Sunset High School Class of 1987

Although, I’m not the wild and crazy girl I once was, I still love to joke and laugh! I figured out how to put all that energy to good, productive use! Since the 10 year reunion, my life continues to be one big blessing. I’m still married to Prince Charming (since 1991). We continue to be business partners, still in commercial real estate – currently working on an office condo project in Phoenix and starting up a professional recruiting firm (I’m flying solo on this one). Sammi (soccer Sam) will be 12 next month and Fletcher is 8! The kids are amazing! Looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up! It makes me sad to know that we have already lost some of our classmates. Life is short… “Let your light shine!”
- Janet Dircks (Gillett)

Having enjoyed the opportunity to come to Portland for Coach Harris’ retirement a couple of years ago and see many old friends, I regret not being able to make the 20th reunion this year (I’ll be 0 for 2). I’ll give the requisite update – Got my mechanical engineering degree in 1991 but decided I liked school so I went back and got my law degree in 1995. Worked at a big firm for a year but the hours were too much so became General Counsel for St. John Knits International, where I stayed for 8.5 years. Then just over a year ago I became EVP-Administration and Chief Legal Officer of NRP Holding Co (does business as National Recreational Properties and LandAuction.com). But even better is that I got married last Thanksgiving to my wife Kim (who is the Director of Merchandising at The Vintage Club in Palm Desert, CA) and we joined forces – her 10 year old girl Alexis and 8 year old son Brock with my 10 and 8 year old boys Michael and Bradley. I’d post a picture but I can’t seem to get the picture size to adjust. We enjoy it when we have all the troops together and we really enjoy when we have our weekends without them!!! We live in Ladera Ranch, CA, and love everything about Orange County – especially the weather, beach and 45 minute flight to Vegas!!!

I’ve kept up with a few close friends who have in turn kept me in the loop on what others from Sunset are doing from time to time, but would love to hear from those who I’ve lost contact with (joejoff@yahoo.com). Great job to everyone putting this site together and hope following the reunion this site will contain postings from the reunion for those of us unable to attend. Cheers.

Joe Joffrion

Wow. If anyone had told me how different life would be after Sunset and graduation I wouldn’t have believed it. What a great ride it has been for me. Right after graduation my mom passed away and my life changed forever. I finished business school and entered the working world never to look back! I am now right where I am thrilled to be. I am a single mom of an amazing 7 year old Irissa Hope. She is the light of my life and I enjoy every minute of being a mom. I am a Senior Advisor for an Insurance Company in Vancouver, WA and love every minute of it. I still see Kim McCoy and Kim Grafe and their great families. Talk to the Kelsey Twins from time to time, and Corie Day every day! The rest of the gang, well life moves on. Hope all is well for everyone and would love to hear from those that remember me from Barnes, Meadow Park or Sunset. susan. collier @ bankerslife.com�

Okay, I’m a big Pack Rat. It drives my husband, the real estate appraiser, absolutely nuts.Â

I am sure most of you have your annuals from HS…

But how about your prom dress/outfit? I still have mine. Yes, it fits. No I won’t be wearing it to the Crystal Ballroom. Don’t know why I have it, but I do.

How about your HS ID cards?? I have all 3, Soph/Jr/Sr. I’m kind of surprised that I look semi-normal in my Sr. one as I remember I had the Mother of all Hangovers that day. OOPs! Is that not politically correct?? California & 20/20 Coolers! Who remembers those bad boys?

Okay, here’s the one that I think I should get a gold star for or at least a free drink…..

I have the T-Shirt from Meadow Park Jr. High. Remember when we all signed the board & our signatures were screen-printed on the blue t-shirt? I have it still. Anyone famous from Meadow Park? Maybe I should auction it on Ebay! See the picture above!!!!

Nita

Reading Wendy’s post, I had to chuckle. I was going to start out my post the same way. I must have kept a pretty low profile in HS as no one really remembered who I was at the 10 year.  “You look familiar but….”. LOL!

Anyway, after HS, I dove into the workforce full time while attending PSU. I earned a degree in Accounting and toyed with the idea of becoming a CPA. Advanced Taxation quickly cured me of that idea! Â

In 1991 my family started a business. Ornelas Enterprises, Inc. is a Contract Electronic Manufacturing and Assembly Company located in Hillsboro.  I now have 36 employees and we are rapidly expanding. If you think living with your parents was tough, try working with them!!! Oh My! It’s been a fun ride and the reins of the company were turned over to me 3 years ago.  To prepare myself for the transition, I went back to school in 1999 and earned my MBA from Marlyhurst.  You can take a look at our company at www.oeiassembly.com. Be warned! The pictures are 6 years old and I look nothing like what is pictured!

In 1994 I married Chris Werner.  He is a farm appraiser with Washington County Assessment and Taxation (yes, the dreaded property tax office). We’ve actually been together 20 years! We met December 1986 at an OMSI Pink Floyd Laser Light Show. Does that take you back or what?? In July 2003 Connor was born. He is an absolute kick! He may look like a mini-Chris but I tell everyone he has my brains! (Of course Chris takes offense at that!) We also have 2 black labs and 1 very cranky old tabby cat.Â

Going back to why I look different than on my company website…. After Connor was born, I joined a fierce kickboxing class in Garden Home and have been boxing for over 3 years. (www.fiercefitness.com) For someone who HATED PE with a passion (it always messed up my GPA), I am now in the best shape of my life. Plus it appeals to my violent side as I think (hope) I can kick the crap out of someone if I needed to!Â

Karol Johnston (Kelsey), Karin Madsen (Kelsey) and Shelley Bresnehan (Dodge) are still close friends and we try to get together monthly for dinner. We also go on a Gal’s Weekend every 4-6 months. I’d tell you what we do on those weekends but they’d hurt me. Or try to. Imagine lots of whiskey, bad karaoke, good conversation and other things……Â

Whew! I posted more than I intended! You are probably thinking who is this crazy woman!!! Â

Anyone who wants to contact me can reach me at nita@oeiassembly.com or neetonita@comcast.net. (I know, I know. My personal email address is hokey but, sheesh, I made it up many, many years ago when I thought it was cool sounding….)Â

I wasn’t sure where to post this so i hope this is the right spot.

In the 20 years since we have graduated i know we have lost some of our fellow classmates.

I am pretty sure that Kathi Walsleben (sp?) was one of the Prineville hotshots killed on Storm king mountain back in 1994. I recently read a book about the tradgedy and the pictures of Kathi Walsleben Beck look like the same Kathi Walsleben i used to joke around with in Mr. Swaffords history class. Kathi Walsleben is not a very common name and the fact that she is from Oregon just really makes me wonder if it was indeed her that lost her life on Storm King mountain.

https://www.anpr.org/news-fall04.htm

http://www.davisfirecrew.org/sk/sk3.jpg

Can anyone confirm or hopefull disprove that this was indeed her? She and i had a lot of fun when we hung out and it is breaking my heart not knowing for sure if this was indeed her. I am also wondering about other fallen classmates who are no longer with us. And am hopeing we can remember them somehow at the reunion.

Thanks
Wendy Provis-Breedlove

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Glad to see we will be gathering this summer with our families and friends.Â

Life has been very good to me the past 20 years. After a great corporate career, God called me into fulltime ministry 10 years ago. Serving God fulltime has been the best ride of my life.  I get to empower thousands of people each week to find and fulfill their purpose for life. I serve with Rick Warren (Author of The Purpose Driven Life) at Saddleback Church (www.saddleback.com).  I also get to write books (3 so far), speak, train, coach and consult with pastors all around the world. I just got back from London and India and will be going to Brazil in April. You can check more out at my current site www.erikrees.com. My blog is at www.shapediscovery.blogspot.com.

The best blessing of my life is my wife Stacey, who brought me to faith when we started dating 17 years ago. We have been married 14 years and have three great kids…Shaya (10), Jessica (8) and JT (5). Shaya and Jessica are competitive swimmers and JT just keeps mommy very busy. We live in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and love it down here.

You can email me at erik@saddleback.com

Hope to see you this summer!

Erik