The Search Continues!

The former member search continues as my mom (Betty Richter) just found another Sun Valley membership directory when cleaning out a closet! I glanced through it and already saw several names and photos of people that we do not have on our current list. We will make an attempt to locate the ones we can, but as the reunion date draws closer, it will become more difficult to continue that process as we must get moving on other details. Although I feel we have made incredible progress on locating former members, there is really no telling how many people we have overlooked. Keep spreading the word at every opportunity you have and maybe other former members will be found.

New Vision for Sun Valley BlogSpot

Sometimes my brain just keeps working on overdrive even when I sleep! Does that ever happen to any of you? My "New Vision" for this Sun Valley BlogSpot is for it to be a wealth of information to keep everyone informed. The more I learn about blogging, the more I think it can actually serve a better purpose than a designated website that has to be continuously updated. With a blog, you may go days, weeks, or months without posting new information, but it doesn't matter if old posts or outdated information is still out there. How can you help? I'm glad you asked. I would like to back track just a little bit and gather information that will be included as part of the label, "What Is Going On? This section will have information on Engagements, Wedding Announcements, Anniversaries (20+ years), Birth Annoucements, Deaths, You're Invited, Prayer List, Want Ads, etc. Items that are most pressing will be posted/highlighted on the uppermost right hand side of the "Home" page. For example, right now, the reunion takes priority, but if there is a funeral service or some other annoucement that needs to get top billing, that item will be posted.

I'm hoping that many of you will add this BlogSpot to your list of favorites and will check it periodically. Also, if any of you are bloggers too, please send me your BlogSpot link so that we can include it on our site and others within the Sun Valley Connection can keep in touch with you this way also.

Your task: For those of you that have had exciting news in any of the above categories in the last six months or so, please send me your information which can include a photo or two. I know I'm possibly opening myself up to be bombarded with lots of information, but I'm willing to give it a try for now because in a few more years, our children's children probably won't be interested or care anything about the former members of the Sun Valley congregation!

Blair Bagwell Graduates

Blair Bagwell will be graduating in May, 2008, from Westchester Academy for International Studies. She was a member of the National Honor Society and an officer of the Silver Starz dance team at her school. Blair will be attending Texas A & M in the fall and plans on becoming a pediatrician. Blair is the daughter of Brenda Flewellen and John Bagwell and the granddaughter of Betty and Tom Richter. Congratulations, Blair!

Corey Brady Mazzeo

Corey Brady Mazzeo was born on November 30, 2007, to Brandy and Lonnie. He weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 and 1/2 inches in length. He is pictured with his big sister is Brittney Ann; proud grandmother is Brenda (Richter) Flewellen; and great grandparents are Betty and Tom Richter.

Loved Ones Called Home to the Lord

We remember and extend our sympathy to the families of the following former members; however, they are enjoying a much sweeter reunion! Our list to date has been compiled by either personal knowledge or information from other former members. Our deepest apologies if we have omitted anyone's name or listed someone in error. Please email us if there are additions, deletions, or corrections that need to be made.

Adams, Cecil
Adams, Eugenia
Alexander, John M
Alexander, Mrs. John M.
Anderson, Melba (Barefield)
Archerd, Guy
Archerd, Marie
Atkinson, Roy
Atkinson, Winston
Bacon, Viola
Baker, Arthur
Baker, Chuck
Baker, Inez
Baker, Nell
Baker, Walter
Barefield, Jody
Bartley, Mrs. O. B.
Bartley, O. B.
Baten, Bess
Baten, Jack
Baten, James
Bean, Sue
Beene, Doyle
Bishop, Ronnie
Bland, William (Bill)
Brack, Elma
Brack, Harold
Brewton, O'Neal
Bryant, Betty
Bryant, Deva
Bulfin, Elaine
Burke, Grady
Burke, John
Burke, Paul
Burke, Ross
Carlisle, Mildred "Mickie"
Carpenter, Flora
Carpenter, Louise
Carter, Al
Cole, Charles
Cooper, Gloria
Cooper, John
Corkran, Karen (Waldrop)
Darland, Marlon
Day, Barbara
Day, Coy
Debner, Ted Jr.
Diaz, J. W.
Diaz, Mamie
Dishongh, Jerry
Dishongh, Virgil
Ditmore, Gail (Atkinson)
Dykes, Burrel
Eddins, Eddy
Eddins, Jane
Eddins, Nell
Eddins, William
Elmore, Tom
English, Karen (Grubbs)
Farabee, Mark
Farmer, Jack
Farmer, Kathy
Fuller, Paul
Gary, Betty
Gary, Bill
Gazzaway, Lois
Gentry, Al
Gilbert, Troyce
Gilbert, Walter
Golliheair, Mary
Golliheair, Otis
Gonzales, Joellen Nichols
Gouger, Novella
Gray, Don Sr.
Grigg, Robert "Bob"
Grimes, Chester
Grimes, Ruth
Grubbs, Phillip
Guillory, Brandon
Harrison, Ben
Havens, Larry
Herring, J.R.
Herring, Lucille
Hicks, Jim
Holloway, Clara
Holloway, Larry
Hord, Earl
Hord, Edna
Hord, Thomas
Irving, Hugh
Isgitt, Henry
Jenkins, Bob
Johnson, Cleo
Jolley, Jim
Jones, Sibyl
Justus, Oma Ray
Karber, Betty
Karber, Ken
Key, Claude
King, Leon
Kovar, Eddie
Kovar, Ina
Laas, Bob
Mayhew, David
Mayhew, Peggy
McBee, Jan
McMillion, Frank
McMillion, Reba
McMurrey, Elaine
McMurrey, Vernon
Miller, Suzie
Mochman, Irene
Mochman, Sam
Morris, Aileen
Morris, Ebb
Morris, Wayne
Neff, Owen
Nelson, Jack
Nichols, Wallace
Niemeyer, Alfred
Partain, Doug
Partain, Nita
Pearce, Tom
Pippin, Eula Mae
Preston, Elsie
Preston, Robin
Priddy, Don
Priestley, Dorothy
Pugh, Bill
Pyle, Jean
Ray, Garrett
Readhimer, Bill
Readhimer, Kenny
Reams, Agnes
Reams, Ray
Rhodes, Joe
Richter, Tom
Rogers, Jim
Roll, Debra
Root, Bob
Root, Cozette
Rose, Tom
Rosson, James
Roye, Olive
Ruley, Barbara
Rusch, Bob
Rusch, Peggy
Shannon, Steve
Shaw, John
Shepard, Marvin
Shirocky, J. T.
Shirocky, Movaleen
Shott, Melvin
Simpson, Wanda
Smith, Ray
Solomon, Debbie
Solomon, E. M.
Solomon, Inez
Solomon, Patrick
Sparks, Eva
Sparks, Noah
Sullivan, Robert
Taylor, Mallie
Tellez, Mike
Thompson, Clyde
Thompson, Valta
Thompson, Walter
Troxell, Janet
Trumbo, Harry
Trumbo, Ruby
Tyler, Jim
Tyler, Wanda
Van Lowe, Mrs.
Wade, Hubert
Wade, Patsy
Waskow, Frank
Waskow, Nancy
Wells, Jack
Westbrook, Joe
Williams, David
Wood, Irene
Wooten, Henri
Wright, Ken
Zahn, Paul

Making Progress!

We are still gathering addresses and information in order to locate former members. Currently, we have 524 families on our list--with mailing addresses for 356 of them! Although we are still finding people that we have either overlooked or discovered were members at some point in time, we are down to only needing information for 168 families. I think that is awesome!! Many of you have helped with the challenge of finding as many former members as we can. We are especially grateful for your efforts. Thank you so much.

At this point in time, we are now trying to get email addresses and phone numbers for a directory that we hope to have available at the reunion. Of course any type of directory can never be completely up to date, but we are going to give it our best shot. We could definitely use your help in this area too, so if you have email addresses to share, please contact us.

Still on the Honeymoon after 30 years!

Debbie and Jack Blackburn celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary today! Although Debbie certainly didn't forget the occassion, Jack definitely stole the show for being the most romantic. Jack left a beautiful card on the steering wheel of Debbie's car (being mindful of their dog, Andy) because he had placed 30 hearts* cut out of red tissue paper which spilled out when the card was opened. (*These would definitely have been gobbled up by their very allergic dog possibly causing intestinal problems later.) Anyway, if that wasn't enough, Debbie received 30 gorgeous long stemmed roses at her office later that morning. The card reading "Looking forward to the next 30 years!" The day was concluded with dinner at Perry's Steakhouse. The Lord has blessed their marriage in so many ways, and He certainly broke the mold with an awesome husband (son, brother, and father) like Jack!

Let's Get The Word Out

The first batch of "Save the Date" postcards will be in the mail tomorrow (May 7), and I'm hopeful that most of them will find their way into approximately 325 homes! These postcards will give the basic when and where information as well as the reunion email and this BlogSpot address. Notices were also sent to 55 churches in the Houston and surrounding area last week, and we are anxious to see how many other families we can locate through these mailings. For mail pieces that are returned, we will make an extra effort to correct those addresses before the formal invitations are sent out on August 1.

We are so excited for September 20, and we appreciate those of you who have been so diligent in helping us locate these former members for this special reunion celebration! Thank You!!

Love is in the Air!

Megan Case and Alan Pearson have announced their engagement! The couple will marry on August 2 at the Church of Christ in Long Beach, Mississippi. Megan and Alan will make their home in Searcy, Arkansas while they finish their education at Harding University. Alan is the son of Janice (Priestley) and Ricky Pearson. Congratulations to both families!