Oklahoma / Kansas / New Mexico

Washington Irving South Campground

From Murfreesboro AR we traveled to Tulsa OK, camping at a COE campground on Keystone Lake about 15 miles west of Tulsa. My brother had warned me that we should be expecting 100+ temperatures in our travels in Nashville, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Tulsa, Pratt (KS). We are thankful that most of the time the temperatures have been low to mid-90's. In Tulsa we had two days of all-time record low temperatures for the high of the day! Nevertheless we have appreciated the electric hookup available in most of our campgrounds.

Chelsea, Chase, Chaney, Traci, Charlie

One of the highlights of our time in the Tulsa area was a visit from Traci Epps Morris and her family. Traci was a staff member with us at International Christian Academy in Cote d'Ivoire. We had previously met her husband, Charlie, when he came out to ICA to visit Traci before they were married. The whole family came out to the campground to spend a few hours with us.

Cousin Dorothy and Ray Doll

Pearl has many cousins and one remaining Aunt who live in Kansas / Oklahoma. While in Tulsa we were able to visit and share a meal with two of her cousins and their spouses. We have the picture of Ray and Dorothy Doll. Dorothy is daughter of her dad's (Bob Reeves) brother Frank Reeves. Unfortunately an unexpected downpour during our restaurant excursion resulted in forgetting the camera to get a picture of the other couple, Joe and Loretta Reeves. Joe is the son of her dad's brother Clarence.

Cousin Danny, Aunt June, Pearl

From Tulsa we headed north to Winfield KS to see Pearl's 99 year-old Aunt June who is the widow of her dad's brother Clarence. Aunt June's son Danny lives with her so Pearl got to see another one of her cousins.







Flowers' Home

Vernon & Becca Flowers' home west of Pratt

Then we proceeded to Pratt KS for the main cousin event. We had a very special campground. Becca Flowers is Pearl's 2nd cousin as the daughter of her cousin Dona Cochran (daughter of her dad's brother Chet). Becca and her husband Vernon are recently moved into a large home on a 20 acre farm out in the country west of Pratt. They graciously offered a parking place for our motorhome on their beautiful property, watched out for us and treated us to a wonderful meal in their home..

2nd cousin Becca and Vernon

Cousins
front: Tom, Phylis, Pearl, Dona, Jim
back: Mel, Bob, Bill, Jerry

Dona and her husband John prepared well for our visit, gathering almost all of the other cousins (and spouses) for a get-together at their home.
       
     
           

Cousin Dona and John

 As usual John and Dona were gracious hosts showing us Pratt, treating us to meals, worshiping with us at their church, taking us to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, and just looking for opportunities to spoil us.

A note on the Cosmosphere: don't miss it! We had seen several aviation and space museums and thought this might be redundant. It was not. I especially enjoyed learning more about the history of rockets and the competition and contributions to rocket science by Germany, USA, and Russia.