Smithwick Family Reunion
The 29th H.O. Smithwick Annual Family Reunion was held July 2830, in Lampasas at Best Western Plus - Lampasas Inn and Suites. Lampasas is where the Smithwick family first settled in Texas in the 1880’s.
On Friday, family members arrived and enjoyed touring the town, visiting, swimming and an evening meal. Eleanor Tillett was welcomed to her first Smithwick reunion while Howard and Debbie McDaris were honored with a cake for their 32nd anniversary.
On Saturday morning some members enjoyed playing golf at Hancock Park Golf Course. Also, on Saturday morning, the soon-to-be newest family members were honored with a baby shower. Honorees were Baby Groves due October 3, to Heather Holloway Groves and Abe Groves and Finley William Inge due De- cember 25, to Rachel and Ryan Inge. A wedding Christmas shower was also held to honor Heather and Abe Groves .
On Saturday afternoon different activities included shopping, touring wineries, swimming, games and visiting. On Saturday evening, family pictures were taken by the traditional Smithwick Family Reunion banner. The family group picture had several family members missing including those who are currently serving our country in the United States Air Force (Blake Gray), the United States Army (Harper Culp and Steele Culp), and the United States Marine Corps (Grace Carnley). Following pictures, the evening meal was a buffet- style fajita bar at Putters and Gutters. Dessert included the traditional decorated cake honoring family members with decade birthdays and anniversaries, family graduates and retirees. Birthdays honored were Harper Culp and Paul McDaris (20 yrs.), Joe Pugliesi and Andrew Ciaccio (30 yrs.), Matthew Inge (40 yrs.), Clif Carney (60 yrs.), and Regina Spencer and Butch Ross (80 yrs.). Anniversary honorees were Lynnette and Chaz Culp and Chelsea and Garren Opdenhoff (10 yrs.) and Teresa and Pat Halfmann (30 yrs.). The 2023 high school graduate honored was Zoe Gray of Pearland High School. 2023 college graduates honored were Amber McDaris of Midwestern State University (B.S. in Education) and Ryan Inge of Howard College (RN). The honored retiree was Larry Inge from Fort Belknap Electric Cooperative (39 yrs.). Members completed Saturday night with bowling, mini golf, an arcade, games and visiting.
Among those attending were Yvonne and Keith Holloway of Sherman, Heather Holloway Groves and Abe Groves of Colorado Springs, Co., Kimberly and David Bridgers of Nacogdoches, Jordan Bridgers of Paris, Howard and Debbie McDaris, Brittany and Joe Pugliesi and Landrie, Amber McDaris and Jacob Barron all of Burkburnett, Bob Hamill of Georgetown, Janette Ross and Matthew Inge both of Frisco, Ryan and Rachel Inge and Kennedy of San Angelo, Regina and Ron Spencer and Kerlene and Butch Ross all of Lake Kiowa, and Teresa Halfmann of Pottsboro.
Also attending were Clif and Rajonia Carnley, Meredith and Ryan Tillett and Rose and Eleanor all of Van Alstyne, Garrett Carnley and Tyler Carnley both of Denton, Sheryl and Joey Ciaccio of Denison, Jonathan Ciaccio of Lubbock, Christopher Ciaccio of North Dakota, Lynnette and Chaz Culp of Gunter and Carla and Larry Inge of Olney.