Kids Night draws crowd for food, fellowship

From Dec. 13-29, Elma and Eldon Underwood left their home in rural Garland with Elma at the wheel for Louisiana to visit Verna (Underwood) Melohn, husband Mike, Melodee and Heather and grandson Tristan, 2, in Benton. On to Layafette to visit JoAnna Underwood Caldwell, son Joe and Roselyn, grandson Jason and Great Granddaughter Adleigh, 3, and Reagan, 8 Mo. Joe, Elma, and Eldon enjoyed lunch with JoAnna in her Cornerstone South Retirement Home. All three returned to Joe's home for supper.

On Thursday, the travelers visited Elma's brother, Eldon Hawkins and friend Virginia McBroom. The four went to Gulf ot Mexico to see hurricane damage. The new huge homes are being built on 20 foot high stilt so the tide can flow by.

On Tuesday eveing Virginia and daughter Julie, great granddaughter Gabby, 3, made cookies. Christmas Eve, Julie, hu sband and son John, daughters Jenna, Haley, Gabby and Mia enjoyed supper with Eldon and Elma. It was the first time in 49 years Elma and brother Eldon had been together on Christmas. Each person told of a special Christmas Memory.

Enroute home the following Saturday, Eldon and Elma traveled via Beaumont, Texas to U.S. Highway 69, spent the two nights in Tyler, Texas and Muskogee, Okla. Back in Garland they were thankful for a safe trip.

Forrest and Ernestine Berkey enjoyed the PotLuck dinner in St. John's Luthern Church in Pittsburg to honor past members of the church council. To share, Ernestine brought carry-out dinners to her friends Jim DeKarske and Mary V. Shead in Arcadia. She also shared flowers from the Altar she had given in memory of her Mother, Goldie Ward's birthday with Mary V. and Helen Sisney. These and other gifts to Helen were for her 80th birthday that Sunday evening.

Also, in earlier celebration, Susan Cherry and Phaedra from K.C. area took Helen Sisney to the mall deli on Friday, then attended the basketball games in Girard where Logan Cherry is one of the team members.

On Sunday, Jan. 5, Pearl Connor gave her 94th birthday offering the same day Eldon and Elma Underwood gave their 57th wedding anniversary offering in the Cherry Grove Baptist Church.

Betty Dehn was hostess for a Saturday morning brunch on Jan.18. The invitation was issued to her guests, Patty Peterson, Carole Garrison, Bonnie Hines and Mary V. Shead as well as all ladies in town to look forward to a Saturday in March for the yearly retreat, the date to be announced later.

Kids Night in Arcadia Community Center on Saturday evening, Jan. 17 was a full evening of fun, food and fellowship. A good crowd enjoyed lots of variety home cooked food. Our Gang plans their meeting on Jan. 24. Cato Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 27 also in the Community Center.

Friday evening, Jan. 17, Ralph and Cindy Shead came to the Arcadia Shead home where they shared snack supper with his brother, Larry and Vickie Shead and their Community college roomer, Cayla Probert. This was a "Wish You Well" evening for the mission trip Ralph and Cindy left for on Sunday afternoon Jan. 18. They will be interpreters for the American-Spanish speaking missionaries who are going together to Costa Rica via Dallas and San Jose.

The Sheads were Sunday evening supper guests of their cousin, Peggy Wickstrom in Oklahoma City before their flight out Monday morning.