Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 25, 2016, Page 8

On August 6, 2016, the descendants of the Charles and Paroda Walters family met at the Community Building and City Park in Ellston. They had 6 living children: Dixon (Dick), Ray (Shortie), Bunker (Bunk), Hugh, Mary and Donald. Those had 15 (first cousins). Some of them have been meeting off and on since 2004 at various places.

Last year Bruce Walters from Deer Park, TX said his only granddaughter wanted to come to Iowa and meet her cousins. Keith and Jean Walters from Wayland, IA decided that it was a good time to get in touch with that generation. So Keith started in November of 2015. He heard from everyone in some way.

There was a noon meal served by Barry and Denise Smith and family from Chariton, Iowa. The blessing was given by Wayne Heffner, North Liberty, IA. Then a small program.

A few days before the reunion a story about the Walters Cabin was found in Alice Walters' Bible by her daughter, Gayle Olson, Des Moines, IA. It was read by her daughter-in-lay, Jeannie Walters, Chariton, IA. In 1973 Charles and Paroda's home place which was owned by Donald and Alice Walters was torn down by Dick, Shortie, Bunk, Hugh, Mary and their families. The lumber then was taken to Sun Valley Lake and the Walters Cabin was built. "Donald said a cabin built with love not money." After the reunion many people went out to visit the cabin site.

Fun prizes were given away by Jean Walters, Wayland, IA and Gary Berridge, Pasadena, TX. Kristy Heffner, North Liberty, IA and Brian Siegfried, Staunton, IL were in charge of group pictures and videos taken.

119 people registered. Many visitors stopped by.

Those attending:

(Dick & Jeannie Walters Family) Ray and Denise Brammer, Longmont, CO; John C. and Sharon Brammer, Johnstown, CO; AJ and Aisa Paxton Brammer, Bartlett, TN;

(Bunk and Eulalia Walters Family) Elaine Walters, Mt. Pleasant, IA; Terry Small, Bloomington, IL; Kathy and Dennis Nellor, Natalie, Justin, Garrett Burgus, Rachel and Duane Bebb, all of Mt. Pleasant, IA; Jan and Gary Peery, Yreka, CA; Mickey and Hank Watts, Delta, CO; Peg and Duane Siegfried, Sail Boat, "The Wanderer" currently at Brunswick, GA; Bryan and Soosi, Charley, Joseph, Priya Siegfried, Staunton, IL; Rollie & Lori Garret, Dustin Upton-Ford, Georgetown, TX; Donna Walters, Mediapolis, IA; Julie McKee, Donelle McKee, Clarkston, WA; Jeff and Nan Walters, Nathan Walters, Burlington, IA;

(Hugh and Louise Walters Family) Gery and Letha Walters, Abiline, TX; Terry and Curt Lininger, Shannon City, IA; Ted and Rhonda Smith, Travis and Renda Hartman, Kylee, Kiann, Kolter, Kenner, all of Mt. Ayr, IA; Keith and Jean Walters, Wayland, IA; Wayne and Kristy Heffner, Kaleb and Alex Heffner, Karis Cain, all [of] North Liberty, IA; Kirah Johnson Tiffin, IA; Todd Liddell, Dalen and Rolan Liddell, Colling and Rachel, Cayman, Violet Liddell, all of North Liberty, IA; Ryan and Hannah, Josiah, Bo Liddell, Kalona, IA; Kody and Lauri, Kegan, Killian Walters, Tiffin, IA;

(Mary (Walters) and Mac McConnell Family) Bob and Jeanette McConnell, Stasburg, CO; Mike Tetley, Margaret Kelly, Des Moines, IA;

(Donald and Alice Walters Family) Bruce Walters, Deer Park, TX; Gary and Cynthia Berridge, Pasadena, TX; Wes and Jenny Wren II Berridge, Zack Berridge, Casie Hovland, Carol and Doug, Christie Latimer, Houston, TX; Chris Walters, Brenham, TX; Jason and Carrie, Drew, Cole, Reed, Ashylan Harlan, Deer Park, TX; Virgil and Gayle Olson, Des Moines, IA; Jerry and Sandy Olson, Omaha, NE; Bernard and Jeannie Walters, Barry and Denise, Cassedy, Cody Smith, Rick, Riley, Reid Walters, all from Chariton, IA;

Visitors: Ginger Ross, Shannon City, IA; Bill Lantz, Sally Woollums, Kellerton, IA; Lucile Jackson, Curt and Sue Jones, Ellston, IA; Ken and Dorene Adams, Iowa City, IA; Reba Schmidt, Bruce and Janie Adams, Williamsburg, IA; Charles and Verla Woods, Des Moines, IA; Leroy and Sandy Wood, Mount Ayr, IA.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2016