Finney family
The descendants of Elijah and Elizabeth Bonner Finney met Aug. 3 at the Presbyterian Annex in Americus. The invocation was given by Wilma Jeanne Dawes of Emporia. It was announced that four generations of the Clayton Fiinney family were present. The reunion reporter wrote that “everyone enjoyed a lot of good food and visiting.”
Others attending were Clayton and Pat Finney, Roberta Lewis, Jim and Wiletta Lewis and John and Heather Finney, all of Dunlap; Justin and Jennifer Bosch, Kelsey and Cameron; Elsie Anderson, Ernestine Hatch and Bryan and Susie Finney and Travis, of Americus; Tim Finney of Allen. J.D. Dawes, Billy and Carrie Finney, Bill and Wilma Finney, Edna Johnson and Virginia Suddock, all of Emporia; Dottie Bowlin of Wichita; and Chuck and Bev Finney and Ethan of Benton.
Riggs family
The 80th annual J.D. and Lucinda Riggs family reunion was held July 26 and 27 at the Burns Community Center in Burns, with 97 members and friends attending the event.
A group picture was taken before a basket dinner was served on Sunday. Calvin Schmidt of Moundridge gave the invocation.
The business meeting was called to order by president Dianne Dewey of Savannah, Mo. Minutes were read and approved by Reta Riggs Cox of Plano, Texas, secretary. Each person attending introduced himself or herself and spouses and told about their line of ancestors. First-time attendees were Louis, Stephanie and Christi Gutierrez of Garland, Texas; Kelly Martin and Ally of Bend, Ore.; Leesha and Dylan Tanner of Wichita; and Seth Hutto of Keller, Texas. Gifts were presented to the oldest person attending the reunion, Loren Cox of Newton, 91; and the youngest, eight-months-old Ally Martin, daughter of Michael and Kelly Martin, who also received the prize for traveling the longest distance.
Annette Wrigley of Boise, Idaho, made a wall hanging which gave a “colorful pictorial interpretation” of the Riggs’ history. She said that Edward was a pilgrim and had been given a choice by the church in Nazeing, England to come to the New Colonies, go to the Nederlands or be executed. He chose the New Colonies. She donated the hanging, which was won by Bettie Riggs of Houston, Texas.
A report was given about the Riggs’ website by Patty Delmott of Emporia. Esther Henderson of Wichita gave information about the family cookbook and thanked those who helped put the books together — Corky Dewy of Savannah, Mo., Carl Cox of Plano, Texas, and Lela Hancock of Wichita, all present. Reta Riggs Cox told about the surprise celebration on July 19 for Gladys Hawks Riggs of Odessa, Texas, who had her 90th birthday and the June 2008 Riggs reunion in Parma, Idaho. A treasurer’s report also was given and a Riggs’ song, “The Great Riggs Family,” was sung. The traveling friendship plate, which held a loaf of homemade bread, was won by Art Walker of Wichita. Names were read of those who died during the past year.
Also attending from out of state were spouses of the above listed and others: Lyle Riggs of Houston, Texas; Cayl Cox of Wylie, Texas; Kathy Gutierrez of Garland, Texas; Jim Wrigley of Boise, Idaho; Bill and Mary Lou Martin of North Little Rock, Ark.; Paul and Karen Caster of Sherwood, Ark.; Dillon Dewey and Abby and Nathan Waters of Savannah, Mo.; Randy and Linda Riggs of Nixa, Mo.; Cynthia Beals of Muskogee, Okla.; Carla Woker Wright of Sacramento, Calif.; and Steven Cowley of Pacifica, Calif.
Others attending from Kansas included the spouses of those listed above and others: Gary and Sheryl Bartlett, Travis, Preston Tanner, Jarrad, Jackie, Tyler and Kaitlyn Tanner, Cody, Jamie and Cayden Bell, Jason, Romy, Matt and Ryan Goodman, Charles Hancock, Larry Henderson, Casey, Deanne, Zoie and Audrey Liska and Cindy and Hannah Walker, all of Wichita; Judy Riggs of Winfield; Ross and Alberta Sampson and Sarah Sampson of Haysville; Don Kind of Salina; Richard Riggs of Olathe; Linda Riggs and Sarah Riggs of Shawnee; Mildred Cox of Newton; Jim and Wanda Howard of Derby; Dan Howard and Chancy Howard of Goddard; Violet Mauderly of Wamego; Nancy Rezac of St. Marys; Cleda Cox and Ron and Fern Goodwin of Burns; Reva Goodwin, Ben, Jessica, Reese and Layton Schmidt, Randall and Heidi Schmidt and Dawna Schmidt, all of Moundridge; Becky and Connor Keating of Halstead; Skyler Delmott and Cheryl Alvarado of Emporia; Ashley and Ainsley Charest of Topeka; and Ed and Diana Preston of Anthony. Three guests attended: Judy Albrecht, Shane Schartau and Sheryl Bagby.