Family Reunions, August 17, 2011

What the next generation will value most

is not what we owned,

but the evidence of who we were

and the tales of how we loved.

~Ellen Goodman

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings from San Diego on this week after our family reunion. Cindy and I are home and catching up after a trip to Washington State for the recent family get together.

Last Saturday in Anacortes, Washington 22 of us gathered to enjoy each others company and celebrate the life we share as members of one family. The first picture shows those who attended. Click on the picture for a larger view. Select this link for more pictures from the Anacortes reunion and the reunion referred to below.

We renewed relationships, introduced some new family members, heard family stories, looked at pictures and family books, shared a great meal (thanks to Gary and Cindy!), and enjoyed the afternoon on a beautiful day in Western Washington. We were young (3 mos.) and old (86); we traveled from far and near; we were engaged and married and friended; but despite all the diversity, we enjoyed that unique and remarkable bond we share as family. 

We awarded handmade glass artwork (made specially for this event by Steven Paul Shepard) to three persons: the one who had traveled the farthest (Jerry Clark, Lubbock Texas), the newest member of the family (Barbara's new husband John Mackey), and the youngest family member (3 month old Logan Shepard).

The second picture shows Great Grandmother Maida Shepard with her two newest Great Grandchildren Logan and Preslea Shepard.

Most of us were descendants (or their spouses) of Will and Bura Davis Shepard. But we were also joined by Bud Davis, a first cousin of my dad Eugene Shepard. Bud lives not far from Anacortes in Graham, Washington and is the son of the late Jess and Mildred Davis, whose family still lives in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Also last Saturday, a kind of  "extension" of our family reunion was held in Kansas City, Missouri. Kim Boyd Clark, her husband Jeff, and several of their family, along with Shannon and Emma Wilk of Atchison, Kansas also gathered to renew their bond as descendants of Will and Bura Davis Shepard. 

In the third picture, from left to right, are Ashlyn Ortiz, Shannon and Emma Wilk, Ciara Ortiz, Jeff and Kim Boyd Clark, and Amanda, Desiree and Damian Ortiz. (Click on the picture for a larger view.)

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Steve