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| Yonnie Mathias |
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| John and Essie Mathias |
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| Essie and Yonnie When Yonnie grew up, she looked just like her mother! |
However, when she married Ernest Franklin Cook, they became hard-working dairy farmers in Timberville, Rockingham County, Virginia. In addition to raising cows, they raised four children: two boys and two girls.
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| Ervin, Yonnie, Wilmer, Marvin Mathias |
A family reunion was an important event to Yonnie and her brothers. It was always held on Father’s Day at Lost River State Park in Mathias, West Virginia. After Yonnie’s parents died, she assumed the role of matriarch over the Mathias brothers and cousins and saw to it that the family reunion continued. On Father’s Day. Yonnie loved the symbolism of honoring the Mathias ancestors on that date.
In recent years, the younger generation has grumbled over
the timing of the reunion, mainly because those who married a Mathias are
deprived of spending Father’s Day with their own fathers. Even though Yonnie passed away in 2009, no
one has been brave enough to propose a date change. Soon my husband’s cousin will send out the
reminder of date, time, and place for the Mathias Reunion.
The love and admiration Yonnie and her three brothers had
for their parents, and then their children had for their grandparents is a
testament to John and Essie Mathias. That
the reunion continues to bring cousins together – on Fathers Day! – is a
testament to Aunt Yonnie.
Yippee! There will
be no Yawning over the Yarns Yielded by Yuppies, Youngsters, Yokels, and
Yodelers over Yonder at the A to Z April Challenge.
©
2014, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
What a lovely tradition to keep even though it is always held on Father's Day.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a wonderful tradition. My husband's side of the family is big on reunions whereas on my side there are no reunions. However, the Jolletts used to hold reunions religiously many years ago.
DeleteA pretty and memorable name, and obviously one held in high esteem. Hopefully her two daughters will persevere as Double Matriarchs...some 'Family Traditions' should never change. What wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteMy Letter'Y'...Confessions of A YarnAholic
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee
The reunion duties have migrated over to one of the other cousins, a daughter of my husband's uncle.
DeleteI agree with Sally. The reunions (even on Father's Day) are such a wonderful tradition.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday, Wendy.
With families growing ever smaller, it is good to keep in contact, even if just once a year.
DeleteWhat a wonderful tradition and you have written an excellent tribute to your distant family member.
ReplyDeleteYou're so kind. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteI have been reading all the names but now I see that I have neglected to comment. Sorry! I wonder if I were to do my family if I could come up with 26 different names and stories. I like that no one will change the date of the reunion. Traditions are hard to change but how nice. When my mom and her siblings were still living, they always got together once a year. The cousins who were nearby would attend. I miss the gathering and cherish the memory of the reunions. I'm glad you still share them.
ReplyDeletehttp://completelycalifornia.blogspot.com/
No apologies necessary! I confess I do a lot more reading than commenting myself, thinking I'll get back to it later.
DeleteIt's very amusing that even though Yonnie passed away in 2009, no one is prepared to suggest changing the date of the family reunion. She must have had a powerful personality!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteHow wonderful to have a regular reunion.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Yonnie is Australian slang for a stone or rock!
Oh Sharon, how funny - and appropriate. She was hard as a rock about that date, that's for sure!
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