Annual Davis Family Reunion

For the first time, the "Annual Davis Family Reunion" was held at Dean & Sue Polly's lakefront home on Big Long Lake in Northeastern Indiana. They graciously opened their very nice year-round home to the family. Dean set up a shelter in the side yard with tables and chairs for outdoor seating in addition to seating inside the house.

All of the attending families brought main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks were furnished. As usual, the food was all delicious . . . and, as usual, we all ate too much. Everyone voted for the best main dish, the best side dish, the best dessert, and the best overall.

Carole had cooked pork shoulders for three days in the crock pot, then spent a half-day pulling it (removing the fat and manually shredding the lean), and then slathered it with The Sauce from the Hillsdale Bank Barbecue Restaurant near our home in Kansas. She set it out with slider buns purchased from Applebee's so everyone could put together a Pulled Pork BBQ Slider. Her sliders were voted the best main dish and the best overall. Congratulations, Carole!

Following dinner, several games were set up including a watermelon seed spitting contest. One of my nieces, Shelly Albertson, is pictured below in the left photo giving it her best shot. My son, Steve, is on-deck. In the right photo below, my nephew, Mike Davis, is shown about to spit the winning shot, 31 feet, I believe.
















Then Tom Zeissig, husband of one of my nieces, helped some of the kids in a coloring contest.


After all of the the fun and games, we sat around talking and reminiscing . . . about old times.

Here is Michelle Davis (Mike's wife), Tiffani Soares (my brother, Ron's, granddaughter) with her back to the camera, Carole, and Marge Davis (my sister-in-law).











My nephews, Mike Davis (with his back to the camera) and Larry Davis, talking with one of my nieces' husband, Bob Frey, and my niece, Kay Frey. In the background is Kathy Davis (Larry's wife), Maria Davis (Jeff's wife), and Jeff Davis (my brother, Ron's, son).










Four of the daughters of my brother, Bob, and his wife, Joan, are shown here in Dean & Sue's living room: Claudia (standing) and Marcy, Julie, and Shelly.












My brother, Bob's, fifth daughter, Sue Polly (our host) looks awfully happy considering she's cleaning up her kitchen and loading the dishwasher.












My brother, Ron, is on the left in this photo with most of his family, all of whom flew in from California.












My nephew, Mike Davis, had to try on my party hat as the 'hair' on top matched the color of his beard. This picture is sure to become a classic.













My younger brother, Ron, on the right, and I are the oldest living members and direct descendants of our branch of the Davis family. Yes, we both attended the "Annual Davis Family Reunion" . . . Ron came from California and I came from Kansas.

No, we did not color coordinate our shirts in advance. I guess we just both thought we looked good in orange.







The Reunion was a roaring success. Attendance was 62, better than last year. Those who attended enjoyed a day of great food, good fellowship with family, fun & games, and many also enjoyed a boat ride and/or a swim in the lake. Those family members who did not attend missed a super family get together. I hope they make it the the "Annual Davis Family Reunion" next year, which will again be held at Dean & Sue Polly's lakefront home on Big Long Lake in Northeastern Indiana.

Thanks to Dean & Sue Polly for opening their home to the family. All of us had a wonderful time and Dean & Sue were such gracious hosts. Thank you, Dean & Sue.