TRADITION

DeRay makes sour dough hotcakes and sour dough biscuits for the entire group. Dang Karen's grill--burning his perfect hotcakes.  No dummies, Amy & Brent first in line!

Breakfast over; time for business.  Marilyn & Clare.

Ron, Lynda enjoying breakfast.

Knee Replacement Lineup.  Kathy & Bill.

Karen, camp beautician, car parker, and grandmother of the mostest

Jerry or Thor at the Bus Stop

Some estimate the twelve orphan children and/or their posterity in DeRay’s dad’s family have been meeting at Duck Creek on Cedar Mountain with few exceptions since 1947.  DeRay and I first went together in 1955 and have rarely missed since.  Even Brent and Jan in Kansas City, MO, have only missed a few.  The ten years Amy was summer camp director, she came nearly every year.  It's a tradition.  The last two years, DeRay has been the oldest man at reunion.  Last year, I was the oldest woman.  Thank heavens, this year DeRay’s first cousin and my classmate, Annie, came.  She was born in November of one year and I was born in October of the next year.  To top it off, our 90-year-old aunt honored us by stopping by for a few hours on the main day.

This year, as per tradition, we had our reservation for the group Round-Up in the Duck Creek Camp Ground.  One day before we were leaving, we got notice that they are closing the campground to repair the damage.  Brent wrote on Facebook:  They had ten feet of snow in one week late in the season when the ground was already saturated with water. On my bike, I rode through one trail section where they had cleared maybe 100 tree falls in a two mile section just a couple of days ago - and there were three *new* tree falls just since then. Never seen anything like it . . .

Entrance to Duck Creek Camp Ground

They sectioned off eight camp sites at Camp Te-ah, on the west shore of Navajo Lake for us.  It was so beautiful and clean.  From our “patio” table and “bedroom” and “dining room” in our trailer, we had a magnificent view of the lake.  It’s the first time we’ve lived in a home with a lake view so close.  We may never leave.

View of Navajo Lake from our trailer

Wild Flowers between camp and lake.

Ours and Judi's Trailers; view from the lake

How do you like our front yard?

Brent's photo, on hike with Amy

Lynda, Annie, DeRay

Amy, Judi, Clare

Lucille, Ron

Clare, Margo

Jeanette, Annie

Annie, Jeanette, Amy, and 90-year-old Aunt Mar from Salt Lake City.

Brent taught Ed to put the table up and down to make his bed in the trailer.

He also got him in the Kayak on Navajo Lake

Brent's Photo of Cascade Falls

Wild Flowers

One day Brent got a flat and walked his bike 8 miles back to camp.

Amy kayaking on Navajo

Kayaking at Sunset

Catch - Reunion 1964 - Kenneth, Brent, Calvin, Lynn Charles (Esplin Cousins).

DeRay, Jeanne, Brent, Jeanette - 1968 - Duck Creek

Gary, Clare, Marilyn, Grandpa holding Chad, Jeanette, DeRay.

Brett, Cari, Brent, Jeanne

Daddy ran sheep in the summertime up on Cedar Mountain from the time he was an early teen.  On July 29, 1927, 2-1/2 months before they were married, he wrote to Mama from the "sheep herd": "What do you think you will do with a man like that?  Most everybody that knows me knows I like horses and the hills, but nobody knows how much I like them (unless it's Son--his best friend).  I told you once before I should have lived fifty or a hundred years ago.  I think it would have been the most fun in the world to have lived where there were no towns or wire fences, just open country.  That's not just a dream either.  I've tried it enough to know what it's like. But, of course, I know that girls do not like things like that.  There is nothing in it for them.  Most girls like cities (the further I can get away from them--the cities--the better).  So I "ax" you again, what are you going to do with such a man?!!?" Daddy and his first child, Shirley, camping on Cedar Mountain herding sheep.  1929. Lucy and Shirley at camp on Cedar Mountain 1932. Lucy & Shirley, 1932.  Is it any wonder Mama wondered why we went camping for fun when our children were small? Lucy, Shirley, DeLoy, Jeanette, Lynn. 1937. This drainage pond at Duck Creek is still there.  I'm sure they've replaced the concrete but it's in the same place.  DeRay remembers Kanab Stake Day at Duck Creek when we were kids.  Up until recent years, the Kanab Stake conducted Church services in the amphitheater  on Sunday.  The kids remember going off in the trees for Sunday School and primary.  Grandpa always held a big Pughimony.   We also went to Duck Creek for 4-H Club Camp each summer.  Georgia, Lenore, Jeanette. Skit at Duck Creek 4-H Club Camp 1952.

 

Daddy ran sheep in the summertime up on Cedar Mountain from the time he was an early teen.  On July 29, 1927, 2-1/2 months before they were married, he wrote to Mama from the "sheep herd": "What do you think you will do with a man like that?  Most everybody that knows me knows I like horses and the hills, but nobody knows how much I like them (unless it's Son--his best friend).  I told you once before I should have lived fifty or a hundred years ago.  I think it would have been the most fun in the world to have lived where there were no towns or wire fences, just open country.  That's not just a dream either.  I've tried it enough to know what it's like. But, of course, I know that girls do not like things like that.  There is nothing in it for them.  Most girls like cities (the further I can get away from them--the cities--the better).  So I "ax" you again, what are you going to do with such a man?!!?"

Daddy and his first child, Shirley, camping on Cedar Mountain herding sheep.  1929.

Lucy and Shirley at camp on Cedar Mountain 1932.

Lucy & Shirley, 1932.  Is it any wonder Mama wondered why we went camping for fun when our children were small?

Lucy, Shirley, DeLoy, Jeanette, Lynn. 1937. This drainage pond at Duck Creek is still there.  I'm sure they've replaced the concrete but it's in the same place.  DeRay remembers Kanab Stake Day at Duck Creek when we were kids.  Up until recent years, the Kanab Stake conducted Church services in the amphitheater  on Sunday.  The kids remember going off in the trees for Sunday School and primary.  Grandpa always held a big Pughimony.   We also went to Duck Creek for 4-H Club Camp each summer.  Georgia, Lenore, Jeanette. Skit at Duck Creek 4-H Club Camp 1952.

Daddy and his first child, Shirley, camping on Cedar Mountain herding sheep.  1929.

Lucy and Shirley at camp on Cedar Mountain 1932.

Lucy & Shirley, 1932.  Is it any wonder Mama wondered why we went camping for fun when our children were small?

Lucy, Shirley, DeLoy, Jeanette, Lynn. 1937. This drainage pond at Duck Creek is still there.  I'm sure they've replaced the concrete but it's in the same place.  DeRay remembers Kanab Stake Day at Duck Creek when we were kids.  Up until recent years, the Kanab Stake conducted Church services in the amphitheater  on Sunday.  The kids remember going off in the trees for Sunday School and primary.  Grandpa always held a big Pughimony.   We also went to Duck Creek for 4-H Club Camp each summer.

 Georgia, Lenore, Jeanette. Skit at Duck Creek 4-H Club Camp 1952.