Keys Reunion 2017 Recap
Last weekend we had our Keys Family Reunion and it was a great success. Success? Is that the right word? I suppose it is. There were over a hundred people in attendance (101 to be exact – that’s over a hundred!) and everyone seemed to get along splendidly. The rainy weather did not seem to put a damper on anyone’s spirits.
Grandchildren of Daisy Keys at the 2017 Reunion: Front Row – Linda Phenice Rogers, Marilyn Phenice Strickland, Loris Bucklin Woolley, Kathleen Phenice Montgomery; Back Row – Carol Phenice Bourque, Lisa Phenice, Darla Hill Wilson, Shelly Hill Russell, Julie Phenice Campbell, Paul Phenice, and Diane Phenice Prejean
It had been around twelve years since the last reunion, at least I think that’s what I heard from those in the know. Since that time, there were a few deaths in the family. In addition to my own parents’ recent deaths, there were the deaths of my mom’s aunt Marguerite, aunt Wilma, aunt Elta, and aunt Edna. Now, aunt Edna was my mom’s aunt because she was my grandfather’s sister, but she was married to my grandmother’s cousin who was a Keys, so she was always at the previous reunions. These were the last of my mom’s aunts and uncles. This led my aunt Loris to proclaim that now she and her cousins were the “old aunts and uncles.” I am from the Daisy Keys line and there were eleven of her grandchildren who were in attendance.
Steven, Mel, and Arlene
As everybody knows, Daisy was the third child of Henry Keys and Martha Cook Keys. The first child born to that union was Henry Alfred “The Judge” Keys. He was represented at the Reunion by his grandchildren Melvin Keys and Arlene Keys Ware, as well as Mel’s son Steven. This was a treat for me, Karen, Charla, and Mary because we are Star Trek fans and Mel helped to build the original model for the star ship Enterprise that was used in the filming of the original series back in the 1960s. Live long and prosper.
Sue Hebert
The second child born to the honored couple was Leonard James Keys. None of his descendants were in attendance. We’ve already accounted for child number three. And then there was Ruth. The fourth child of Henry and Martha was named Rosetta Ruth Keys. We had one brave soul who descends from Ruth in attendance. This is Sue Carol Bryan Hebert. She’s been verified, too. She’s taken a DNA test and she matches aunt Loris, cousin Charla, and other Keys relatives. Not that there ever was a question pertaining to the relation, mind you. I just wanted to mention the DNA verification. Another interesting thing about the Ruth Keys lines is that there is still a surviving daughter. (She has since passed away. Martha Bryan Boose was born in 1920. She was not able to attend.
Neither did any of the many descendants of the youngest child Mabel Keys Miller. Where were they? That family settled in Kinder. Surely some of them were close enough to attend!? Sorry, I’m getting crazy here. I know it was the Daisy Keys family that orchestrated the event, but they were invited. Maybe we’ll see a few at the next get together. Actually I hadn’t expected as much of a turnout as there was, so I should be happy.
Yes, I am happy…