The 47th annual reunion of the descendants of John Henry and Electa Downing was held on Sunday, August 11 at Willow Creek Park in Lamar. Fifty seven family members and guests were present to enjoy a picnic dinner at noon.

Following the meal craft workshops for the youngsters were conducted by Shannon Gerber, Sherry Pinkerton and Beverly Middleton. Shirley Morlan provided an activity for the adults.

Business meeting was conducted by President Monte Pinkerton. Officers elected are as follows: Wade Pinkerton, president, Alicia Downing, vice-president and Dorothy Pinkerton, secretary-treasurer. Committees appointed for the next year include: kids activities, Lori Pinkerton, Lori Williams and Kim Lake; adult activities, Beverly Middleton, Billie Colvin and Ray Borns.

Those present were Curtis Cook of Phoenix, Ariz., Kevin, Pam, Zach, Brianne and Karissa Pinkerton of Green Springs, Ohio, Alice Lain of Raton, N.M., Jacque and Art Davis of Vaughn, N.M., Andra Downing of Garden City, Kan., Kim and Fred Lake of Pine, Colo., Lori Williams of Denver, Jessica and Hudson Borns of Hugo, Colo., Keith, Shannon, Jenna and Alexa Gerber of Walsh, Jane and Ray Borns, Mike and Shirley Morlan of Kit Carson, Ilene Randle and Ryan Davis of La Junta, Connie Ede from Las Animas, Monte, Sherry, Wade, Lori, Matthew and Dorothy Pinkerton, Micah and Raegan Middleton and Gina Qualls of Pueblo, Rick, Oney, Morgan, Ethan and Eli Jones, Kenning Bennett, Floyd Downing, Lucille Davis and Billie and Jimmie Colvin from Wiley. Those from Lamar include: Gertrude Williams, Louise Downing, Beverly and Perry Middleton, Mike, Berta, Alicia and Angelina Downing, Emma Widener, Jay Gruber, Karen Moreno, Randa Davis-Tice and Gary Downing.

Next year’s reunion will be held on August 9, 2009 at Willow Creek Park in Lamar.