Rexton-Garnet
By Linda Livermore 595-7283

Enjoying Alaska's first city, Ketchikan, are sisters (from left) Wanda Graham, Brett DeWeese, Patsy Kurtz, and Rosie Prater.

Mary Rose Maillette was brought back to Rexton for her final resting place by her daughters and their families, Sherry Gaudette and Rayven and Jack Wilkerson. She was known as little Mary Rose Prater when she lived here in Rexton many years ago. She left the area while a teenager and has since lived in Bay City, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Havasu Lake City, Arizona, and Meridian, Idaho.

She was born in East Point, Kentucky, July 11, 1928 and died in Meridian April 24, 2007. Sixtytwo family members celebrated her life at Caffey cemetery July 13. Pastor Tim Miller shared comforting promises from the Bible.

Celebrating 80 years, friends and family of Junior Shoemaker joined together on Sunday afternoon to share in birthday cake and ice cream. The party was hosted by his children. He enjoyed reminiscing with nieces and their families, Jean and Dick Bentley of St. Ignace, Jan Clark of Gladstone, and Kathy Barker of Gulliver; relatives Sharon Smith, Carol and Joyce Gustafson, all of Brevort, Marvin and Donna Henderson, who recently moved to Engadine, and their grandchildren, Eric Oberle and his family, Marin, Matthew, and Mia, here from Georgia; a son, Mike and his family, Jamie and Alex of Nashville, Tennessee. Joining in the festivities were plenty of local folks and out-oftown guests Delbert and Martha Sheppard of Manistique.

Prior to returning to work on Monday, my husband, Dave, and I had managed to put on approximately 3,500 trouble-free travel miles, covering 10 states in six days. Our first stop brought us to our son, Dave, who is stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and after a tour of the base and a few days of cooking Dave's favorites and enjoying his company, we headed due east to see the grandchildren in Georgia for a couple of days. We then headed north on I-75 and rested overnight at the home of our son, Andy, in Grand Rapids. Not ones to be letting grass grow under our feet (or the tires to cool off), we headed north again, stopping in Cadillac for the wedding of our great-niece, Cassie Livermore, to Daniel Newell. We enjoyed the reception and got up bright and early so Dave could get in a round of golf. Then it was "on the road," again landing close to home to catch the tail end of the birthday celebration for Junior Shoemaker. All in all, there is no place like home.

Rosie Prater and three of her sisters, Brett DeWeese, Wanda Graham, and Patsy Kurtz, enjoyed a cruise on the Diamond Princess to Alaska. They stayed overnight with their brother, Mike McCarry, and his wife, Joanne, in Frankenmuth June 21. Mr. McCarry took them to the Detroit airport June 22, and they flew to Vancouver, British Columbia, and spent the night before boarding the Diamond Princess the following day. They enjoyed scenic cruising the first day, traveling through the Inside Passage, and then stopping and enjoying tours in the towns of Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. They panned for gold in Skagway, but Ms. Prater said she only panned $5.69 worth. They left the ship at Whittier and traveled to Anchorage by bus to catch the plane back to Detroit July 1.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will host a Tribal Town Meeting and Draft Constitution question and answer session Wednesday, July 18, at the Naubinway pavilion in Naubinway from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will be an informal meeting will be with the tribal chairperson and a representative.

Condolences to Phyllis Gouza on the recent passing of her dad, Felix Gouza Sr. Services were held last week downstate.

Birthday wishes to Jill Kerridge and Grand Gouza on July 16, Thomas James Paquin and Janelle Paquin on July 17, Mary Jane Cobe on July 19, Loren Hins, and Darlene Shoemaker on July 20, and Courtney Aldrich July 21.