GRAVETTE — I didn’t go to school at Beaty, but I wanted to attend the May 26 reunionthere. It was held outside the old country school building, Liberty Hill, just a few miles from where I grew up west of Gravette.

I knew all those kids in the Beaty community. Since so many of those Beaty boys were my husband’s classmates, when his class would have a get-together I’d feel like I’d gone to "old home week." I’d listen to them talk of old times, like walking the tracks where trains had gone in times past and how poor we all were.

The words "I’m bored" weren’t in our vocabulary. We worked hard and were grateful for the "down" times when we could just sit or visit neighbor kids or take a walk. We walked everywhere. Our parents wouldn’t have thought of taking us somewhere in whatever transportation they had - likely a rundown truck.

Jerry was close to all those kids from Beaty, as many graduated with him. There was Charles Kelley, J D Bates, Sonny Rankin (Ralph), Bill Matlock and Brice Blankenship. Another friend we saw often was Mousy Matlock. It seemed everyone had nicknames back then.

I never knew what J D’sinitials stood for. Many of those Beaty boys have died - Charles Kelley is about the only one left.

Since Mom belonged to the home demonstration club back in the ‘40s, I often went with her when they would have a meeting in one of the homes. A highlight would be the refreshments the ladies excelled in. One I remember was the strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream. Us kids would play outside. That’s where I met Berl Dean Harris (who, with Dwayne Craig, organized the Beaty reunion) and his little brother Bobbie.

Though I attended Wann in the next school district, I had deep roots in Beaty. When we moved to Arkansas from Nebraska, back in the ‘40s, the old country store was still open. I also attended many Sunday "singin’s and dinner on the grounds." That’s where I learned to love good old gospel music, especially men’s quartets.

It was also there where I attended many "evangelic" meetings. Preachers would visit the neighborhood and announce they would be holding a revival, and word would soon get out.

There wasn’t much entertainment (before TV), and the little country school building would befilled to the rafters (that’s before we used the words "standing room only"). It was at one of those country revivals that my brother George, just back from the Navy, went forward, and his life has never been the same. He became a preacher and is still preaching today, over 60 years later.

I enjoyed the reunion. About 100 people gathered under large shade trees and reminisced. I’d go up to someone who looked old enough to have lived that long ago, and ask their family name. I met many old neighbors and relatives of kids I grew up with.

A highlight was meeting Sue Hayre. Her mother Elsie taught school at Liberty Hill (when all those country schools were consolidated in the early ‘50s, Elsie went to teachin Gravette). Elsie and my mom were pregnant with their last babies and became fast friends. I hadn’t seen Sue since she was a little girl, and we had the nicest visit. After everyone had visited, we had a fantastic meal, provided by our hosts.

I don’t know how old the school house is. Dwayne Craig bought it and the acre that went with it. He’s been slowly renovating (saving) it. There probably aren’t many of those old buildings left. And there probably aren’t many old community reunions anymore either.

Marie Putman is a former Gravette resident and regular contributor to the Westside Eagle Observer.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 06/13/2012