The 15th annual McKey School and Community reunion will be held Oct. 3. The reunion will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the McKey Community building. A covered dish lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. and a reunion group picture will be taken at 1 p.m.

A special recognition and memories program is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Janice Sanders Blount and Jackie Snow Pop are this year’s coordinators.

“Mark your calendar, don’t forget. Take your medicine, stay well, and start saving your gas money,” a spokesperson for the reunion said.

Many improvements have taken place this year at the old McKey building, including a new McKey sign that was erected on McKey Hill on U.S. Highway 64. The McKey Cemetery was rediscovered past the old school house and graves dating from 1870 were found. The old Indian Graveyard received a new McKey Cemetery sign. A new storm cellar door was installed and painted, and landscaping is being done in the Memory Flower Gardens. Several pine trees have been planted.

The McKey girl’s WPA (Works Program Authority) outhouse was recognized as a historical building by the Sequoyah County Historical Society in May.

Many reunions and special occasions have been celebrated in the McKey School building this year. Church services are held weekly and all general elections are held there. The John Taylor family held a reunion in September, McKey’s 14th annual reunion was held in October and the annual Cake Walk in November. Ada Real Blount’s family celebrated Christmas and her birthday, the Mark Taylor family celebrated Christmas, the “Little Dobbs Cousins” gathered for part of the Henry and Bessie Dobbs reunion in May and the George Washington Edgmon family celebrated their annual reunion in June.

McKey friends and family hosted a memorial funeral luncheon in August for Silas and Alene Real’s family during the loss of their son, Roger Real.

A storm struck the McKey community in July and giant oak and hickory trees were split and fell throughout the community, but the old 69-year-old building survived.

Those unable to attend the reunion are asked to send letters and pictures to Pop at P.O. Box 4, Sallisaw, Okla. 74955.

For more information contact Sanders at (918) 775-3912 or Pop at (918) 774-0219.

“The old red merry-go-round still works and welcomes little children and old students for a ride,” a spokesperson said.