Almost completed - the Shoreline High School Patio and Memorial project

You have to haul a lot of mulch
to cover an area that large

By Lynda Williams Shelton, Class of '61

When Sharon Dowdy Shannon first envisioned this project, her dream was to have many classes work together to clean the patio at our old Shoreline High School (now the Shoreline Conference Center), repair the fountain, ensure nice surroundings for our memorial tree, prepare the patio for the Memorial Stone and provide the Shoreline School District with a clean, inviting, outside space.

Even though she was not able to lead the charge on this project, I believe that without her inspiration the project would not have taken flight.

The fountain was turned into a planter
Photo by Steve Shelton

The patio committee was comprised of people from a variety of graduating classes all working together to transform a messy, over-grown area into a neat and inviting one. The fountain, donated by the class of ’65, wasn’t repairable, so they transformed it into a flower container. They are now deciding what flowers to plant.

The tree, donated by Terry Tomlinson at our 50th Shoreline School Reunion, is looking healthy and is anchoring that corner of the patio. We are watching over two of the heathers that were planted in that section of the patio because they are barely hanging on and may need to be replaced. The third is strong and looks to be a different variety.

The patio was truly lovely when the rhododendrons and azaleas were in bloom. We hope to collect some additional funds to plant something that is drought resistant and will bloom throughout the summer.

Spreading the mulch
Photo by Steve Shelton

Sandy Steele Forman (Pacific Topsoils) donated the three yards of mulch which a group of us spread on May 31st. The school district has been welcoming, helpful, and very appreciative throughout our project. They have provided us with any assistance we needed to perform our bit of magic.

Once my husband has permission from the doctor to lift the Memorial Stone, he will place it near the tree in honor of those classmates who have died. We also plan to power wash the patio. After that it will be ongoing watering and maintenance.

Cleaning stairs and walkways
Photo by Steve Shelton

Many people worked together to make this vision a reality. Below is the list of people who participated in this project. They are Shoreline Class of 1961 unless noted otherwise.

Sue Walker, Superintendent of Shoreline Schools

Kathie Schindler, Executive Assistant

Kim Nashif, Shoreline Conference Center

Sharon Dowdy Shannon

Sharon Walker Carver Daly

George Daly

Patti Conn Gibbons

Bob Gibbons (class of 60)

Judy Fitzgerald Rogers

Terry Tomlinson

Penny Budke Jones

Barbara Reddick Syre

Louise Skuzie Rodarme

Wendie Johnson Bark (class of 65)

Ron Bark (class of 63)

Janice Buttenob Franett

Marsha MacPherson Ullrich

Myrna MacPherson Haigh (class of 64)

Sandy Steele Forman

Lynda Williams Shelton

Steve Shelton (Lincoln class of 62)

Ingrid Gjertsen Huff

Pat Willard Hitchens

Carol Stubblefied Stevens

Jody Burchinal Sherin (class of 65)