Circulation: 15 - US Mail, 34 - e-mail, 49 total

The cost is $2.00 per year (mailed). If you have an e-mail address, Joe can send you a newsletter via e-mail for free. So send him your e-mail address and save money. The news needs to come to Joe or me, Linda White.
If you have any suggestions let us know. We will publish the newsletter four times a year. The deadline for your news to reach either Joe or me will be the 1st day of each new season i.e. June 21, September 22, December 21, March 21. The newsletter should be out a week later, give or take a day or so. We won’t send out reminders, so be sure to mark your calendars now. If we don’t have to send out reminders, we can keep the prices lower.

Linda White
Editor

Monta’s Family

Pete and I went down to view "the oil well". It is on the Arch Miller place, which is part of the section we are on, so if they hit pay dirt, we will be in for a share. They were down to 10,900 feet and going for 14,000 feet. Now if they just strike the mother load and the railroad commission don't shut it down. There are so many "if's". I took pictures so everyone can get the idea of where it is located. The road going in to the well is about even with Earl Miller's front porch. It curves south for a few yards to the rig sight.

If I get the pictures back before it is time for Joe to send out the newsletter, I will send them to him. If not, I will send them.

I went back to the doctor today and got another breathing treatment. I'm doing okay, I think.

Love,
Monta

Virginia’s Family

It was wonderful seeing relatives at the Patterson-Pendleton-Bradshaw and Watts re-unions. We had a great time in Texas - except Dennis, who spent 4 days in the Wheeler hospital for a blood clot in his lower leg. He got excellent care and has recuperated well - is now taking a small dose of Coumadin daily and has his blood work done once a month.

We've had a long, hot, dry summer with a good growing season and now we're glad to have some cooler weather and a little rain. Just beginning potato harvest.

All are doing well here - Barbara and Dennis are busy working and doing what they do best - grandparenting! Shannon and Kenneth stay busy at work and with family activities when they have days off together. TJ is in kindergarten and loves it and is such a good little student. Jordyn gets along well at Daycare while TJ is in school - both kids are just adorable. Roger was here a week in early August for some much needed R and R. He and I took a couple of trips - to Redfish Lake and Sun Valley and to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks.

Love to all.
Virginia Patterson

Garland’s Family

Do not be shocked..I am writing.....I am finally able to have a weekend off that I actually do not have to turn around and go back to work. I actually enjoyed working as shift manager for 7-11...and many times I did say OH thank HEAVEN for ... well you have heard the ad. I am working as fifth grade lead-teacher for a charter school called Faith Family Academy of OakCliff. I am the only white face in my class. It is a mission and I did not have to leave Texas to get here. Sometimes I do feel this is not Texas, LOL.... but I get to go home afterwards and be thankful we had parents to teach us the "home stuff"... I love my challenge. I feel more satisfied than I have in years... possibly since I had my daughters were with me. I have shied away from schools like FFA but I am always drawn right back to them.. This school was started by a Church and it is alright to say "GOD bless America" in my classroom. It is alright to have it written and my Bible is on my desk. Worship music plays in the background. I am Happy...

Visiting with Louis and Pam is always interesting to me. They are still very much with crafts and if you ever visit them, you will witness our Grandpa's talent gene for wood work shining through Louis. He is very creative with his work and has been doing a remodel on his and Pam's home. It is very pretty. It is so neat to see a couple that work so well together. I have not seen Bobby but I understand he is in Duncan also.

I have heard from Beverly Jane and I told her I would fly to Nashville to see her through Thanksgiving. She is always working so it may be the only family she sees. I have a compassionate heart (NOW) for this since I had to work my last holiday or I should say I GOT to work my last holiday season ....Except for seeing Lowell's family for a few hours and my Auntie Mom # 1( Aunt Elmeda) I was there with strangers. I could get smiles from people I knew were going through the same empty nest syndrome I was going through and that was great. Each smile made the holiday warmer... That phone just does not make it warmer for some reason. HA. God has a reason for every thing that happens.

Laura will graduate in December...I will write more on that when she gives me more. She is still dating her doctor... I laugh... that's all we need is a permanent dr bill... His name is Bill...He lost his dad not too long ago..Laura has been adopted into their family...she loves them very much also. and my other two kids have the same relationship with their inlaws... I am sooo thankful.

Jennifer, Jaxon Cade, and Jamie are just fine. Jamie is still drilling and laying pipeline with his dad's company in Virginia... Jenny is staying with the Shirley's in Ardmore. They have a suite fixed up for them and it has that home environment that is so important. Jenny and Jaxon will prepare for Jamies homecoming in their new home in October. Jenny is anxious to get her pansies and chrysanthemums on her ice cream patio set on the front porch and decorate for the holidays.

Venessa had successful surgery removing tumors from female organs. No cancer was found. My grandsons are sooooooo bright.... Rowdy is already maneuvering a 3 wheeler by himself...He has the safety procedures down. Jerald Lee works with them so much as does Venessa. Both boys ride in the rodeos with him and Venessa. Roper is still too small to get on the bikes... but he still mounts them like the big boys.

I am moving to Desoto, about 5 minutes from work. Pray for me... LOL....constantly... and any other day that ends in Y .... Grin... Thanks I love you family. I think of you daily.

Carol Rae

Dale's Family

No news at this time.

Ed’s Family

Ben and Janna have a new addition to their family!

Maci Elizabeth was born at 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9 at Mercy Hospital in OKC. She weighs in at a whopping six pounds and is 18 1/2 inches long.

Mother, baby, and daddy are all well.

Mom and Dad (Randal and Nancy) have been helping with a children's program Sunday nights at Church. The children are learning scriptures so that they might hide God's word in their hearts. They (Randal and Nancy) are enjoying it greatly.

We want to send out our sincerest thanks for everyone who attended, in person and in spirit, Rhett and Ashley's wedding this past June. Your attendance helped to make the day a wonderfully blessed event. Rhett and Ashley Patterson are doing very well and have set up their home at:

608 Mills Lane
Irving, Texas 75062.

Heather

Richard's Family

This has been an eventful summer and will be an eventful autumn for us. Sharon's sons, Jason (21) and Jeremy (19) both graduated from Army boot camp this summer. In addition, Jeremy graduates from high school.

Jason is getting married to his high-school sweetheart, Samantha, on Sunday, October 12. Sharon, Cecil and I will drive to near Kansas City MO. Mom will fly from OKC to KC to join in the festivities. It will be a traditional wedding, but outdoors in a scenic setting at a state park. The boys will wear their dress uniforms, and the ladies in the wedding party will wear traditional attire.

We'll drive there in comfort, as Cecil and I had to trade in the old Toyota Corolla for a Cadillac DeVille! Pity!! Actually, the Caddie is a '98 with 81,000 miles, but it's in perfect condition. Cecil's a car salesman at the dealership where we bought it, so he got a super deal on both the price of the Caddie and trade-in for the Corolla.

Sharon has lived in SC for almost 2 years, and her house in Oklahoma still hasn't sold. You prayer warriors out there--please pray for a buyer. Then Mom can sell her house and move out here with us! That's the plan. Actually, we know that God's timing is never wrong, but sometimes it's a little hard to understanding.

"Happy Fall" to all!
Jeanne Hart

Bill and Mary Watts

It seems that Bill and I are spending most of our time at one doctor or the other, but we are both doing better. I completed the last Chemo and will start Radiation in Oct. We want to thank everyone for their prayers.

Kent and Elaine Peeples have moved into a new home in Canyon. Lester Ray Watts from Stinett is having heart rhythm problems and they are monitoring his heart to see if he needs a pacemaker. Our daughter Julie from Paonia, Colorado just had Gall Bladder Surgery and it went well and she will be recovering quickly. Rusty Watts, our son is in the hospital in Lubbock where they are trying to diagnose what kind of blockage he may have. He has been quite ill.

We are still on for the 2004 Cousins Reunion in June.

Bill & Mary Watts

Elmeda’s Family

On a personal note: I would like to inform Uncle Dale and Bruce that it is now safe for them to answer the phone.

Michael graduated August 29th and him and Katie moved back to the Ralls area. He is employed by Lubbock Truck Sales, primary task is working on the refer units. Katie rented a booth in the same salon that Dianne is working in. Their new address is:

MICHAEL AND KATIE CRUMP
2031 HWY 207
RALLS TX 79357
PH: 806-649-7449.

Ben is still active in the band, he is currently playing a solo during the half-time shows.

I am back on the day shift with the rest of the world. Thank God. I think that I got a promotion, more responsibility, same money. It is a lot more interesting and I am more involved in the decision making process.

LRE

Everyone be sure to send a birthday card to Elmeda, she is now twice Jack Benny's age plus two.

It has been quite an eye-opener these past three months.

First, we enjoyed the trip to Texas to see Rhett and Ashley get married. I wish them well and hope their marriage is as wonderful as mine.

Second, we are very proud of John. He made it home the last part of July. I don't remember if it was him or one of his buddies that stopped by wearing a t-shirt stating "Survivor, Spring Break 2003 - Iraq". I guess that most of you heard his updates at the reunion in June at Wheeler. For those of you that missed it, John was in the thick of it as a Marine combat infantryman. He is now currently back at Camp Pendleton, California. His next deployment date is the first part of June 2004. After his trip to Iraq, he and his friends that I spoke to, are thoroughly convinced that we belong there and we should have been there years ago.

Third, Rachel is now a sophomore at a local private high school. She is on the volleyball team and is planning on doing track again this year.

And more, I had atrial-fibrillation starting in mid-July. During the first week of September, my cardiologist felt confident that my heart was back in sinus rhythm. That is what they said. But, what I understand is that my heart wasn't cooperating from the top part to the bottom, and after four shock treatments, my heart was forced back in its `normal' mode. I am also on some coumadin blood thinners, and was told to loose some weight. Now that is easier said than done and I think that I would rather have more of the shock treatments. Since the doctor did his part maybe it is time that I do my part and start acting like an adult.

Finally, This October marks Carol's and my 25th anniversary. Life just gets better every year, even with new and added problems, and with new twists to old situations.

Best Regards to all from Oklahoma City.
Joe, Carol, John and Rachel.

Announcements