~ Marie Christine Braun~After graduation from St. Francis, I went to cosmetology school in Jackson, MS and later worked as a bookkeeper for Atwood Chevrolet in Vicksburg. I married Bill Yowan who had graduated from Carr Central in Vicksburg and was attending Mississippi State at the time. We moved into an apartment on campus where the next couple of years were a combination of the excitement of college life interspersed with the tribulations of earning enough money to live and stay in school. In 1962, we were blessed with two sons, Glenn and Gary. Many of the other married students had children but twins were somewhat of a rarity in the married student apartments so there was no shortage of babysitters to provide Bill and me some welcome relief from our thoroughly enjoyable if not somewhat hectic lifestyle.
In 1963 as a member of the "Dames Club" (wives of MSU students) I received my Ph.T Degree (putting hubby through) and "we" graduated from Mississippi State University. Bill interviewed for a number of positions around the country and decided to go with the Ford Motor Company in Michigan. Besides his family, Bill has always had two other loves - cars and water. Ford was perfect to meet one of these loves and Michigan met the other with countless inland lakes as well as the Great Lakes which border the state. We moved to Michigan in 1963 and in 1964 we were blessed with the birth of our daughter, Sandra Marie.
All of our children remained in Michigan. Gary has followed in his dad's footsteps and is with Ford Motor Company. He shares in his father's love of boats and the water and is a confirmed bachelor. Glenn also was an avid boater and had a love of water and the outdoors. Tragically, Glenn passed away from a massive heart attack in March of 2007. No words can describe the incredible feeling of loss we have experienced as we are a very close family.
Our daughter Sandra graduated from Michigan State University and is a commercial risk management for a large insurance firm. She has been very successful and is currently Vice President of Detroit/Windsor Chapter of "Executive Women International". Sandy is married to Ed Gulick, a truly wonderful son-in-law, and they have given us three beautiful grandchildren, Eddie, Tommy and Kaitlyn.
Bill and I have been members of a number of boating and Yacht Clubs over the years and in the summers have enjoyed cruising the great lakes on our boat, "Perhaps Love III", a 40' Sea Ray. In the winters, we love to travel and go to warmer climates. We are also somewhat hooked on ocean cruises and have gone on over 25 cruises over the past several years. Recently, I joined and became actively involved in the Red Hat Society which has expanded my circle of friends and acquaintances.
I am look forward to seeing my classmates and friends from Vicksburg at the class reunion in the spring of 2009. I am truly thankful for having grown up in Vicksburg and attending St. Francis Xavier Academy. I will always cherish the many memories of those wonderful years. (Marie and her huband reside in Shelby Twp., MI)
A picture of my family and me at Ocean Isle, North Carolina where Bill's parents have a home. In the picture are my husband, Bill, our daughter Sandy, our son Gary and me.
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