MEET ELAINE L. ORR
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ORR REUNION The Orr Reunion has been held in Mount Vernon, Missouri since 1937, bringing together the descendents of Paul and Isabelle (Boyd) Orr of the Townland of Rhee, Aghadowey Parish, which is near Coleraine in Londonderry, Northern Ireland (or Ulster, as it’s called in Ireland). The Townland of Rhee is about 300 acres, and the Macosquin River runs through it. Many of the residents were involved in the linen industry, especially Valentine Shirley's family (husband of Ann Orr). The reunion began exactly 100 years after William Orr and his wife Jennie (Adams) Orr came to Mount Vernon, and includes descendants of all of the families that have come to the United States. The photo on the left shows the four 2009 attendees were were at the first
reunion in 1937. Admittedly, they don't remember the event! The photos are those of William and Jennie (Adams) Orr, who came to Mount Vernon, MO is 1837. For information on the specific Orr families who descend from Paul and Isabelle (Boyd) Orr, go to the Orr family page.
The 2011 Reunion
The 74th Reunion of the descendents of Paul and Isabelle Orr will meet Sunday, August 7th at the Ozark Prairie (Brick) Church, just outside of Mount Vernon, Missouri. (It's always on the first Sunday of August.) The church service at the "Brick Church" is at 10:45, and all are invited to attend. Lunch and visiting begin about noon, with the business meeting following that. For the last three years we have been able to meet in the newly added community room -- air conditioning is wonderful in August! The basket dinner will again include the lemonade made from the family recipe, thanks to the fine efforts of Margaret and Bobby Samuels. Local families bring food to share. Visitors from out of town just come and enjoy the good cooking.
The Reunion Fun
About 50 people attended the 2010
reunion, and many more sent information on their families or letters to describe
their current activities. Photos always tell a better story than words.
Inside the church we have what is nominally termed the "business" meeting and is actually a heck of a good time. The annual "Orr Trivia Contest," run by Pat and Mary Lou (Graham) Orr gives
prizes to those who know some of the more (arcane) facts about Orr ancestors.
The photo on left shows trivia game
leaders Pat and Mary Lou Orr standing in front of pictures of William Orr and
his wife Jennie Adams, Pat's ancestor.
Each year we ask attendees to brag
about new children or grandchildren and we take a few minutes to recognize those
who died in the past year. There is also a tradition of honoring the
oldest attendee,
The photo on the right shows Mary Lou
presenting a rose to the late J.E. Cook, who is sitting with his sister-in-law,
the late Della
Knox. J.E. and his late wife Marie were attended the reunion for more than
50 years. The photo on the left is from 2008,
Keeping the Family Tree Growing Please bring or send information about your family to add to the ever-expanding display and computer family history file. If you cannot attend, please mail any such information to the Orr Reunion Association, POB 382, Mount Vernon, MO 65712. We love to get photos to scan, and promise to return them. (Or you can send scans you've done.) Send photos or scans to: Orr Reunion Association, POB 382, Mount Vernon, MO 65712. You can also email scans to Elaine (elaineorr55@yahoo.com). If you want to know if you are related to this Orr family, send Elaine a note at elaineorr55@yahoo.com. Elaine can also provide information about your ancestors, if you are from this huge family.
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© 2011 by Elaine L. Orr |
From left to right are Susan Shepherd (who was reunion secretary for many years,
having taken over from her mother), Doug Seneker (past reunion president),
Wilma Baker (who has contributed much to reunion history), Margaret Comstock
Samuels (who with husband Bobby makes the lemonade each year) and Larry Harrah
(who has taken many reunion photos). Larry and his wife Madge and Margaret
and Bobby Samuels were married in the Brick Church).
The first shows the wonderful food that in-town family members bring. The
noon dinner is now held in the church's new community room. While the
almost-70-year tradition of eating outdoors was fun, the air conditioning of the
new community room is a big hit. That's Reunion President the late Doug Seneker
in front -- he kept reunion attendees in line for a number of years.
Sadly, Doug died a few days after the 2010 reunion.
Pat and Mary Lou always throw in a couple of easy questions so younger attendees
can win a prize. In the 2004 photo on the right, Mary Lou reads a
question. In the front row are the late Neil Wortley and daughter Carolyn of
Springfield, MO, and behind them Bob and Lucille Adams, their son Larry, and his
two children.
The photo also gives a sense of the beauty of Ozark Prairie Presbyterian Church,
where the reunion is held each year.
and
no one seems to mind owning up to their age. 
and the 'oldest attendee award' that went to Mary Isabel (Hill) Matteson, a
Campbell descendant. This is a neat photo because the woman immediately
next to Mary Lou is Wilma Baker, who has spent many hours going through files of
her late sister (Eleanor Coffield) to be sure the Reunion Association has the
many photos and records her sister collected. Next to Mary Isabel is her
daughter Rana. Rana and Mary Isabel recently visited Aghadowey and brought back
wonderful photos and information.