Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 28, 2011

The 43rd annual BARNHART reunion was held in Batavia this year instead of Mount Ayr. The elder BARNHART Clara Agnes, being 91 years of age was not up to traveling that far this year. In the sign-upbook, the elder BARNHART wrote a greeting to all, "Please enjoy yourday; Love and Prayers."

The families of ROACHES (Clara's mother's maiden name) have always been welcome to the BARNHART gathering. Family or not, no one has ever been turned away from the family reunions. The reunion was held at "Larry's Barn" in Batavia July 10, 2011. This date was chosen because it was the founder's (Clarence BARNHART) birthday. He would have been 103 years old this year.

The first BARNHART reunion was held in Garden Grove in 1969 with 54 in attendance. In remembrance of this special occasion granddaughter Sue CLARK was given a tapestry that hung in Clarence and Crystal BARNHART'S living room.

In the 2011 attendance were 55 people with some families traveling from Missouri.

Those in attendance were Clara Agnes (BARNHART) SWIHART, Joyce PERKINS, Larry and Donna WILSON, Deal KEASLING, Joellen HUFF and children Kaylee, Harley and Brooklyn of Batavia; Tony SHIELDS, Bill SHIELDS and Randy (Chip) PRINGLE of Fairfield; Teena ROUSH, Teresa RHONE and children Drake, Bryce and Sunni of Newton; Ashly AMASON and children Draven, Skyler and Tristen, Angie HALL and baby Vincent, Dixie and Paul MOONEY and Sandra BURTLOW of Ottumwa; Denise BEYER, Aaron WILSON, Steve and Betty BEYER, Mason SPOELSTRA and Tiffany and Jerry HOLS of the Pella-Oskaloosa area, and Adam and Marcy SHIELDS and children Hannah Kay, Abigale and Elisabeth of Bloomfield; Gary BARNHART and Joy SHARPNACK of Garden Grove; Elaine BOLINGER and Mark CADE and grandchildren Summer and Skye traveled of Sharpsburg; Sue and Cecil CLARK of New Hampton, MO; Michael and Rachel WEDGEWORTH and children Lane and Nathaniel of Bethany, MO, and Suzanne WEDGEWORTH and children Casey, Rowdey, Tryton and Joshua of Independence, MO.

The quite hot day was quenched with ice cold drinks while the delicious food left no one hungry. Some of the men tried their hand at horseshoes while others played bingo with prizes for the winners. Guitar player Randy gave Draven his first guitar lesson and great uncle Larry gave Draven his first guitar. A lot of pictures were taken while the small children entertained the adults.

A new family member recently arrived, Vincent HALL who is the great-grandson of Tony SHIELDS.

Family members and a close friend they lost in the last year include Edna May ROACH, Berle STULL and Bonnie SCOTT.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011