Longtime Chandler residents Willie Criss and Dortha May Vorhis decided in 1959 that they wanted to have their family get together each year. They chose the fourth Sunday of August to hold the family reunion in the Chandler Park, which is now Tilghman Park.
The 60th Vorhis Family Reunion was held Sunday, Aug. 25, with 74 family members present. The oldest member was Jando Vela and the youngest was one-year-old Zaykia Ella Winter.
To celebrate the 60th year and to honor family ancestors, a memory/ genealogy book was compiled and published.
Jesica Cannon led the prayer before a buffet-style meal was served. Following the meal, the children played games while others took pictures and shared the latest family news.
Family members donated homemade items such as quilts, woodwork, art and canned goods, for a silent auction to raise money for reunion expenses.
Traveling the longest distance to be at the reunion was Roy Dillon from Antioch, Tenn.
Reunion attendees from Oklahoma City were Jess and Ethel Vorhis Hopkins daughter, Mary Amen and grand-daughters Jesica Cannon and Lacy Amen; Vernon and Leona Vorhis Dillon’s daughters, sons, grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; Dortha and Jando Vela and their daughter, Anje Vela and son Mike Vela and Mike’s friend Kari Stevenson.
Craig and Susan Kedigh came from Choctaw, Okla., along with their son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Sheila Kedigh, grandson Eli Kedigh and his children, Zane Kedigh and Kylie Frazier, Paul and Sheila’s daughter Jennifer and her husband Scott Winter with their two children Isaiah and Zaykia Winter.
Kathryn Odom and her daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandsons, JoeJean, Jeff, Riley Danker and Samantha and Robert Jordon and their children Wyatt and Briar June Jordon; Amanda and James Lynch and son Kolt Lynch; Alietia and Bill Golightly and their children, Jett, Chesney and Wytt Golightly came from Wellston.
Also from Wellston were Mary Lou Thomas and her grand-daughter Kaitlyn Culbertson from Chandler; Kenneth Dillon and son’s Bobbie with his children Zachary and Brennon Dillon and Kenneth’s son Joseph and his wife Jennifer Dillon and their daughters, Jenna and Juliana Dillon.
Rainy and Karen Odom and sons, Luke, Rowdy, Ayden Odom and Ayden’s friend Makenna Catagas were there from Seminole, Okla.
Joining the festivities from Guthrie, Okla., were Ronnie Dillon’s daughters, Jonna Dillon-Albertson and Faith Dillon Hunt and her son Ryker O’Reilly and stepchildren Brielle and Drayden Hunt; and LaDonna Dillon Odom and son James Odom and son Larry and his wife Renea Odom and their children, L. J. and Kristina Odom.
Lynda Dillon Reading and husband Doug Reading were present, along with their son Kyle and his wife Sarah Judkins and their children Elijah and Ella Judkins from Edmond, Okla., as well as newlyweds Chelsey Reading Bennett and husband Ashton Bennett.
Also in attendance this year were very special friends Luis Davila, Anabel Reyes, Karen and Mucio Davila.
Family members that couldn’t make it to this year’s reunion were remembered with hopes that they will be able to make the next reunion, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020 at Tilghman Park in Chandler.