Next Year's Reunion Will Be October 5, 2008 PLACE: Old Post Park TIME: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Picnic Shelter Number 8 Potluck Lunch at 1:00 pm THIS IS NEWS! Just a reminder that the 28th Eubanks Reunion is on October 5, 2008. Happy Holidays 2007 Eubanks Reunion 2007 The 27th Annual Reunion of the R.W. Eubanks Family of Pope County met on October 7, 2007 at OLD POST PARK with 82 people from 8 states attending. Clarence Mackie of Dover was the oldest at 90 years young. Tommy Randolph, 5 weeks, son of Tom and Mary Randolph was the youngest. Those attending from the Pope County Area: Redmond and Benita Eubanks, Clarence Mackie and Jeannie McCain from Dover, Debbie (Brigham) Higgs from Hector, Belinda (Mackie) and Cody Guinn from London, Dewey and Patsy (Eubanks) Jones, Kylie Jones, Robbie and Kasidy Horton, James and Julie (Bowles) Williams from Pottsville. From Russellville: Randy, Michelle, Sarah and Lorele Anderson, Allen, Joanne, Taylor and Madelene Eubanks, Betty Eubanks, Dick and Cathy Eubanks, Larry, Mark and Cheryl Eubanks with granddaughters Katelynn and Kassidy, Randy Eubanks, Vera Eubanks, Thomas and Angie Harris with children Scott and Allison, Cathy (Brigham) Heflin, Rebecca and Will Mackie, Joyce McCain, Tom and Mary Randolph with children Samantha, Kyria, Amanda, Carolyn Jane, and 5 week old Tommy, Gary and Debbie (Eubanks) Tuller, and Justin Williamson. Others attending from Arkansas: Elaine (Mackie) Huddleston from Berryville, Jerry, Ellen and Aron Rook, Jim and Martha (Eubanks) Bowles with grandson Aram from Dardanelle, Anna Lee (Jurick) Hudson from Drasco, Rob and Erna Eubanks, Phillip and Melissa Eubanks with children Caspian and Bennett from Fayetteville, Brian Eubanks and Katherine Tate from Knoxville, Sean Gray from Lamar, Bud and Lazeth from Maumelle, Pameula (Eubanks) Frealy from Searcy. Those attending from out of state: David and Paula (Gaines) Duley from Dexter, MO, James and Shirley Eubanks from Emporia, KS, John W Eubanks from Hernando, MS, Ronald Eudell Eubanks from Arvada, CO, Jerry Neal Eubanks, Eldon and Diana White with granddaughter Diana Eubanks, and Gary Rook from Midwest City, OK. The above information was furnished by Joyce and Jeannie McCain. (Thanks) As you can see most of us live around this area. And it can be REAL HARD sometimes to find the time to take out of our busy lives to spent a Sunday afternoon with family. I don't know how my parents did it when we were growing up. We almost always were visiting or had company on Sunday afternoon. Now, it takes a great effort for us to do it. (Said that to say this) For everyone that traveled from out of state to be here for a few hours...... ."A GREAT BIG THANKS". I know how hard it is to schedule a trip like that. And look how far Ronnie Eubanks came! All the way from Denver, CO (All because he thought he was going to take the horseshoe trophy back to Colorado) And Paula Duley (Aunt Shirley 'Eubanks' Gaines daughter) had already planned a vacation -- to go north to camp and ride 4 wheelers. When she got the 'invite' from Joyce and Jeannie, husband David said, north or south? She said we go south! They brought tent, (really big) trailer with dirt bike and 4 wheelers. You can see some beautiful photos of their vacation at http://picasaweb.google.com/duleyms ANOTHER GREAT BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT MADE THIS YEARS REUNION A SUCCESS Jeannie and Joyce McCain have a great idea. They said every year at the reunion there is always so many wonderful dishes of food. Next year they would like for everyone to write down the recipe for the dish they bring. (They probably wouldn't care if you added a few more.) They would like to put together a Eubanks Family cookbook. How about it? Also remember we have a few recipes that family members have shared on the website. If you would like you can send them to me at info@eubanksreunion.org. I will add them to the website and give them to Joyce and Jeannie. There were a number of folks that wanted to come this year but because of work or illness could not. Ones that sent word were: Tip and Peggy Eubanks from Atoka, OK - Peggy continues her battle with cancer. Son Mike and Heidi also sent word that Mike was in a very serious truck accident - he is slowly recovering at home. Sammye Lou (Eubanks) and Gary Johnston from Oklahoma City - Sammye is still battling cancer but was planning on being here this year. But a couple of months ago Gary was attacked by a dog while delivering the mail. His recovery has been slow. Paula (Kinslow) Stokes from Houston, TX - Paula works for a nonprofit organization that was putting on a Charity Golf Tournament. She also recently sent the following message: "I'm sending a picture of my Daughter, Kristine's, little boy Dylan on Halloween. He is Elvis. He can't deny the Eubanks blood line. Just take a look at that head of hair. Reta is coming to Houston over Thanksgiving and we will get a visit. We really haven't had a chance to do that in awhile." All I can say is "Thank Goodness!" Now we don't have to worry who will be Elvis when Ronnie Eubanks gets to old to 'Shake, Rattle & roll'. Loyd and Shirley (Eubanks) Gaines from Dexter, MO - were attending a church function out of state. Eddy and Paula Eubanks from Dexter, MO - Edd and Arlene have both had health problems this year, Jimmy was ran into by a big truck and continues to have back trouble, and Eddy has been working 7 days a week. Jim and Shelly Carry from Dardanelle - both had to work this year, I'm sure others had problems that we don't know about, but if you can, mark your calendar for next year right now. When you aren't here we miss you. It would make it a very special reunion if we could get 100 or more next year. And it would be even more special to a lot of us if all, or even some, of Aunt Stella's kids were here. We all miss seeing them. Years they are passing. And remember to say a prayer for those that continue to have health problems. "Mornings of chocolate gravy, aunts that put cows milk in cartons so you would drink it." Most everyone knows that is a line from the homepage our website, EubanksReunion.org. Playing baseball in the pasture, dodging cow manure when you ran the bases, or fielded a ball. (LOL) For most of us, memories of younger days are very important. My memories.... of unwrapping Christmas presents and then leaving to go to Aunt Jeans house to shoot my new BB gun. Building forts in the hayloft where no one could find us, going swimming in the creek, helping dad load (ok, so I didn't help much) cow manure in his old ford pickup and riding with our feet dragging the blacktop from the tailgate from Dover to Russellville. (Why cow manure you ask - when we moved into the house on J Street there was no grass, just dirt) I have so many memories..... Sitting in the grass out by the curve in the highway under a tree with Pat, Paula and Sandy at Aunt Stellas house in Bakersville, CA, just day dreaming. Sitting in Anna Lee's bedroom listening to Pat Boone sing "Love Letters In The Sand" for the first time with Anna Lee & Joyce Jurick, eating great Sunday dinners at Aunt Nina's, running in the dark down Parker Hill with Larry, trying to get away from the men with rifles (well, they looked like rifles) to Uncle Tommy's house. Sometimes we get so busy and wrapped up in our life, we forget to remember. But I will never forget the memories, and none are better than the ones I had while going to or staying with Uncle Clarence and Aunt Imogene. Aunt Imogene passed away on November 1, 2007 after being ill for many years with Alzheimer's. I didn't know until her funeral she was named "Winnie" Imogene Eubanks. Uncle Clarence said she hated the name "Winnie" because when growing up my dad and the other kids would call her "Wennie" instead of "Winnie". (Sounds like something I would do) I've heard it said that the only thing that matters in life is the dash. As in Born - Died. Well, the dash (-) in Aunt Imogene's life was never ending. When I was growing up we went to church at the North New Hope Assembly of God. My grandmother Via Barker was my Sunday school teacher during the youngest years, my Aunt Nina my teacher in my teen years, and Aunt Imogene got me in between. She probably told Aunt Nina she had done all she could and it's your turn to try now. I remember telling Aunt Jean I could teach the class as good as her one time. So, the last Sunday I was in her class, she made me teach. She just sat there with a smile on her face while I made a fool of myself. (LOL) Every year at the family reunion she would always tell me, I made those beans for you. She knew I loved her baked beans. And I loved her. I don't think I ever told her. But I know she knew. I just wish I had told her. She will be missed by all. Wouldn't it be great if everyone would send me an email with: 1. Who their parents were/are and when they were married - living or deceased/when 2. Who their children are, when they were born 3. Who their children married 4. Who their grandchildren are, when they were born Then it would be great if I put it on the website so everyone could could catch up on who's who. I know a lot of this but I don't know dates or maiden names. The website has some new photo's thanks to Robert Eubanks, Eldon White and David Duley. They can be seen at Reunion Photos. There have been new stories added, and a few new jokes, Want to read past news, click here. Send me news about your family from time to time so we can let everyone know how you're doing. If you don't want to receive this newsletter just drop me a note that says "TAKE ME OFF" . HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE NEXT OCTOBER 5th.