by Brandon Darrow
I hope everyone had a great Easter. It was nice to have the day off of work on Good Friday and we had an excellent church service on Easter Sunday. Jenny (Weatherly) Arledge was one of many who sang a solo that day and was backed by the children’s choir and they all did a fantastic job. After church I had a lunch of chicken and dressing with my family.
There are several news items to report this week. Spring is very busy in “The Grove” and surrounding areas – especially as the school year begins to draw to a close. There are so many activities that take place in the final 6 weeks of the school year that you wonder how it can all be squeezed into the that sort amount of time.
Upcoming Events: Apr. 25 – Elementary Open House (4:30-6 pm), May 9 – Miller Grove Shines, May 18 – FFA Awards Banquet (6 pm), May 19 – End of School Stew (noon) & Academic/Athletic Awards Banquet (6 pm), May 21 – Baccalaureate Services (6 pm), May 24 – Elementary school Awards Assembly (9 am), May 25 Kindergarten Graduation (9 am) & Junior High Graduation (7 pm), and May 26 – High School Graduation (7 pm).
Don’t forget Miller Grove Cemetery’s Memorial Day on Saturday, May 6, at 10:30 am. We have a great line-up this year for our program. Mark Garrett will deliver the message and Woody Garmon will be the song leader. Special music will be by Anna Ferguson accompanied by Mary Lynn Ferguson on the piano. This year’s Master of Ceremonies will be Kellie Rowbotham and ushers will be Addison May and Pacen Price. After a short business meeting we will have dinner on the grounds and then afternoon singing.
James Weaver is somewhat of a celebrity these days. He was recently featured on Lone Star Law, a reality series that features game wardens all over Texas and some of the things they encounter while on the job. The series is aired on Animal Planet and can even be viewed online. For those of you who don’t know James, he is the youngest son of Ernie and Vicki (Lennon) Weaver and was raised in Miller Grove. He graduated in 2006 and went to college to be come a wildlife biologist. James and wife Kayla have 2 children, Jaxson and Blakely, and reside in Alpine, TX. James and Kayla just celebrated their 7th year of marriage and Jaxson recently turned 5 years old. Their growing family is doing well and enjoying life on the other side of our great state.
My cousin, Tiffney Darrow, was recently inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Only thirty percent of students in the nursing program receive this special invitation. Tiffney along with ten other students from Texas A & M University-Commerce enrolled in the nursing program were inducted into the society at a recent ceremony.
I’m sorry to have to report the recent passing of Bonanza native, Garth Looney. Keiffer Garth Looney was born Jun. 25, 1928, in Emory to Keiffer Franklin Looney and Susan Vera (Potts) Looney. Garth graduated from Miller Grove in 1946 and later served in the US Army. He was a dairyman and rancher and if anyone knew Garth, they knew he loved gospel singings and he was a very good pianist. His church home was Emory United Methodist, which he was a member of for many years. In latter years, he submitted a column to the Rains County Leader detailing funny stories and personal experiences throughout his life for readers to enjoy. Garth passed Apr. 5 at his residence at the age of 88 and was buried Apr. 10 in Greenview Cemetery.
Happy Birthday to my niece, Savanna Darrow and Derek Petty on Apr. 25 and Dwayne Wren and Natalie Darrow on Apr. 29.
There was a recent graveside service for Willie Ledbetter, Jr. in Miller Grove Cemetery. He was born Oct. 29, 1935 and passed Apr. 6, 2017. Interment took place Monday, Apr. 10 with West Oaks Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
As you travel the highways and byways don’t forget that all roads lead back home and back to Miller Grove. Please send me any newsworthy information. My email address is [email protected].
