Classmate

We both attended OSU and married during our junior year. Joyce did not make our CHS Senior
Vivacity due to living her last half a year in Muskogee, but she did return in time to graduate
with us. She was involved in orchestra, band, home economics, etc. during her 17 years in
Cushing. She also attended Lincoln Grade School in Cushing. She went on to Majored in Early
Childhood Education at O.S.U. After college, we moved to Oklahoma City where Ron worked
for Safeway Stores, Inc for 12 years. We then moved to Dallas, TX where Ron was employed by
Kellogg's for 9 yrs. as District Manager before we both felt called into full-time ministry for the
Lord. In 1978 we moved our family of five to the country of HAITI, where Ron served as
Hospital Administrator for a 200 bed TB hospital for children. Joyce handled child
sponsorship program, hosting visiting groups, among many other duties with Child Care Int'l.
Later, Ron served as Country Director for Compassion International in Haiti. We adopted our
4th child while in Haiti. In 1982, we returned to the States and worked for Christian
Booksellers Association as Director of Research and Development for computers until we
accepted a position as Country Director in Mali (West Africa) with World Relief Inc. After
several years in Africa, we returned to CA and worked in an inner-city ministry called
CityTeam Ministries. In 1995, we moved to Americus, GA where Ron served as Director of
Major Gifts for Habitat for Humanity Int'l. We have an international family with one
biological, one Hispanic, one Caucasian, and one Haitian. All were born 1, 3, 5 and 6th of
Sept….God has a sense of humor - ha!

We still live in Americus! On April 1, 1998, Ron was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's
and took early retirement in 1999. He suffered a stroke that year, as well as, Bells Palsy the
following year. Joyce was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but both of us are doing
well. We sold our home and moved into a retirement center where we are living now called
Magnolia Manor. We both turned 70 years old this year. We been married 50 yrs. and have
been blessed with 4 children, 18 grandchildren and one Great grandson! God bless and stay in
touch!

After 12 years living with Alzheimer's, a miracle happened in April 2010! As my neurologist
said following re-testing by MRI, EEG, Psychological Testing, complete blood work-up, etc.,
"We all agree you no longer have Alzheimer's! In fact, the scare from the stroke you had in '98,
did not show up this time on the MRI…we have seen a miracle." Joyce said it best when she said
it is kind of like the blind man in the Bible, when asked who healed him, replied "…I do not
know what you ask. But the one thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!" John 9:25.

I know many friends around the world have been praying for us. We truly thank you for being
a part of this miracle. To God Be the Glory!

Ron and Joyce Gregory
Americus, Georgia
January 2012