Giger Reunion
The annual reunion of the James and Myrtle Giger family was held July 8 at the Council Grove Senior Center. After the group enjoyed a “delicious” basket dinner and homemade ice cream, the time was spent visiting, according to the reunion reporter.
Those attending were: Doris Day, Don Day, Bruce and Joleen Day, Pete Day and Ben and Lisa Jarvis, all of Council Grove; Luke and Mindy Amend of Whitewater; Sondra Day and Derek Sparks of Ottawa; J.R. Miller of Brazil, Ind.; Elwood and Pat Ecord of Cassoday; Dean, Mariah and James Day of Hesston; Jim and Barbara Blackburn of Topeka; Wayne and Darlene Giger of Kansas City; Joyce and Lyal of St. John; Nikki Meador and Ned and Diane O’Mara of Emporia; Marvin and Terri Bush and Clyde and Lois Bush of Allen.
Birthday party
On July 7, more than 50 family members and friends of Nellie Soles Owens met at the Emporia Country Club for a dinner and reception to celebrate Mrs. Owen’s 80th birthday. Family photographs were taken by Dave Stormont. Hosts for the surprise party were Mrs. Owens’ three daughters and sons-in-law, J.D. and the Rev. Marilyn Schrock and Mark and Ruth Owens-Jurgens of Emporia and Mel and Mardellya Troyer of Pleasant Hill, Mo. , and her son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Janice Owens of Imperial, Neb.
Other hosts were Owens’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Mark and Rhonda Hopkins, and their children, Bridgett and Colin Hopkins; Tiffany Schrock and Aaron Wirsig and their daughter, Kendry; Neil and Elizabeth Gross and daughter, Ava, of Portland, Ore.; and Marilyn Schrock’s sponsored son from Jamaica, Kevin Ennis, along with Roberta Thomson, co-sponsor of Kevin and the Rev. Alvin Morris, who assists Mrs. Owens; Kevin and Traci Powers of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and his parents, Norman and Phyllis Powers of Emporia; Eric and Laura Worcester and children, Carter and Maya, of Leland, S.C.; Ruth’s sons and families, Jonathan and Chrisy Lewis and daughters, Whitney, Lindsey and LuAnn, of Cottonwood Falls and Mathew Lewis of Emporia and stepdaughters, Rachael and Bridgette Jurgens of the home.
Also attending were Nellie Owens’ sister, Naomi Carter and her son, Paul Carter, of Sedalia; and two brothers, Charles Soles of Windsor, Mo., and Eugene and Della Soles of Greenwood, Mo.; and relatives of the late William E. “Bill” Owens (Nellie’s husband), Neva Watts, Duane and Ellen Watts, Gary and Becky Watts and Charlie and Joyce Beardsley.
Many friends from Emporia and the surrounding communities attended the reception. The reporter said, “It was an elegant event and Nellie was truly surprised and uplifted by the love and caring of everyone present.”
Later that evening, many family members gathered at Nellie Owens’ farm south of Emporia and shot fireworks, “one of Nellie’s favorite things to do around the Fourth.”