Dogwood Acres Weekly, 10/26/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/26/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. I have gotten face book messages from friends who are seeing snow in the mountains of Washington State and in Germany. It is the right time of year for snow there, but hopefully we will have a few more weeks without snow warnings here in the Missouri Ozarks.

As rain was just pouring down during Sunday morning church service, Pastor Neal announced that we would have a hayride up Glade Top, rain or shine. He did digress just a little saying that if it were still raining at 4:00 p.m., we would stay at the church and eat. Well, the Lord smiled on us, the rain stopped and the evening was just right. Not quite shirt sleeve weather, but cool enough to keep the ladybugs in their hidey-holes, wherever that might be.

On Saturday Rick, Neal and I went to Marshfield to attend the funeral of our friend and old neighbor, John Berg. We got in town early enough to go out for breakfast and happened to see another neighbor who was Neal’s bus driver for ten years. Jo had not seen Neal for 17 years and she thought he was Rick. We had a good laugh about that.

After the funeral we went to the home of another neighbor to have lunch with the Berg family and other friends. The kids who were little when we moved there are so grown up now and getting closer to middle age than they want to admit. That really made us feel old.

Friday was moving day for Martin and Amy as their house in Forsyth sold. Bill, Mary Lou, Neal, LeaAnn, Ashton, Erin and the 4 DuBois children helped move everything to a storage unit in Nixa. We will be closing on their house there in a few days and then, all the stuff is moved again.

Marguerite Burger Jennings called me a few days ago. I told her we were having a beautiful fall day in Taney County and she said, “I know, I am in Forsyth!” She and her son Ralph, who lives in Roseburg, OR, have been visiting old friends and places. It is always good to hear from her.

June Rossner Anker passed away on Saturday. She enjoyed several years of retirement in Forsyth before moving to be near her daughters in Washington. We missed all of the Rossner family at Lone Star Homecoming this year.

I got a real letter in the mail last week from Georgine Cummings. I love mail of all kinds, email, face book mail, but real handwritten letters delivered by snail mail are always a treat. She wrote to tell me about a trip the family had taken recently. Eugene, Dallas, Iva and Georgine had gone to Springfield, Colorado, to see Ann Cummings Wade. She is in a nursing home there and has been unable to talk for 10 years. They also saw Ann’s sister-in-law, Margaret Wade, and brothers-in-law, Audie Wade and Jess Wade.

Neal spent today at our house working on the master bathroom. It is getting a complete makeover with new shower and cabinets. We had quite a time getting a shower that worked. The first one I bought and carried home in the back of my Ford Escape.

The next day I went off to work expecting Neal and Rick to have it in before I came back home again. Well, they called and told me it was about as thick as heavy poster board and was not fit for anything. They boxed it up and I took it back where it came from. After a little more shopping, I found a really nice one at L & J Plumbing Supply and it is a keeper. It did not fit in my Escape and was delivered in a truck. Looks like it may be next week before he gets the new hickory vanity in, but progress is being made.

Paul and Hazel (Ragsdale) Spurgeon visited us today. First, they came by the house to see Rick and then, drove into Branson and stopped at my office for a few minutes. Hazel has had some health problems this year, but feeling much better now. Their daughter-in-law passed away in February and, then Uncle Almus was so sick for several months before passing away just a couple of weeks ago. It has been a rough year for the family.

Bill Biggs Aunt, Sharon Griffith, lost her battle with cancer, passing away just a few days ago. She was a lovely lady with a sweet family who will miss her more than words can express. Our sympathy goes to each one of them.

My brother Jim called tonight and we had a good long visit. Before we hung up, I told him it was time to write Dogwood Acres and he told me not to write anything he said. I guess I had better not tell who has been fishing, how many they caught or any of that kind of stuff. Bye for now.

ELANE CRUM
Cell: 417-239-4059
Website: www.elanecrum.net
Website: www.elanecrum.com

Blog: www.dogwoodacresOnline.blogspot.com

John Berg's '57 Chevy

Neal Crum @ Incredible Pizza for Erin's
10th birthday party ~ 12/01/08

This shiny '57 Chevy made us all think of our Marshfield friend, John Berg, who years ago had restored one that looked just like it. Today, we learned that this actually was John's car. The '57 is back home now and will wait until grandson Jonathon, grows into it. Jonathon is a spunky little guy with blonde hair and blue eyes that remind us so much of his daddy, Robert Berg. Our time spent with old friends on this day has reminded us of the value of friends and memories. John and Robert have left behind an abundance of both.

In Memory of Our Friend

John F. Berg, Jr.

11/11/46 ~ 10/18/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/19/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/19/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. Weather is always a safe topic of conversation, hot, cold, rain, wind, and now, a little frost on the pumpkin. We are loving these last couple of gorgeous autumn days. They are like a balm to our souls after a week of cold and rain.

Rick’s uncle, Almus Ragsdale, passed away last week and was laid to rest on Saturday morning. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, 12 children, 26 grandchildren, 28 grandchildren, 1 brother and 2 sisters. Rick, Neal and I drove out to Mt. Vernon on Friday evening for the visitation; Rick and Neal were there on Saturday morning for graveside service at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Thankfully, it did not rain and was not as cold as we had feared it might be. Neal preached the funeral sermon and Rick read a beautiful poem written by daughter, Carlita. It is never easy to say good-bye to a loved one.

Uncle Almus had been very ill for several months and with help from his large and loving family was able to stay at home with Aunt Dorothy. They did a wonderful job of working together and seeing that he was well taken care of through this time of sickness.

After leaving Mt. Vernon, Rick and Neal stopped to visit our friend, John Berg, in St. John’s Hospital. Recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, he was suffering with spinal fractures. They had a good visit, but we are saddened today to hear that he passed away on Sunday night. We lived near John and Barbara when Neal was born and drank many cups of coffee at their kitchen table. Their daughter, Denise, is three years older than Neal, and son, Robert, was two years younger.

John repaired office machines and had a computer long before we ever even thought of having one. Neal learned to play pac-man on their computer and also borrowed their four-wheeler for his first deer hunting expedition. That four-wheeler carried Neal and his first buck out of the woods. Neal will be preaching another funeral sermon on Saturday as John is laid to rest beside Robert in Marshfield, MO.

On Saturday afternoon, Sandy Church had a “Kids Day”, with many activities, lots of singing, and story times for our little ones. The older kids and teenagers all had an adventuresome and historical outing with Juanita Comer Menzies as their guide. They went to the old Sandy Schoolhouse where the Comer and Hodges kids walked two miles to school until it consolidated with Plainview. Church was also held there until the time that a “new” church was built up on Hwy 76.

Juanita pointed out places of interest along the way, including the old Siler home place and the well where they stopped for a drink on their way to school. After doing some cleaning at the school, they stopped to visit Bob Siler and picked up the walnuts that covered his yard. They all came dragging in with a few back pains and walnut stains on jeans and hands, but they had a good time.

The little kids made thank you cards for Pastor Neal and presented those during Pastor Appreciation time before the evening meal. It was a good day.

Next Sunday afternoon our church will be going on the annual hayride up Gladetop Trail and to Caney Mountain. We always look forward to that, no matter whether the weather is freezing cold or hot enough for the ladybug swarms. Looking ahead to the weekend forecast, we may be swatting ladybugs this time.
Bye for now.

STANLEY BILYEU

Stanley Bilyeu's 90th Birthday

ALMUS HAZEN RAGSDALE

Rick's Uncle Almus Ragsdale passed away on 10/14/09. His obituary and service times can be viewed on the website of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon, MO.

http://www.fossettmosherfuneralhome.com/obituary.php

DOGWOOD ACRES WEEKLY 10/12/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/12/09, ELANE CRUM
Hello friends. Sunday was a day of homecoming, dedication and celebration. The walls of Lone Star Church were bursting as families of the community gathered in to remember and shared the worship time with those who meet there every Sunday morning.
It was a precious time as the longtime faith of older ones and newfound faith of younger ones blended into a time of encouragement.
The Crum, Stolpe, Lathrope, Essary and Hammond family cousins enjoyed their time together. Debbie Lathrope came from Kansas City to stay a few days with us and to be here for the homecoming. Karen Essary, daughter of Ernie and Ruby (Crum) Essary, was another cousin that we had not seen for many years.
After the huge potluck meal, Rick and I slipped away and went to Taneyville for the dedication service at Taneyville Community Church. Their new building is beautiful and filled with love and the presence of the Lord. It was almost like a homecoming for us too as we saw many old friends.
My time for writing news this week is short and my memory and powers of concentration are even shorter, so will say Bye for now.

Lone Star Homecoming 10/12/09

Crum Family

A Full House

Hammond Family

David Koenig & Sons, Brent & Austin

Cowboys ride to Lone Star

Country Dinner

Rick's cousin, Debbie, is visiting with us for a few days. She comes in October every year to attend the annual homecoming at Lone Star Church. By the way, that is October 11, so ya'all come!

For dinner tonight we had pan-fried Wall-Eye, Creamed Peas, Cornbread Stuffing, and Hot Cornbread with butter and honey!

Not Bad!

Car Show

Dogwood Acres Weekly 10/05/09

DOGWOOD ACRES, 10/05/09, ELANE CRUM

Hello friends. October’s first week is a busy birthday one amongst us. Birthday girls are Abigail Biggs, Kasie Fisher, Christie Biggs and our Granny Nettie, whose trademark birthday cake was strawberry. I believe Abby’s family had a party down on the creek for her, Justin took Kasie to visit the Cabelo’s store in St. Louis, and Christie had about a hundred happy birthday wishes on facebook!
Ashton and Charlie, Erin and I had a big day on Saturday. The Harvest Moon Festival and Car Show in Shadowrock Park caught their eye, so that was our first stop. I handed Erin the camera and she took dozens of pictures. I took pictures of all of them by the orange Lamborghini, which seemed to be their “fave”!
After the car show we went to the Farm Fest in Springfield where there was more farm equipment and supplies than I could imagine even existed. Our favorite exhibits were the animals, including Hairy Cows and miniature donkeys. It was a huge show, terribly crowded and so much bigger than I had expected.
Rick and I went to church in opposite directions on Sunday. He took the girls and made our usual journey across Swan and Beaver Creeks to Sandy. I went down County Line Road, over the hill by the Chapman Place, past Copperhead Corner and the Snow Place, and crossed Bull Creek at the Anderson Ford. The last leg of my trip up memory lane seemed to take forever as I looked for old and familiar house places. The journey ended just short of Hwy 65 at New Haven Church.
The first Sunday of October has been Homecoming Sunday at New Haven General Baptist Church for fifty years. The church was formed in 1941 when congregations from Meadows and Enterprise joined together and built a new church building in Dry Hollow, just west of Bull Creek. In 1959, the congregation moved a little further up the ridge with a new building just east of Hwy 65 and began holding an annual homecoming.
There have been updates and changes to the building over the past fifty years. Many that I knew have gone on to Heaven; many have moved away and are part of congregations elsewhere. I have tried to think of those who were there Sunday who were also there when I was a child. There was Aunt Bonnie Bilyeu, Ruby Frazier Brafford, Buddy Bilyeu, Shirley Dye, Glenette and Adrian Brown, although Adrian was not there long as they were newlyweds just a short time before we moved away. I hope I have not forgotten anyone.
Maxine Lund is the pastor now and Sunday morning’s guest speaker was Frieda Holt, who was also pastor there for many years. Many cousins, friends from the community and visitors from other churches were there to celebrate the special day. The underlying theme of this homecoming seemed to be the reminder that we all look forward to another day of homecoming which will be more special than our minds can conceive. As the song says, "I Can Only Imagine".
Next Sunday, October 11, will be the annual Lone Star Homecoming, with David Koenig preaching in the morning service. I think there is a hitching post or two if anyone wants to ride their horses to church. Just got word that Patsy Kenyon had a heart attack Saturday night, but have not heard how she is doing. Glen and Patsy never miss Lone Star Homecoming, so we are praying for the best for her.
Another special service on Sunday, October 11, will be the dedication of Taneyville Community Church’s beautiful new building at the corner of Hwy 76 and FF. They welcome everyone to share this special day with them in a service from 2 -4 p.m. There will be refreshments and lots of good singing, including special music from the Burns Sisters. Many of us “old-timers” can remember when these ladies were young girls who sang together all the time. It will be a wonderful afternoon of celebration and thanksgiving. Bye for now.

Virgil Edgar Essary | The News-Review - NRtoday.com

http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20090930/OBITS/909309990/1036/NONE&parentprofile=1060

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