1986
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LOOKING BACK ON 1986 FROM SEARCY January - When Mary was dismissed from the hospital on Christmas day (1985), all of the family was on hand, even David and~Phyllis who came from Kenya on emergency leave from the Army. They were able to stay almost 3 weeks and took charge of things around the house; this speeded up Mary's recovery immeasurably. March-April - There were two trips to Tulsa for Mary during this period, one on the bus, and one driving.. Over Easter weekend Barbara Ann, Mark, and Jonathan came to Searcy. May - On the first of May Robin and Mark (Kirk) had a baby girl, Ashley Elizabeth. Mary went to Tulsa on the 12th, returning on the 19th, bringing the Kirk cat, Barney, back with her to Searcy - a memorable trip! June - J. D. and Mary with Greg drove to Virginia (where Mark lives), stopping a night in Nashville with Jonathan, Marlene, and Carly. Mark and Janice Powell joined the group for the continuation of the trip to New York to spend a week with Mary Ethel and Walt (Gale) on Long Island. David was in Washington, D.C. that week, and there was a pleasant, brief, mini-family reunion there on the trip back to Virginia. August - Mary drove to Huntington, W. Virginia to meet Mark and Greg (and subsequently take Greg back to Searcy), spending a night with the Gibson's in Illinois where Miriah joined Mary for the rest of the trip. Robin and Mark were visiting the Kirk's in Huntington, and Mary Ethel and Walt also joined the 'party; unexpectedly. The Gibson's brought Miriah to Searcy for her Sophomore year at Harding Academy. September - Mary and Miriah made a quick trip to Illinois, which included a day in St. Louis with Barbara Ann and Hugh at the zoo and Union Station. October - Another trip to Tulsa for Mary, then later when Mark (Kirk) had to be out of town again, they drove to Little Rock to put him on the plane, and Robin drove to Searcy for a few days.
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1987 |
| HIGHLIGHTS OF 1987 (For the Bales family the Year of the CAT!) Mary Ethel and Walt (Gale) took a coast-to-coast motor trip in the Summer from their home on Long Island to San Diego visiting family members along the way. They left their two CATS with Mark in Virginia for the duration of the trip. David and Phyllis completed two years for the U.S. Army in Kenya and moved to Aurora, Colorado where David is serving at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital. They shipped their 3 CATS to Searcy (by air from Kenya) to hold while they were waiting for housing in Colorado. There was a measure of hostility between them and the 2 Searcy CATS! Barbara Ann, Hugh, Miriah (Gibson), their 5 CATS and Snuffles, the dog, moved in June to Humble, Texas when Hugh was assigned the Houston territory for Magic Chef. Mark became a partner in a machine shop in Waynesboro, Virginia, and is enjoying his work. He has one CAT. Greg spent part of the Summer withMark, and they visited Washington, D.C. among other places. Jonathan, Marlene, Carly, and Isis (their dog) visited Searcy several times, and they played host to kinfolk passing through Nashville. Groucho is their CAT. Robin, Mark, and Ashley (Kirk) spent their vacation at the beach in N.Carolina, then Robin and Ashley stayed in Searcy while Mark was in Europe on business - London, Paris, and Zurich. Their CAT, Barney, now lives in Searcy as company to Pickles. J.D. drove alone to Shelter Island, N.Y. for Mabel Clark's funeral in August, then he and Mary went in September to Ft. Pierce, Florida for a gospel meeting, making stops in Nashville, Atlanta, Gainesville, and Panama City Beachen route. Mary later spent 10 days with the Gibson's in the Houston area. |
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