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Then she requested a volunteer California family member to come up front and match the five specifics to the five Texas family members. It sounds easy, but all five must be correct to win. Then, in the next round, five California family members were called up front and a volunteer from Texas was called upon to make the match.

After our games, the sentimental tribute to Aunt Blanche began. The mood already was set by the beautiful photo collage on display, assembled by Renee Eshun from copies of photos provided by various family members. One by one, family members arose and spoke of Aunt Blanche and their memories of her. Many of the stories were tender and funny and reflected on Aunt Blanche's kindness and her love for cooking Sunday dinners for her loved ones. Other stories spoke of Aunt Blanche's sensitivities toward other drivers on the road and how she quickly "blessed out" other drivers on the road. Others arose and shared how in many ways Aunt Blanche began our Reunions in California and Texas. The California reunions began in the 70's while she lived in San Francisco and assembled the family together to celebrate the birthdays of her brothers, Vernon and Spencer. In Texas, before her death in 1987, Aunt Blanche proposed a family reunion there that resulted in our family's best turnout to a reunion in 1988.

The 2011 Doyle Family Reunion was all too perfect, and started out with the greatest surprise of all, the weather. Temperatures, normally a sizzling 100 degrees in July in Central California, peaked at a mild 88 degrees on the day of the Picnic. As a result, all Reunion events were well attended and people moved about more and left from under shade trees to play volleyball or other activities. Along with comfortable temperatures, the Reunion was lively and sentimental where the theme of the Reunion reflected upon the memory of the family's beloved Aunt Blanche, the youngest daughter of Bom and Justus, whose legacy was her love for her family, especially for her nieces and nephews, whom she poured so much love and affection in the absence of bearing children of her own. Many fond stories were told about Aunt Blanche, about her hospitality, her love for family, and her unique personality. As many shared, we enjoyed meals that were plenteous and wonderful, particularly the smoked barbeque, so tender the meat fell off the bones. If someone missed this reunion, they probably missed what may have been an almost perfect reunion weekend.

Get Acquainted Night kicked off the Reunion on Friday evening and was held in the social hall of Saint's Community Church. Over 70 family members attended this event, with many from Texas. Family members making the trip out West were: Essic and Thelma Williams, Andrew "Mac" Smith, Edwin "Tough" Smith and his son Phillip, the twins Kenneth and Leonard Smith and Leonard's wife Willie Mae, Thomas and Carol Mayse and their son Eric Mayse and his wife Darla and their cute baby daughter. Also, up from Las Vegas, Nevada was Marge Codd and her husband Victor. Marge was the only attendee on Friday of Bom's grandchildren. She would be joined later on Saturday by another of Bom's grandchildren, Johnnie Ayers.

We started out Friday festivities with a Mexican food dinner. Portions of the meal was catered and part was prepared by family members. Laquetia Payne, who is close friends with owners of a local Mexican restaurant, provided the chicken fajitas, carne asada, and beans and rice. Juanita Doyle, wife of Charles Doyle, prepared a batch of delicious enchiladas and Steve Moultrie cooked up a pot of chile verde. For dessert, the family was served ice cream and cake decorated in Aunt Blanche's purple family color and inscribed with "We Love you Aunt Blanche." To top it off, Kraig Allen baked a fresh batch of sugar cookies from Aunt Blanche's old recipes.

After dinner, the family played a couple of games together. Both games were especially designed to build familiarity, particularly between family members from Texas and from California. In one game, Davia Jackson, game moderator, called up front five Texas family members and shared something specific about all five without mentioning a name.