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BRYAN & JEAN HOWERTON'S

60th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
by Peggy E (Howerton) Kifer
(Who was always told by her parents that she was their favorite daughter; of course, I was their only daughter.)

Bryan & Jean Cutting the Cake

My Mother, Imogene (Freeman) Howerton, graduated from high school in Poughkeepsie, Ark in May 1945. She excelled in school, graduating at 16 years of age and receiving a college scholarship. The world was open to her. This same month she met and fell in love with my father, Bryan Roscoe Howerton, who was home on leave from the Navy. They agreed to marry when the war was over, by which time she would be seventeen. Little did she know that he would open the world to her in ways she never dreamed about while growing up in the beautiful hills of north Arkansas.

Family and friends were concerned that they were too young and were marrying too soon, but they persisted and were married on Nov. 12, 1945 at the Methodist Church in Evening Shade, AR. They left that very day in my Dad's old, beat-up 1932 Ford Roadster, bound for the Naval Air Station at Alameda, CA. Imagine the trip these two young people had heading for a future together, far away from family and life as they knew it.

Military life is notorious for separating families often, and often at holidays. My parents were no exception. Their first Christmas was spent with my Mother alone while my Dad was away on duty. I can't imagine how lonely and homesick she must have been, alone and in a strange place.

My Mother rose to the challenge, though, and learned to take the reins and handle any situation that arose during my Dad's frequent absences. I know he is proud of her and the job she did.

They had three children: Bryan Richard, born Mar 30, l947 in Independence County, AR. Peggy Elaine born May 12, 1949 and Donald Roscoe born May 3, 1951, both in Pima County, AZ.

During my Dad's military career the family moved often, living in Alameda, CA, Tucson, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT, Guam, Marianna Islands, Abilene, TX, Riverside, CA, Okinawa, Ryuku Islands, Hawaii, Woodbridge, Va before retiring and returning to Arkansas.

After the children arrived I'm sure loneliness was no longer a concern, but Mom was often alone to shepherd us children to and from Dad's different assignments, as he usually was sent ahead to find suitable housing for the family so we could join him. She, alone, traveled from her parent's home in Arkansas to California with us three kids to board a ship to travel for 2 wks across the Pacific to Guam where my Dad waited, having found housing for us. Talk about culture shock. The first house we lived in on Guam was a small wooden structure on stilts with breadfruit and coconut trees growing in the yard and orchids growing on stumps and many trees. Housing was at a premium, so Dad was pretty pleased to have found a place well equipped with house "inside" lizards which helped control the insect population - (that took some getting used to). How much of a premium became more apparent when we discovered a Guamanian family living under our house.

Since Dad was usually the one going ahead on these moves and securing housing he started a family tradition that lasted until they retired. After he'd found a suitable house for us to move into he would scour the town for the most rundown, dilapidated house he could find and when we'd arrive he'd drive us up to it and tell us that was our new home. I fell for it and cried every time. The only exception I recall was when he showed us the house in the village on Guam, which really was the house we would occupy for a few weeks.

So, the military was our families’ life. Moving here and there, leaving old friends and making new ones. My parent's took it in stride and tried to make each move an adventure but I hated moving and leaving the people and places I cared about. However, it did make me realize that the people I traveled with were the most important people in the world, as we drove with no air conditioning through the desert, ate a picnic lunch in a field under a windmill, as the boys and I argued about who sat next to the window every time we got back in the car, how Dad would say he'd stop the car if we didn't shut up(and we knew what that meant), how Mom would make peanut butter sandwiches and hand them over from the front seat, or how we'd all keep our eyes peeled for a Dairy Queen or a bathroom. These people were family and I have so many, many wonderful memories of our life together. A not so pleasant memory of riding in the middle of the back seat of the car almost constantly, which happened because both brothers would hold the doors for me and wait about entering until I was seated. I would complain to my parents and they would say my brothers were just showing respect for their sister.

Direct descendants of Bryan and Jean Howerton are scattered across America, from North Carolina to Washington State. So, Heather Jean Brown (grand daughter) took on an enormous task when she volunteered to get this big, busy family together, under one roof, to celebrate the 60 year anniversary of the Patriarch and Matriarch of this wonderful family. With jobs, two still in college, and 24 different individual schedules it was no easy task. In reality, Heather became involved in a race between the arrival date of the anniversary celebration and the birth of her first child. It turned out that Mason Howerton Brown arrived 2-1/2 weeks after the celebration.

Somehow Heather found the perfect place. On Nov 4, 2005, everyone met in Gatlinburg, TN, in a large lodge in the mountains with the most breathtaking view. I think everyone in the family has a picture of the view from the top balcony locked in their cameras. The 3 story lodge clings to the side of a mountain and in November the trees were still showing their beautiful fall colors - a perfect backdrop to a memorable reunion.

As a surprise to Mom and Dad the family had hired a photographer to take pictures of the whole family. We'd decided the picture would look best if everyone wore the same colors and we chose white shirts and blue jeans. Now, my parents don't wear jeans so it took a little fibbing to get them into the appropriate attire. Also, if you know my Dad, he didn't get the nickname "Honest Abe" for nothing. I think he forgave me for the fibs when he saw the pictures. The icing on the cake is that in the picture is their beloved dog Skoshi. It wasn't planned, she just decided that if we were taking pictures of the family surely that included her.

Many activities were planned, including a ping pong tournament in which everyone participated. True to the Howerton spirit of winning it was pretty cut-throat at the end. The winner? Adam Ryan Sauter (grandson). You should go on tour Adam, I've never seen moves like that.

We held a "family trivia" contest and so learned more about family and family lore. The winners were Mom and Dad, of course. They know all of the history. And Folks, Don and I really are sorry we licked all the icing off of the cake Mom baked for Dad to celebrate one of his returns home from TDY, before he could even see it.

It was fun getting up in the morning and sharing breakfast. Good idea with the ham, Mom, I think it showed up at every meal. It meant so much to have the time to sit and talk to everyone face to face and catch up on their lives. I especially loved seeing Mom and Dad with their great grandchildren. Mom blowing bubbles with Lily. Dad pushing Kai in a wagon. Mom and Dad sitting on the porch swing with Emerson and Cora.

The highlight of the 4 day weekend was the actual Anniversary celebration. We decorated with streamers and metallic "60"s. Linda Howerton (Don's wife) had baked and decorated a cake and carefully carried it in the backseat all the way from Alabama. It was beautiful and tasted wonderful and we learned why Linda’s friends keep her busy baking cakes for special occasions.

The whole family gathered around Mom and Dad and toasted them with champagne. Then one by one we stood up and recalled to them our favorite memories of their life together. It was an evening I know I will never forget. Mom and Dad with their children, grandchildren and great grand children around them and telling them how much they love and admire them. Some said it with humor but mostly there were the most insightful and meaningful memories. I think everyone had tears and poor Mom used up more than one tissue. And Dad's comment "Well, I guess we started all of this" was enough to make you stand back and look around and see what hard work, devotion to family, love, and a sense of humor can develop into.

60 years!! In this crazy world 60 yrs of marriage isn't an easy goal to attain. We are not surprised, given their love and devotion to each other, but we are so proud. And prouder, still, to call them Mom and Dad.

It was sad to see the weekend come to a close and part ways to North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and Washington. We had so much fun and EVERYONE agrees we need to plan another reunion and soon.

PHOTOGRAPHS

L-R, Front Row: Brooke Widmer (Peg's dau) & dau, Lily; Eric & Amber Napralla (Peg's dau) & son, Kai; Peggy Kifer (dau of Jean & Bryan); Jean & Bryan Howerton & Donald (their son); Michella Bennett (Linda's dau) & children, Emerson & Cora.

L-R, Back Row: David Widmer (Brooke's husband); Adam Sauter (Peg's son); Chris & Heather Brown; Bill Kifer (Peg's husband);
Sarah Sewell (dau of Bryan Richard Howerton, son of Jean & Bryan) & Donnie Sewell; Linda Howerton (Don's wife);
John T & Lindsey Howerton (Don's children); David Bennett (Michella's husband).

(Note: Skoshi is the little white dog in front of Bryan.)

Champagne Toast