Reunion Highlights A

Record high temperatures and record crowds marked the 2005 Doyle Family Reunion held in Fresno, California. Temperatures, considered the hottest in ten years, soared well above the 100 degree mark. Still, in spite of the heat, large numbers of family members attended all reunion events, boosting attendance higher than any family reunion hosted by California, with well over 225 attending Friday’s event and more that 300 attending Saturday’s event.

The Bus Tour to Bass Lake on Friday kicked off all family reunion events. Thirty family members, mostly family members from Texas, took the bus trip to enjoy and sail on a beautiful lake located half way between Fresno and Yosemite National Park. The scenic bus ride lasted around one hour, but seemed shortened by good family conversation and the beautiful terrain. Once the bus arrived at Bass Lake, the 30 family members who took the trip rented three platoon party boats and divided into three groups and ate hoagie sandwiches on the marina and briefly prayed together and then launched out into the water. From the water, there was plenty to see and plenty of space to sail. Bass Lake is surrounded by mountains covered with tall pine trees, and stretching more the 4 miles long and a half mile wide. Also, particularly welcomed were the cool mist from the water and the unexpected weather break from the hot Fresno area, where temperatures dipped by 10 to 20 degrees due to higher elevation and cloud cover that lasted the duration of the entire boat trip.

Many family members seemed to enjoy the boat trip. Johnnie Ayers, one of our senior members, granddaughter of Bom and Justus, daughter of Vernon and Lydia Doyle, mentioned that this was her very first boat trip and that she enjoyed it very much.

After returning from the Bus Tour, the family rested around three hours before the next family reunion event, the Fish Fry. This was California’s first reunion Fish Fry and a lot of what occurred was very exciting. Best of all, family members showed up in large numbers, far exceeding the organizer’s expectation. The social hall was bustin’ at the seams until family members were almost packed in like sardines, seated around 20 eight foot long tables, all closely spaced together. The tables were beautifully decorated with table cloths and centerpieces and dinnerware matching the six family colors (red, gold, green, blue, purple, and lavender). Two head tables were also well adorned and seated the grandchildren of Bom and their spouses. Seven grandchildren of Bom attended the Fish Fry: Slyvestor Prosser, Rwyne Prosser, Johnnie Ayers, John Doyle, Edward Doyle, Charlotte Robinson, and Marge Codd.