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L A IVERSON FAMILY REUNION
#14
A-Z RANCH ARIZONA STRIP
MEMORIAL DAY 1992
Saturday morning May the 23rd I went to
the ranch to join in the reunion festivities. I had planned to leave
bright and early, but some how got delayed. I think it was Boyd’s fault!
Be that as it may, once I got to the ranch things were starting to hum.
Several groups had arrived there on Friday; Jamie
being the early bird had arrived on Thursday afternoon.
There was the usual hustle and bustle to get
dinner on the table, with all the favorite old standbys and a few new
ones. It was all delicious!
After dinner was tucked away, I started selling
raffle tickets on the reunion quilt. Was it ever cute; as Glenna said it
was just deeelightful! We had
almost 100% participation of people sending their blocks back, all of
which were very innovative and cute, cut, cute!!!
Shamane gets first place mention for having the
best alibi for her block being late-she couldn’t find a needle! Now we
knew you folks down there in “Kintuck”
were a little backward, but we did think that you all had discovered the
needle by now! It was also decided that she gets first prize (if we had
one) for the cutest block, and it was really hard to choose just one,
because the whole bunch of them were really imaginative and very fine.
Yours was really great Shamane; and now we know where you and Brett spend
some of your time. Have you won any money on those horses?
We did real well on raffle tickets. Boyd bought 530
and didn’t win. Serves him right too, because last year it filled him
with such glee when he thought we’d lost our family tree quilt in the
city dump! He was so mirthful about it that he wrote, “An ode to the
lost Quilt,” on a Dick’s Café napkin! Oh well, what goes around comes
around, huh Debbie?
Saturday afternoon kids of all ages and sizes were
riding vehicles of all sorts-and the gold game was in full swing.
Garn and Tim (Stacey’s Dad) were up on the
old cellar hilltop trying to erect some sort of a structure. I think it
was supposed to be a tent. The only Iverson I have ever seen that knew how
to pitch a tent is Lee Alan, and he wasn’t there.
Boyd Kevin and Paul thought it was a gallows
that they were building. So Boyd hurriedly put together a noose, and they
all went marching single file up the hill. One of them was the, “hang-ee,”
one the,”hang-er”, and Kevin was the, “Man of Comfort,” walking
behind with the book; which I believe was The Arizona Strip Golf Book of
Hoyle.
I have no idea what Stacey’s Dad thought when
they brought the condemned man, with the noose around his neck, and threw
the rope over his tent pole! I
know for sure that it didn’t faze Garn any. After all through no fault
of his own he was born into this group, and he just takes it all in
stride. I doubt if he even raised an eyebrow a fraction.
For some reason the hanging was called off.
Either the, “ hang-ee,”
unvolunteered or it started to rain and it just anit fittin’ to do stuff
like that in the rain. Yes, it rained! It really rained!
The afternoon passed with games in the house,
and out of the house, between showers. Good thing we had the Boyd room for
extra shelter or the reunion may have broken up early; either that or we
could have gotten out the wall-stretchers, which always works well too
Garn and Barb brought hamburgers, so after a fine
super those, cake, and ice ream, the auction started, and so did the rain.
I mean serious rain! It beat on the roof so hard; we could barely hear
Chrissie as she gave out the awards to all the kiddies who drew pictures.
Paul was the auctioneer and it was all quite
entertaining. First off he tried to auction off Barb, Garn bought her
right away and declared the bidding closed on that item! His bid was one
million, but we think we will have to collect that in installments-or at
least wait until the work is all done this fall!
The next thing sold was a jug of home made root beer
bought by Cyle and he sat on the floor sampling it. It must have been
really good because he kept buying more, and after while—did he start to
lean on you Stacey? He may have just been all worn out from one of his and
Paul’s afternoon activity which was trying to throw Max in the pond.
Could those two twenty five year olds do it? No way!
They claimed they gave up because of humanitarian reasons; but let me give
you the real scoop. They both got so tired and muscle sore, that Cyle
rested while Paul went to town to fetch some Ben Gay to heal their wounds.
Now I did get that right didn’t I Cyle? I do my very best to relate
these events as accurately as possible. Maybe next year you ought to give
Duard a try, he’s older!
Then came the program and it was a good thing that
Steven Hawkinson and Tim (Stacey’s dad) took the invitation serious and
prepared something because nobody else did. Tim entertained us with his
juggling act, which was fun. Steve did a karate exhibition that he does in
competition, with clubs, chains, and knives, or what ever you cal those
things in that sport. He is a green belt, and put on a good show for us.
Way to go Tim and Steve!
Kurt and Garn strummed the guitar and we sang
the theme song…pitiful, pitiful! What was that you said about singing
parts Tina? I think what that means at our reunion is part don’t know
the words part don’t know the tune and the other part of us don’t know
either. However we did give out best shot in honor of Lee Alan, since we
know it is his favorite!
Then came the dance with Brad doing a good job
as disc jockey. That was a lot of fun. Paul and his girlfriend gave us all
western swing lessons. Merna clogged a bit, and Paige gave a few lessons
in line dancing. All in all it was much fun, enjoyed by everyone. Thanks
Brad you did a great job.
It rained all Saturday night. Some of the optimists
started a bonfire, however it wasn’t nearly the entertainment as in past
years-because of wet wood, and ankle deep mud. But we did have a bonfire.
Can you believe it rained all night on the Arizona Strip? It is very
beautiful out there, all green, with a multitude of wild flowers.. Barb
and I cleaned the weeds of Daddy Noaks grave and planted a blooming cactus
on it. We also decorated it with armfuls of wild flowers. The grass out
there in places is as high as horses belly-Well maybe only a Shetland!
When bedtime rolled around there were a few of us
with real pioneer blood who slept in cars vans, Blazers, etc. Did we get
cold? No way! I did start my car about 5am but only to run the defrosters
so I could see what was going on out there. Heard Jamie start his motor
soon after I did. Never did hear Garn and Barb start theirs. They probably
didn’t even care what was going on out there, ain’t that right Barb.
Brent and Linda had slept in the dance hall, along
with a few others. Linda said that all these years she has firmly believed
that Brent is world champion snorer-but after Saturday night she said,
“He isn’t, Stacey’s dad is.” Sorry you lost out there
Brent! Congratulations Tim!
Sunday morning Cyle was up at 6am and blew the fire
back to life in the heater. (After all that root beer too) Then Jamie came in and the breakfast brigade began.
Soon all were stuffed with bacon and eggs, hash-browns and pancakes. The
rain had let up and after a while it looked like the sun might shine.
Garn Cyle and Stacey and her folks started for the
Grand Canyon, but understand that they only went as far as Bundyville, and
then went over to the cemetery-saving the canyon trip for another day.
Tris found a rattlesnake while out four wheeling and sent for Brad
and Josh in case they wanted to have rattle steaks for afternoon tea! Kurt
said he was invited to tea, but whether he went and had finger
sandwiches—I know not!
About mid-afternoon it started looking a lot like
rain again. Since I was leery of the mud, I decided to go to town. Shauna
also decided to hit the road following me as she had done on the way out.
Somewhere on the trail to town we met a blue Blazer that was going
like blue blazes! My grandson B J was with me and I made some
uncomplimentary remark about the drivers horse sense. We later learned
that he became airborne just a short distance north of our ranch, and
rolled the blue Blazer. Thank goodness no one was hurt, except for the
blue Blazer of course. Another car traveling behind the blue Blazer
drove over to the ranch house asking to use the
telephone. Being unable to provide that service a bunch of our guys went
over to lend a hand. They got the car tipped back up right; oil and water
poured back into it, and the crushed top jacked up so it was driveable
again.
Guess the driver was pretty shook up. (As well he
should have been) So after a short
pow-wow the fun lovers of our crew decided not
to put him on trial for creating a road hazard, flying without a pilot’s
license, and the unforgivable crime of stupidity; or some such charges as
that. However before reaching that conclusion they did consider this a
good opportunity to try out the gallows. There seemed to be no question as
to his being found guilty—had they decided to go forward with the trial.
Oh well, something’s just aren’t meant to be!
Now for the really interesting part of this
little tale of woe; it seems the people in the second car (the ones
looking for a phone) turned out to be Jack Weston’s son Jack jr., and
George Weston’s daughter and granddaughter. They were out there looking
for Jacks grave. He was buried out there many years ago after dying from a
gunshot wound. He got shot while robbing a bank, stealing wool or
something in that category! He was shot by Sheriff Phyffe (don’t know if
his first name was Barney or not) out of Cedar City Ut..
After being wounded Jack and his lady companion
somehow got the drop on the sheriff and handcuffed around a tree. Stories
say that the, “gun moll”
wanted to shoot him—but Jack said no—if he could work himself over the
top of the tree he deserved his life and freedom!
He did!
After leaving the Sheriff, so the story goes, they
headed out to the Arizona Strip to his brother George’s place. Some say
that George had been a doctor at one time. Jack died before reaching
George’s ranch, and George wasn’t home any way. So Mrs. George and the
lady companion buried Jack out there.
Jack jr. told Harley, that he is now 72 years old and
that he was 13 years of age when this happened. He also said that this is
the first time he had ever come looking for the grave. Hope he fount it.
Garn knew lots of good stories this year. They
stretched all the way from jigging Indians to the burning of the last map
to The Lost Dutchman Mine, which had been drawn on the saloon floor of
Little Arizona.
Too bad you who didn’t come missed out on these
truly historical event and lessons!
Please try to attend next year. Hope we didn’t
scare Tim and Patty off; and they will come again, as we surely enjoyed
having them.
Here’s a run down on who was there. Duard, Glenna,
Tris, Bonnie and their family. Scott, Cindy, and their family. Stella and
her family- Rod and his family. Carla, Brent, Linda and their family.
Kurt, Paula and their family. Harley Merna, Pamela, Alan (just back from
the Orient) Peggy, Jeff, Ashley, Lorene plus Paul and his girl friend.
Garn, Barb, Cyle, Stacey and her folks. (No Hal and Terrie with new
baby Alec) Boyd, Bob and his
wife to be Nicki. Jamie, Shauna and family (they have new baby JaNay) they
also had some friends along. Shawn and friends.
Max, Nita, Tina, Kevin and new baby Seth (he is 11 months old and
walking all over the place.) I hear that Cyle has his 8-month-old nephew
Alec, signed up to play second string on the soccer team he coaches. What
can I say all; these Iverson descendants are something else!
Mike and Debbie were also there with their Karissa. Chris and Brad,
with Evan (better known as Ducky) Oh and Mickey was there also. Clayton
Atkin also stopped by for a visit on Saturday.
Plans for the money we took in on quilt and auction
($1,300.00 ) in include: a permanent roof over the patio. Fixing roof in
Boyd room so it doesn’t leak. A big new broom and mop bucket for Kevin.
Duard suggested some new outhouses-one which is just for girls-so it may
be kept in presentable condition for ladies.
Good thought!
In case you didn’t know Harley won the quilt, I
don’t know how happy he was but his granddaughter Miss Ashley (gigi) was
sure happy about it.
Next year Harley and my family will be leading the
reunion. The reason for this small change, ids Duard wanted to do in 1994,
which will be the 100th anniversary of out Father birth. (June
4,1894-Sept 18, 1977)
Harley and I already have great plans for ’93, so
please everyone attend and give us a hand. A special thanks to Nita and
her helper Barb for all the work they put in on the quilt. It is really
neat! I know they will just love helping us on the one for next year. It
is really good that we have such good sports in this family, huh, girls?
There will be only nine blocks in next years quilt,
one for each family. Lees, Duards, etc. Put anything you want on the
block-please stay at least one inch from all edges. We expect 100%
participation in this endeavor, but if that isn’t the case we, we will
put in the missing block with just the family name on it. (Example CARLA
HAWKINSON FAMILY) Now nobody wants that do we?
We want something real cute with all the names,
pictures, etc.—it is your block!
I am going to choose our most creative sewer to do
ours, and she will also sew the top together for us-in preparation for
quilting; so oil up your machine Linda. It will be queen size and a real
family treasure! Trust me.
Please send completed blocks by March 31 ’93 to:
Carla Hawkinson
57 N. 2300 E. St. George, UT 84770
See you all next year, Love
Carla
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