Fortier Class 1955 Classmate Memory Book 2/26/10
Simmons, Mary Eugenia Slater
Name
of Classmate: Simmons, Mary Eugenia Slater Spouse:Donald F. 24 years
Residing Ocean Springs, MS
Further Educational accomplishments: Many night school courses thru the years but my degree is from "the school of hard knocks" and that is a continuing education.
Family
history: Three: Anita Lynne; Jewell Anne; William
Eugene....all three have families and have grown up to be responsible adults.....in
spite of my raising...There 10 grandchildren and 2 Greats
Achievements
and Occupational History: I raised (and totally
supported ) my 3 children as the 'biologically' Father left when I was pregnant
with the 3rd child. He was an alcoholic
and lived for years with his Mother and never looked back..
I brought myself up (by the boot straps) from a secretary to a Purchasing Agent to Manager of Expediting to Manager of Field Expediters...and into middle management in an international engineer/construct company. Several of my bosses said "if you had an engineering degree you would probably be president" but I much preferred working out on the sites building primarily Paper Mills around the country...Did a lot of traveling into manufacturing shops, etc..all long before women were allowed on the sites and in the shops. I broke the 'glass ceiling' very quietly..
My regret: I did not listen to my Mother and go on to
college...Mamas do know best.
5) Fortier Reunions attended: 50th I think it was
6)
Other personal comments: I
married my present husband in 1986 (finally got it right !!) Now that we are retired I have time for my reading, quilting
and most favorite Riding my motorcycle... We are heading to Fresno, Cal. on the
bikes with 8 friends (all in their 50s) in May and back home to Ocean Springs,
Mississippi...We will have a month to enjoy the country...