The 29th reunion of McKey Grade School alumni was held on Oct. 5. The former students and families arrived at their 84-year-old WPA McKey schoolhouse full of excitement and greetings. The meeting program was present by co-coordinators, Janice Blount Sander and Jackie Snow Pop.
William Covington led the group in saluting the American flag. William and his wife, Jan, traveled the farthest from Union City, Calif. He also got to attend his 1959 Sallisaw High School reunion the day before with 29 alumni attending.
Pop introduced and asked former students of school memories. They recalled walking to school or riding in Mr. and Mrs Lowery’s personal vehicle. They remember being kept warm with coal heaters, and cooled with open windows and homemade paper fans.
The questions of what was favorite subject was answered with reading, spelling, 4-H Club, softball and recess!
Favorite teachers were Mr. and Mrs Lowery, L.D. Taylor, Ather and Chloe Fines, Mary Stephenson Real and the Stinnetts.
Special times at McKey Grade School were shuffle board or pick up sticks on rainy days. Softball or games of hide and seek, Annie Over, May pole, merry-goround, shooting marbles, jump rope, and ball and jacks.
Valentines included a beautiful homemade box we filled with love notes and chose a king, queen, prince, and princess.
Halloween carnival and cake walk brought McKey community people together for a fundraiser to buy each student a Christmas gift.
Christmas was special with a big cedar tree decorated with homemade decorations. A Christmas Story was always presented on a little stage with songs.
4-H Club was very important to McKey School as girls learned to sew, cook and can foods. The boys learned woodwork, raising farm animals and gardening. Little bashful country kids were taught in 4-H Club how to speak in public, dress properly, and how to “make the best better” people as we matured into the next generation to be America’s leaders.
Graduation of eighth grade and trips were special memories.
Betty Covington Holt, age 89 and one-half years, was honored as eldest alumni to attend. She’s very independent and even drove herself to the reunion.
Glenn and Billie Taylor, age 87 years, with their daughter, Veronica, drove four hours from Stillwater.
Karen Johnson Mathis and Linda Adams Bruton, both age 72, were youngest alumni.
A special memorial service for students that died the past year were: Leon Petree, Richard Taylor, Dougie Thomason, Alene Real, Irma Stephenson, Frank Crowson, Sandra Holt, Johnny James, and Charles Lowery.
Danny Honeycutt gave the closing prayer, blessing a covered dish luncheon.
The 2024 McKey Schools 29th reunion group picture was made on the school stage.
Special thanks for all the delicious foods, donations, and former students that returned to McKey one more time. McKey memories last forever!
Attending the reunion were: William and Jan Covington, Union City, Calif.; Glen, Billie and Monica Taylor, Stillwater; Linda Adams Bruton, Tulsa; Donny Honeycutt, Roland; Doris Honeycutt, Muldrow; Karen Thomason Mathis, Ora Lee Dobbs Kirk, Janice Blount Sanders, Gelene Dotson, and Melissa Taylor Horn, Vian; Betty Covington Holt, Jarrod and Paula Young, Jo Ann Byers Erwin, Buddy Frazier, Barbara Taylor Maddox, Emma Zoe Thomason Leeper, Dwight James, Artha Covington, and Jackie Snow Pop, Sallisaw.
Calling but unable to attend were: Kenneth Stephenson, Wayne Dial, Dorothy James Davis, Loretta Covington Carson, Carolyn Dotson Joseph, Ruth Dotson Harris, Ruby Kight Roark, Jimmie Wright Stokes, and Bob Dorcas Lukenbill.
