GRAVETTE -- The annual Payne family reunion was held August 7, 8 and 9 this year, before and after Gravette Day. There were more than 70 members of the family in attendance for at least one day. Work, school and distance kept some away. You were missed.
Friday night, Aug. 7, the gang met at Delbert Payne and Jo Jackson's home in Gentry where we had a cookout and swim party. Lanny Garrett was at the grill as always.
Saturday, the 8th, was Gravette Day and, of course, we proudly wore our jade 35 Years and Counting shirts on the Payne Gang float with over 50 of us riding. It was our baby Ben's first family reunion parade. Saturday night some of the gang came to Lanny and Snooky Garrett's farm for supper, peacock feather hunting and swimming in the creek and pool. Lunch after the parade was at Sue Rice's or Bill and Clara Payne's house. This family must eat!
Sunday was our big day at the Civic Center for lunch and usually supper, our silent auction and extra special quilt raffle. The quilt, made by Jo Jackson, had all of our previous T-shirts from 1980 to 2015 and was won by Katelyn Johnson, fifth generation Payne family member.
Of course, pictures and more memories were made. Thank you, Steve Payne, for setting up and getting a 35-year anniversary group shot, which is hard to do with this clan.
Several attending came from Arkansas, including Lanny and Snooky Garrett, Bill and Clara Payne, Sue Rice, Jeff and Lana Turner, Leif and Amy Garrett, Chuck and Lisa Garrett and Jarod and Lacey Morgan and children Katelyn and Wyatt, all from Gravette; John N. Payne, Cody and Hayley Allissa Payne with baby Benjamin and Blake and Lyndsy Garrett with son Noah, all from Decatur. Noah competed in the Mr. Tiny Tot contest and won second runner up.
Other Arkansans attending were Abby and Aryn Eason from Lincoln, Luke Payne, Coweeta King, Al Ellis and Mandy Beth Payne from Fayetteville and Brian, Cheryl, Hogan and Hayden Payne from Springdale. A big crowd came from Bentonville, including Don and Nancy Payne and son Doug, home from school in Tulsa, Donnie Lee and Marilyn Payne with daughters Emily and Sophy, Tonya Dean, Debbi Buckner, Tina Boling, Christopher Boling, Chance Cunningham and Steve and Timmy Payne. Savannah Grace Schade came from Rogers and Keyna Payne from Fordyce.
Attending from Oklahoma were Vinny and Christine Audo of Lawton, Rick and Janet Payne with Sweet Tater, Wendy Frost, Stephen Frost, Chris Armigo, Debra Walker, Jeff and Candy Williams and daughter Rebecka of Vinita.
Coming from Indiana were Melissa Nixon, Clarissa Payne and Aaron Compton, to meet their grandson, nephew and great-great-grandson Ben. Mr. Compton is 97 years young.
Others from out of state were Paula Nicholson from Kansas City, Mo., Patti Cummins from Coppell, Texas, Andy Wineberg and son Henry from Austin, Texas, Bob and Bobbie Wineberg and granddaughter Jillian, from Lake City, Fla. Jillian had to go on the peacock feather hunt with Henry. Thank you, Bob, for the Sunday talk and prayer. We're always so glad to count our blessings and share those "precious memories" of those who are not present but are always with us in our hearts.
Community on 08/19/2015