Class of 1968

Lora Ferguson Steele - Neosho, Missouri

Lora then...

I am currently living in Neosho, MO which is in the heart of the Ozarks. Since high school, I've lived up and down the west and east coast and even spent some time in Japan, but I feel like I've finally settled down and found where I plan to stay. 

I spent almost six years in the Navy and loved every minute of it. I have always loved trying new things and this certainly offered me lots of opportunity to do that. While in the Navy, I was trained to work as an Intelligence Specialist but please hold off on the jokes. I've already heard enough about intelligence and the military being an oxymoron!

I've been married and divorced twice. My first husband was a submarine sailor and my second was a Naval helicopter pilot who flew anti-submarine warfare. Go figure how I managed that! I've been divorced from my second husband (also a '68 grad, Scott Steele) now for over 12 years. 

I have two sons, Sean now 25 and Thomas now 21. I loved being a single parent and all the activities they were involved in. Sean lives here in Neosho and Thomas lives in Bellville, IL which is just outside St. Louis. Sean is married with a 2 year old son and TM is living with his girl friend of 7 years now.

And now!

Once Scott and I divorced, I got serious about completing my degree and graduated from San Diego State University in 1990. Since I moved to Neosho seven years ago, I went back to school and earned my master's degree from University of Oklahoma. I moved to this area for the job I'm still working at. I manage the Career Services & Resource Center of a small (but hugely growing) community college near here. I constantly count my blessing in having such a fun and fulfilling job. 

The biggest thrill I've had in recent years is when I bought some old pasture land outside of town and hired a contractor to build my dream house. I moved in Sept. 1999 and have had a ball landscaping my 2.5 acres. My daughter-in-law calls me "Martha Stewart" but believe me, I'm not nearly as fussy OR in as deep water as she is. Of course I'm not nearly as rich as she is either, but then I love my life so I'm not complaining!

- November 1, 2003