Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 15, 2013

On July 21, 2013, the BARNHART family reunion gathered at Larry's Barn in Batavia where senior elder Clara Agnes (BARNHART) SWIHART resides.

This year was exceptional in that they not only had 54 in attendance but they also had seven dogs of various shapes and sizes. Another extraordinary event was a downpour of much needed rain that everyone was happy to see. The children in particular had the greatest time splashing in mud puddles and playing on all the riding toys provided by Larry WILSON.

In 45 years of gathering primarily on the third Sunday in July, this was the first rainfall recalled in the afternoon. However, there was plenty of time to enjoy the meal before the rain arrived. Robert BARNHART (grandson of Clarence Edward oldest brother of Clara) provided the noonday prayer.

Those in attendance were Clara Agnes SWIHART, Joyce PERKINS (daughter of Clara), Larry (son of Clara), Donna WILSON and Nelson WHITE, all of Batavia; Clara's sons, Bill and Tony SHIELDS of Fairfield who brought granddaughter Sesalie SHIELDS and friend Breandon CHRISTOFFERSON;

Teena ROUSH, daughter of Clara, of Newton; Paul and Dixie MOONEY and Fred and Mark CAVIN of Ottumwa; Larry WILSON Jr., Mary HARTMAN, son Daniel HARTMAN and friend Brittany HARRIS of Barnes City; Dave, Denise and son Brandon BEYER of Pella; Robert BARNHART, wife Shari, sons Bailey and Boston, Ashley WILSON and daughter Shelby Jade, Aaron WILSON, Roxi and father John SHANK of Oskaloosa;

From southwest Iowa, Elaine (BARNHART) BOLINGER (daughter of Cliff, brother to Clara) and friend Mark CADE of Sharpsburg, Sandy WHITE (daughter of Ralph, younger brother to Clara), daughter Becky McALEXANDER, grandchildren Braxton Dean and seven-week-old Kenzington Marie of Deep Water and Ellston;

Derrie and Alayna WILSON and children Airallyn, Kehyton, Eastynn and Emmalynn of Las Vegas, NV;

Theresa BARNHART (daughter to Ralph) RADACHOWSKY and husband John of Danbury, CT; Theresa's daughter Jullian WALKER and son Ryder McCRACKEN of Lincoln, NE;

Sue CLARK (granddaughter of Clarence) and husband Cecil of New Hampton, MO, and Suzanne WEDGWORTH and children Joshua, Casey, Rowdey and Tryton TUCKER of Kansas City, KS.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2013