Family gathers at Shead home for Christmas

Carole Garrison had a fine time with her family when she went with her son and wife, Gary and Nancy Golladay, Joplin; their son, Larry Golladay of China to FortWorth, Texas, where they spent the Christmas holiday in the home of her granddaughter Angela and John Lane and family.

The Arcadia Christian Church had a guest preacher, song leader and pianist on New Year's Day.

Due to illness of the regular and the assistants chosen for these tasks on this special day, all were pleased to hear Jeff King in the pulpit and at the piano and his wife Angela King and baby Malynne leading the singing.

In the audience were other family members, Mary Lee and Makayla King.

The group from Tulsa, Okla., were guests of John and Vera Parrish in Pittsburg. Seated with them were other relatives, Janet Vanleeuwen, St. Paul, and Christie and Wayne Parrish.

Angela is the daughter of Walter Parrish, former member of this church, now living in Texas.

The first Sunday church dinner had already been postponed to the second Sunday of January.

Two former members of the Arcadia Christian Church have died recently. Ruth Holland, 86, of Liberal, Mo., was buried Tuesday, Dec. 27, from the Liberal Christian Church and put to rest in Worsley Cemetery in Bronaugh, Mo.

The officiating minister was her grandson, Curt Holland, from Tennessee. Among the many friends who filled the church were Mary V. Shead, Arcadia, and Ralph Shead, Carl Junction, Mo., close friends to Ruth.

The other member is Ava Mae Adams who died in her home on New Year's Eve 2011 with close friends and her cousin Louise Holland at her side.

She just recently came home from the Fort Scott hospital. Funeral sevices were held Wednesday, Jan. 4, in the Arma Methodist Church.

Bill Dobbins, formerly of Arcadia, fractured a hip in a fall at his home. Surgery to repair the break failed, and the hip was replaced at Via Christi Hospital on Dec. 27. He is recovering well. Recent visitors, all former Arcadia residents, were Charles Corporon and former teacher Rose Campbell, both of Pittsburg, and Bill's two brothers, Perry and Dan, both of Fort Scott.

Santa's visit was a huge success. Approximately 150 children attended. Cookies and hot chocolate were enjoyed by all.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make it possible. Bill Bridgewater has been known as Santa in Arcadia for many years.

Paw Prints will be at Arcadia Community Center for spay and neutering on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Because the married children of the Paul Shead family were visiting their in-laws during the Christmas holiday in far away places such as Tulsa, Okla., Texas and Arkansas, that family gathered in the Arcadia home of Mary V. Shead on Wednesday, Dec. 28, for a dinner prepared by the ladies, mainly at the Garland Shead farm.

As the families were arriving in Arcadia, a train was stalled on the two entrances to the town.

Many of them returned to the mile corner at Jewell Center, then they went east to Ohio Street and came into Arcadia at Bell Crossing.

After a fine dinner and gift exchange, many of the folks took a long walk remembering what businesses were on what street -- a tour down memory lane. They went from the old Shead Service Station to the state line, greeting former friends from bygone days.

The 18 in attendance were Charles Corporon and Rose Campbell, Pittsburg; Matt and Ashley Shead, Joplin, Mo.; Clayton and Maria Whitson, Tulsa, Okla.; Mark, Haley, Katy and Benjamin Shead; Jesse Hudson, Fort Scott; Sarah Shead and Erin Shead, Downey, Calif.; Ralph and Cindy Shead, Carl Junction, Mo., and Larry and Vickie Shead, Garland.