Wilson McDowell in the local paper

Merry Christmas to everyone.  We're busy up here in B.C. putting on the live Nativity.  It's been going on for 19 years and Louisa and I did it last year and are doing it again this year.  We've added a levitating angel (excuse me, the boy who is playing the angel prefers to be called a Heavenly Messenger - sounds more masculine), so that should be fun.  It takes place outside in a natural ampitheater (in one of the member's back yard) and usually gets anywhere from 800 to 1000 visitors.

As you can see, Wilson was available for the photo but only Nelya will be in the actual nativity.  Hope all is well.

Matt McDowell

Merry Christmas!

Here's our Christmas card. I realized I don't have many of you on my list, but want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. So here's what we sent: Either the snowman card designed by Eden or the one designed by Noah and an insert of our photo.

Inside the card it says:

Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years from the Gallagher family.

So for those who will get it in the mail in a few days, sorry for the spoiler. For those who I missed, I hope you know we think of you all and have fond memories of our past reunions.

Oklahoma Ice Storm

Every few years, we have a really nasty ice storm here in Oklahoma. The latest one began Sunday, Dec. 9. See a tree in our back yard covered with ice (Sunday afternoon). The storm continued and the second picture is the same tree this afternoon, Monday. I hope we can save most of it. --James Fife

Florence and Otto

My mom corrected me: both these photos are from their senior year at BYU, taken to send out with their resumes.

Testing the post

Hey Sage,

I signed up to contribute but kinda got freaked out about the privacy of blogging and the whole idea in general but now I'm bored so I'll try a post.  Caught me at a weak moment.

My wife, Louisa, and I moved to British Columbia about 18 months ago.  We have two kids, Nelya (age 7) and Wilson (age 4).  We had been living in Los Angeles (2 miles from Venice Beach) for the past 10 years.  We live in a pretty fantastic area, lots of skiing, biking, lakes, etc.  Plus it's not too cold.  It's knows as "the Palm Springs of Canada."  I know... crazy.  Anyway, we love it here.  Louisa grew up here so her folks live a couple of miles away and we were able to build our dream house.  We both travel for work -  Louisa is a focus group moderator, and I'm a screenwriter (currently on strike) - so we get back to L.A. fairly often.

I'm currently working on my Masters in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia's non-resident program.  I've also got a new calling as a High Councilman and Stake Young Men's President.  

We have a dog (Friendly) and a cat (Chloe).  We got our first snowfall two days ago.  I'm not used to the snow so it's still very novel for me... and I can't wait to go skiing.

Draper Reunion 2005

We all had a great time at Katie's place in Wyoming back in 2005! It was complete with a pig roast and fireworks as well as knitting, oil painting, yoga and other fun classes! There were also fun competitions like which team could build a working robot from a bunch of old machines and who could dig the deepest hole with the Skidsteer digging machine (Thanks Katie)

SGT Nathan Fife, son of James & Irene Fife

From James Fife

Our son, SGT Nathan Fife, who is currently serving in military intelligence in Iraq--he works at a computer--will be returning home in mid-December and after a month's leave, will then be posted in England. I am attaching his photo.

I was very touched, impressed, by the love I could see among the children of John and Gwen Bushman as they gathered for John's funeral last month. We have a great heritage behind our families. I appreciate Sage's efforts to keep us in touch with each other and that heritage.

Irene and I are well. I am enjoying the positive results of recent cataract surgery. We are planning to visit family in Utah over the Thanksgiving vacation period.

Where is everyone?

Dear Family,

Last July I hosted a Sisters Reunion at my home in Brewster, NY.

Both Katie and I were expecting baby girls that we had five weeks apart.

This photo is on my front steps just before we went to NYC for the day.

It took me about three minutes to write this post and attach the photo.

If you don't want to sign up on blogger.com, you could send me your photos and letters and I will post them. We have not had a lot of activity--and I was hoping for more. I may start posting old letters I have if no one responds!

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving season.

Would love to hear from more of you.

Sage : )

Funeral Service Program for John V. Bushman

JOHN VIRGIL BUSHMAN
23 May 1921 ~ 29 September 2007


Funeral Services
October 10, 2007 - 11am
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Gridley, California

Bishop Grant Goodman, Presiding and Conducting
Leticia Stewart, Organist
Delcia Bosch, Music Director

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Grant Goodman
Opening Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "How Great Thou Art" # 86
Invocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Kessinger
Life Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Bushman
Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connie Webb and Suzette Meik
Medley of Cowboy songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daphne Kessinger
Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rodney Bushman
Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Grant Goodman
Closing Hymn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Love at Home" #294
Benediction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allan Bosch


Casket Bearers:
John F. Bushman Andy Bosch
Brian Bushman Thomas Bushman
Tyler Bushman Coby Bushman
Doug Kessinger John L. Bushman


Dedication of Grave
Jeffrey Bushman
Interment Gridley-Biggs Cemetery

1942

1961

1989

JOHN V. BUSHMAN

John V. Bushman, 86, passed away of natural causes on September 29, 2007 in Orem, Utah. He was born in Snowflake, AZ to Preston and Daphne Bushman. He graduated from Snowflake High School and served as a missionary in the Central States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He married Gwendolyn Fife of Gridley, CA in 1943 and enlisted in the US Coast Guard serving his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a resident of Gridley, CA for nearly 50 years and raised his family there working as a journeyman carpenter and job site foreman in northern California.

He enjoyed horses and said he could ride anything that grew hair. He loved to dance, sing and tap his foot to cowboy tunes. He was also a terrific tease, and had a great sense of humor. For the last ten years he lived in Orem, UT with his son Jeff (Heidi) Bushman and their family.

He is survived by his seven children: Daphne (Larry) Kessinger of Atascadero, CA, John F. (Kathy) of Chico, CA, Delcia (Allan) Bosch of Georgetown, CA, Rodney (Chris) of Kearns, UT, Jeffrey (Heidi) of Orem, UT, Connie (Gary) Webb of Loomis, CA and Suzette (Matt) Meik of Merced, CA. He is also survived by 32 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. His wife Gwendolyn passed away February 2, 1977.

A funeral will be held Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 at 11am in the Liberty Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gridley, CA.

Christmas 2006

Hi again, this is our Christmas picture with our newest daughter Ariana Hope Peterson. Top row, Hans, Katie (Draper), David, Tess. Front, Collin, Deidra, Serena. Ariana is in the middle. I did send this at Christmas time, however I'm not sure it was forwarded to everyone. We look forward to hearing about and seeing your families. We have enjoyed listening to conference this weekend. Hope all is well, Peterson's.

Horses for Uncle John

This picture is of Clarice and Mystery. When I think of Uncle John I always think of horses. I rode my first horse at the Bushman's in Gridley. The horse was lame, I fell off, because the saddle slipped. We now have four horses, my favorite horse Winchester died in March of last year, so if you can ride horses in Heaven, I hope Uncle John is having a great time riding and taking care of our horse Winchester.

Christmas 2005

Hi, we are the David Peterson Family (Katie Draper), this family picture is missing our new baby born November 24th, 2006. We were very sad to hear that Uncle John has passed away. He was always my favorite, due to the white and green mints, among other things. We wish we could be there for the funeral. Hope all goes well.

Sad News, but happy reunion in Heaven

I was very sad to hear of the passing of John V. Bushman. I believe he passed away on Saturday, 29th of October--but I am not certain of the time.

Here is more information from Delcia Bushman Bosch.

Dad fell and broke his hip and had surgery on Sept 19th. He was having complications recovering, pneumonia, kidney, heart, stomach ulcer problems. When they finally moved him out of ICU he had a nice lunch and died of a massive heart attack, Saturday Sept 29th in Orem, UT. We know he is so happy to be with Mom again after 30years.

There will be a memorial at the Sudberg-Olpin Mortuary in Orem on Friday, October 5th from 6 to 8 pm. And a funeral in Gridley, Liberty Ward chapel on Wednesday, October 10th at 11am. Our love to you all. Delcia

Sage Draper Gallagher and family

If you could post a family photo--we'd love to see it and that would be a great first post. Here I am with my husband David Gallagher, and our four children. Silas 14, Noah 10, Eden 7, and Chloe 11 months. This was taken in May 2007.

Welcome to our ONLINE REUNION!

Dear Family Members! Here is our own Randolph Wilson Fife family blog. If you are interested in adding to it (and we hope you are) please send me your email and I will add it to the list of people allowed to post and send you directions--it is easy). As this is new, there may be a few things to work out, but I hope we can all share a bit of our lives with each other. It is a great way to keep in touch!

Thanks, Sage Gallagher

Since it's more fun to see photos I included one from our (three of the Draper girls: Katie Peterson, Sage Gallagher and Anna Winkel and their kids) trip to Timpanogos Caves. Here are some of the kids resting. From left to right: Eden Gallagher, Serena Peterson, Hans Peterson, Silas Gallagher, and Tess Peterson!