Family: Good-bye to Portland (6/4/04)

My family and I are relocating to El Paso, Texas this month due to work. I work for Alphabet/JCI and we are relocating with some of the other Alphabet corporate personnel to the El Paso area and I am one of them.

I wanted to write this letter to remind everyone that lives in Portland and Jay County how lucky you are that you live here. We also want to thank everyone that touched our lives and made the time here special.

I moved here with my wife Deanne 17 years ago. We left our home town of Hubbard, Ohio, parents, brothers, sisters, etc., and moved to Portland. We were welcomed into the community like we were born and raised here. It wasn’t easy to get over moving away from home, but we quickly realized the people in Portland were friendly and just like “home.” Portland was home now and we realized everyone here was just like family.

There was the family of all the Alphabet/JCI people that I worked with over the last 17 years. I would like to thank all of them individually, but there are too many and I would feel terrible if I left someone off of the long list. The group of you that have been there from the start with me certainly are special.

My wife worked for our good friends Robbin and Dave Fullenkamp for 16 years and all the girls there are like family. The Fullenkamps are a special family; be proud they live and work here in Portland.

The Delta welcomed Deanne in like a sister and that group of ladies will certainly be missed.

The people in our neighborhood will do anything for you and always pitched in and helped in times of need or assistance. The people on Nan-Del Lane are a great group of adults, teens and kids.

Immaculate Conception Church, the Liturgy Committee, Father Marty and all the people that belonged to it will remain in our thoughts and prayers for the rest of our lives. The Jay County Knights of Columbus #12307 are the best group of guys you would ever want to associate with and I am proud and lucky to be a charter member of that council. I will miss each and every one of the council members. They have had some great leaders in the Grand Knight spot — Frank, Ben, Dale and Giles Laux, a two-time Grand Knight. I am blessed to be in that select group. We will miss the fish frys at Lent for sure.

Our two children were born here and will never forget Portland, their friends, or their adopted Portland grandparents, Nancy and J.C.

The coaches, teachers and instructors all positively affected our children and taught them many good lessons and how to treat people with respect. You all should thank, very often, all of the teachers and coaches that dedicate their time and services to the kids in this town.

The coaches like Bob May and Jack Houck that took the time with our son and actually let him play in the basketball games will be missed. The teachers and children at General Shanks are super and treated Alexis and especially Justin super. The “special” teachers from JRDS throughout the Jay County school system did wonders working with Justin. I will miss seeing Mr. Eads giving every kid a “high five” every morning when dropping off the kids at school.

Oh yeah, I did a “little” golfing while here in Portland over the years and don’t let anyone tell you different, it’s the best course around. I met and associated with a great group of people out there over the years and was welcomed there, just like everywhere else. We will miss all of the people in Portland very much and thanks for all of the great memories.

The Morells — Tom,

Deanne, Justin and Alexis

Portland

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