller Francis) and I went to South Padre Island for Spring Break.  Finally made it in our 60’s.  Ha! She stayed a week and I stayed 3 weeks.  I have been able to travel with my daughter to the Washington, DC area three times.  I love it and want to go again.  There is so much history there.  This summer Carol and I plan to go to Angel fire and from there to Canada.  Thelma and Louise on the go.  Carol is Thelma and I’m Louise.

I am looking forward to the class reunion.  For those of you that weren’t there 5 & 10 years ago you missed a lot of fun.  We have also lost some dear friends since the last reunion.  Join us for a fun time in September.