Once again, the descendents of Tom and Mary Houser gathered at noon on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Motel 60 in Centerville to celebrate another year together. We had a lot of fun talking and catching up on all that had happened in the past year. Some sad news about the loss of Dewey Leon White in November of 2008 and Ralph Hamilton in December of 2008 brought back a flood of happy memories.

Uncle Ralph and Aunt Merilou always welcomed everyone to their farm when we were kids and we spent many summer vacations riding horses, baling hay, gathering eggs and picking wild berries along the fence rows to make jam, trying to learn the old fashioned way to milk a cow with your hands while sitting on a milking stool. Now that was a real challenge. In the afternoons, when the sun began to cool down and nearly all the shores were done, Aunt Merilou would still take us fishing at the pond. We all owe our fishing skills to her. Aunt Merilou still loves to fish whenever anyone will go. Of course she brought fried fish to the reunion, always a big hit! Sunday mornings would find Aunt Merilou and Uncle Ralph in church worshiping God and thanking Him for their many blessings. Precious memories! How they linger…

Oh yes, back to the reunion.

Rick Houser gave the blessing before the dinner began.

Those attending from the Ida Houser and Milt Exline family were Idalee and Robert McClurg of Centerville.

From the Dewey and Ollie Houser family: Rick Houser, Cheryl (Houser) VerSteigh and daughter Molly from Oskaloosa, Cory and Jaime Houser and family, Carrie (Houser) and daughter Lilyann Hartwig, Dennis and Cathy Houser of New Sharon and Lorna and Duane Oswalt of Newton.

From the Gladys (Houser) and Basil Phillips family were Zona and Gene Long of Centerville.

From the family of Lula (Houser) and John White were Larry and Linda Baxter of Monroe Center, Ill., Merilou Hamilton, Darrin, Heather and Ashlynn Hamilton and Jeff Hamilton of Centerville, Willis Hamilton and Jessie Pratt of Osceola, Don White, Diana Sanford, Jennifer and Elaina McCarthy, Dennis and Ellen White, Damon and Cindy White, Angel, Brandon, Dylan and Vicki White, Marie Baxter, Trudy and Gary Young of the Rockford, Ill. and Stillman Valley, Ill. area. Doyle and Bonnie Sumpter of Centerville also attended.

We all had a great time and missed those who were unable to attend due to illness, work and other reasons. We hope to see everyone next year.