Father's Day, June 20, 2004

Quinn and I hadn't attended the Kerby Reunion since 2001, so we packed up the van and headed for the IA/MO border for a weekend of camping and tramping around.  All of my dad's grandparents and their parents and grandparents are buried around there, so it's relatively easy to visit their graves while enjoying this remote and beautiful part of the midwest.

Here we're at Union cemetery in Appanoose County, IA.  Quinn's namesake, David R Kerby, is buried nearby and we placed a marker here several years ago to honor him, his 3 wives and 26 children.

After cemeterying all day, we checked into Sharon Bluffs State Park.  We didn't see any bluffs, but the place was wooded, quiet and even had electricity.  I  set up camp while Quinn played in the fire, checked the bed for ticks and slept soundly in the cool June air.

In the morning, we had breakfast at the Bluebird Cafe in Centerville, IA, then we then visited one of my dad's cousins in Unionville, MO.  We got lucky because a bunch of Gerald's family members were there for Father's Day.

Then, we headed for Glenwood, MO for the 57th Annual Kerby Reunion.  A distant cousin from CA, Larry Adams, I've been corresponding with for years was there, so that was a nice surprise.  I saw some old Kerby pics I hadn't seen before, we sang the Kerby Song and we all renewed old friendships.  We didn't stay too long, though, because we had to head for the Haines Place (see below).  Nobody's in much of a hurry in these parts, so I felt bad dashing in and out.  We city folk are plum crazy always feeling we have to get on to the next thing.  What's so important it can't wait anyway?

The big goal of the trip was to visit Grandpappy Jackie's grave (John Ryals, 1803-1884).  It's at the old Haines Place on private land near Omaha, MO.  We tried to find it on our own on Saturday, but unwittingly went in the wrong gate of the 2,000 acre farm.  We hiked in thick prairie full of wildflowers and ticks for an hour.  I only gave up because I intended to ask the landowner for better directions and return.  Well, the owner, Janet, agreed to meet us and be our guide, so we did return the next day and, with Janet's help, managed to find a few 150 year old headstones buried in the grass.  I had been there in 1993 and 1995 and the area had really grown over since then.  Thanks, Janet!