James Lee Jemmerson

Dana 'BRUCE' Simpson

Another sad ending.  Greg and I spoke often on the phone for many years now.  He and Rick Tuttle were kind enough to come to my place in Florida to visit me way back in 2013.  He called and said he was on his way and that was so cool for them to care enough about me.  I had a compound fracture to my leg after falling in a hole down in Costa Rica.  I spent 3 months on my back and another 3 months in a wheel char and was happy to see these guys in my house laughing about our past back in Wichita. I called him two weeks ago and spoke to his daughter who said he was slipping and couldnt talk to me. Danny Miller and others had been visiting Greg.  RIP my dear old friend from North High.  

John Naramore

  I've known Greg since probably about 1953, when we were at Riverside.  My first real recollection of doing someting where we were both involved was when the school classes went to Topeka on the train to tour the capitol building, my big memory our scarily walking up rickety stairs to the top of the dome. We both lived in the neighborhood, he lived about 5 blocks west of the school, way over by the river, and I lived east of it by 5 blocks, then on the other side of town from one another..  

  Greg being a year ahead of me then we didn't hang out; even when it was we were in the same highschool class we were friendly but in different crowds with different intrests. In the famous late '60's we'd cross paths, where I remember it distinctly was at Tuttle's River Chalet.  We were both at Gene Steven's wedding reception where Greg was a gregarious presence, charming my wife to the point she remembes him fondly to this day.  A couple of months later he was arrested for murder.

  I visited him a couple of times in prison, always wishing I could have and would have done it more.  However, one of the things I've done right in my life was being able to testify before the parole board hearing for his release prior to his time being up.  It was an odd coincidence that at the time I was on what was called the Police Chief's Council in Lawrence, something in which I never engaged, but it resonated directly with one of the three board members whose husband was in law enforcement.  I acknowledged that what Greg had done was bad, but I had known him my whole life and he was not a bad person. It was thankfully a successful effort on the behalf of all who participated on his behalf.

  There are a number of you who should be proud of giving him support upon his release: Danny, Jim Shore, Jodie, Bruce, and others - you know who you are.  Thank you.  

  Greg was a sometimes acted tough, had had major parts of a tough life, but toughed it out, but he had a good heart.  The last time I saw him was at Gene's wake with Jodie.  He wasn't in good shape then, but true to his nature, he was there for a friend.  

Rest easy Greg.  It's time you are finally able to do so.  It's a friendship I was priviliged to have.

JohnN

Dana 'BRUCE' Simpson

John, Thank you for being brave enough to bring up the fact that Greg did some real hard time.  He served 18 years without getting into any trouble up in Lansing.  That is a real hard thing to accomplish.  Back in 2010 I came back from South America for the reunion.  I landed in Miami then made my way to my storage garage and got my Harley out and ready for the ride.  I rode for two days till I made it to Wichita.  The night of the reunion in the park was great seeing so many people from my past.  Then Greg walked up and we hugged and talked. After everyone left Greg and i sat out there on the steps and talk till almost daylight.  I can tell all of you that the horrible situation that occured was a accident.  I know everyone who was involved because they went to school with us. I also knew Raymond who lost his life on that horrible night.  Greg and Sammy both went away forever while Kelly Coley went straight to the law and received immunity for his testimony against Greg and also collected the $15000 reward,  I also reember Greg's sister Shelly who lost her life way too early from cancer.  I will miss our phone calls.  I will miss him telling me about when he beat the shit out of Jimmy Smith when we were sophmores.  Remember the bad ass from the class of 64 whose last name was Berry???  Greg ground pounded him too.  I love the fact that the calm and cool Greg while  being younger stood up to the bullies at North and whipped them real good.   I admire many things about Greg. He was a great friend.  RIP

Bruce

Sherry Gail Skillman-Skillwoman

Greg & I were not in the same NHS circles, so I don't really have anything firsthand to say. Reading two gut wrenching firsthand stories from John & Bruce is a good reminder for all of us that Real Life can get pretty messy & your life can change forever in a couple of seconds where something goes sideways. (It is interesting synchronicity that Jim Shore has also just died & his life was evidently interwoven with Greg's.) On another level, those stories are also a testimony to the way that trauma & stress interact with our mind-body health. A horrible fatality, 2 decades of prison & the challenge of re-entry into the world outside would be hard on anybody's heart. It must have been a blessing for Greg to have some people who stepped up to say a good word & reconnect with him after his release.  Thanks for having the courage to share something about hard times that we can hopefully all learn some compassion from.

Dana 'BRUCE' Simpson

Dana 'BRUCE' Simpson

Greg on my new road bike.  He always enjoyed riding my bikes.  This pic was taken at the park in Riverside late in the nite.  A special pic of a special guy.  RIP Greg.  Bruce

Dana 'BRUCE' Simpson

Greg on my new road bike.  He always enjoyed riding my bikes.  This pic was taken at the park in Riverside late in the nite.  A special pic of a special guy.  RIP Greg.  Bruce

Dana 'BRUCE' Simpson

I told Greg to go for it.  I was explaining to him my new 2005 Wide Glide that I had just road in from Miami Florida in 2 days.  Greg took this pic of me.  I will keep this pic forever as well as the first pic and shar them with the world if asked.  RIP my good friend Greg Chism.  Bruce Simpson