Payne family holds annual Christmas celebration

January 18, 2017 at 5:00 a.m.

by Snooky Garrett

Photo by Snooky Garrett Several ladies who are descendants of Leota Payne received “Great Mother” or “Mom” mugs which belonged to Leota at the annual Payne family Christmas celebration Dec. 31. Pictured are Lana Turner (left, rear), Mandy Payne, Wendy Payne, Candy Williams, Cheryl Bowen, Patti Cummins and Lisa Garrett; Tina Boling (left, front), Bobbie Wineberg, Debbie Buckner, Paula Nicholson and Christine Audo. All are Leota’s granddaughters except great-granddaughter Christine, who is a new mother this year. “Our sentimental family loved it,” reported Snooky Garrett.
Photo by Snooky Garrett Several ladies who are descendants of Leota Payne received “Great Mother” or “Mom” mugs which belonged to Leota at the annual Payne family Christmas celebration Dec. 31. Pictured are Lana Turner (left, rear), Mandy Payne, Wendy Payne, Candy Williams, Cheryl Bowen, Patti Cummins and Lisa Garrett; Tina Boling (left, front), Bobbie Wineberg, Debbie Buckner, Paula Nicholson and Christine Audo. All are Leota’s granddaughters except great-granddaughter Christine, who is a new mother this year. “Our sentimental family loved it,” reported Snooky Garrett.

GRAVETTE -- Members of the Leota Payne family held their annual Christmas get-together this year on Dec. 31, 2016, at the Gravette Civic Center. Family members attended from Arkansas as well as five other states.

Those attending from the hometown of Gravette were Bill and Clara Payne, Sue Rice, Lanny and Snooky Garrett, Tom and Deb Boettcher, Chuck and Lisa Garrett, Blake and Lyndsy Garrett and children Kylee and Noah, Jeff and Lana Turner and Jared and Lacey Morgan and children Katelyn and Wyatt.

Others attending from Arkansas were Delbert Payne and Jo Jackson of Gentry; Steve Payne, Debbie Buckner, Tina Boling and daughter Allie and Don and Nancy Payne of Bentonville; John Payne of Decatur; Hayley, Alissa and Benny Payne of Rogers; Brian, Cheryl, Hogan and Hayden Bowen of Springdale; and Doug Payne, recently from Little Rock.

Attending from Oklahoma were Delbert and Arleeta O'Neal of Sand Springs; Candy and Rebecka Williams, Wendy Payne, Stefen Frost, Matthew Williams and Emily Morrison and son Brantley, all of Vinita.

James Nicholson, Natalie Southall and Paula Nicholson came from Kansas City, Mo., and Christine Audo and baby Theo from Topeka, Kan. Patti and Rachel Cummins of Coppell, Texas, represented the state of Texas and, last but not least, Bob and Bobbie Wineberg came all the way from Lake City, Fla.

It's always wonderful to connect, remember old times and celebrate the memories of those not with us but still so much in our hearts.

Community on 01/18/2017