Jackie Snow Pop, one of the reunion organizers, said those who attended came from California, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
"A light autumn rain didn't dampen the excitement as each car arrived at school," Pop said. "Each of our 11 reunions have brought back different students and more memories."
Pop said a covered-dish luncheon was blessed by Leon Petree, and guests ate at picnic tables under the old oak tree or at lunch tables in the one-room school.
The afternoon program was held inside the school, which was built in 1940. Pop said she welcomed everyone back to school, and Glenn Taylor led the group in the American flag salute. Pop said a short story of how "The McKey History Book" was created and prepared was presented by Pop. Other book committee members were recognized and included Janice Sanders, John Bill Taylor, Orman Taylor, Yuvonne Green, Ruby Roark, and Doug Stephenson. Pop said McKey family pictures and stories from 1887 to 1960 are now recorded in the first book of McKey.
Pop said a moment was taken to recognize the deaths of four students since 2004. Those students were Winfred Dobbs, Donald Mowdy, Rosie Real Newton, and Fairy Bell Dial Covington.
"Our oldest students to attend were Joe Brooks, age 87, and Cecil Edgmon, age 86," Pop said. The youngest to attend was Walker Hez Edgmon, 3. He is the son of Craig and Delayna Edgmon and the grandson of Clyde and Peggy Edgmon.
Pop said Ada Real Blount was unable to attend the reunion, but a special recognition and thanks was given to her for her hand embroidery of each McKey family name on a special memory cotton sheet. "She suffers from arthritis and we know each small stitch was made from her love of McKey families and memories," Pop said.
Robert and Betty Stephenson traveled from Riverside, Calif., to return to McKey School, and William and Jan Covington traveled from Union City, Calif., to the reunion and shared two poems they wrote about McKey and McKey memories.
Pop said Glenn Taylor led the students in several school songs, including "Old McDonald's Farm." Group photos were taken of classes from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The 11th McKey Reunion closed with prayer, led by Glenn Taylor.
"Sixty-three McKey History Books went to their new homes," Pop said.
Those who attended the reunion include William and Jan Covington of Union City, Calif.; Robert and Betty Stephenson of Riverside, Calif.; Erma and Kenneth Stephenson of Wichita, Kan.; Harold and Joan Bates and Benny and Dorothy James Davis of Batesville, Ark.; Carroll Bates of Mountain Home, Ark.; Charles Sasser of Chouteau; Charles Stinnett and Randy Edgmon of Broken Arrow; Orville Stinnett, Billy Ray James, and Ellis and Sandra Stephenson of Tulsa; Glenn and Billie Taylor of Perkins; Doug Stephenson of Stilwell; Thelma Covington Dodd of Tahlequah; Wayne Dial of Muskogee; Charles Dial of Muldrow; and Danny and Mary Honeycutt and Delores Schoonover Honeycutt of Roland.
Those from Vian who attended the reunion are Janice Blount Sanders; Inez Edgmon Williams; Paul and Ruby Kight Roark; Clyde and Peggy Edgmon; Craig, Delanya and Walker Hez Edgmon; Doug Dobbs; Catherine Dobbs Beck; Avis and Ashton Dobbs; Ora Lee Dobbs Kirk; Yuvonne Stinnett Green; Melissa Taylor Horn; Phyllis Dotson Crawford; and Linda Adams Weeks.
Those from Sallisaw who attended the reunion are Marilyn Williams Craighead; Joe and Juanita Brooks; Orman Taylor; John Bill Taylor; Cecil Edgmon; Craig Edgmon; Curtis Bias; Emma Zoe Thomason Leeper; Betty Covington Holt; Artho and Brenda Covington; Haley and Kelly Covington; Bob Wortham; Dwight James; Kenneth James; Chelsie, Madison, and Brenda James Barnes; Johnny Simonds; Loretta Taylor Reed and husband; Barbara Taylor Maddox; Leon Petree; Doris Honeycutt; Tammy Morris and friend; and Keisha and Brooklyn Morris.
