Record crowd packs annual Pioneers reunion

MEEKER — Rio Blanco County’s old-timers were out in force last weekend.
A record 320 people packed the Fairfield Center on Saturday for the 96th annual Rio Blanco County Pioneers Association Reunion.
“That’s a record as far as I know,” said Vicki Crawford, one of the organizers of the event. “Which is awesome.”
And it was 50 people more than attended last year, she said.
“All in all, I was very pleased,” Crawford said.
Four high school classes celebrated reunions. They were the classes of 1948, ‘53, ‘58 and ‘63.
“That contributed to our numbers as well,” Crawford said.
A number of old-timers were recognized.
The oldest woman in attendance was Cleo Jordan of Meeker, 99. The oldest man was Dave Prather of Meeker, 90.
The person with the most children and grandchildren was Merle Brenton of Meeker with 40.
The youngest old-timer was Pat Coryell of Meeker, 33.
The longest married couple was Byron and Jo Linden of Meeker, who have been together for 65 years.
The person who traveled the farthest distance was Duane Service, who came from Port Charlotte, Fla.
And the person who was recognized for having lived the longest in Rio Blanco County as well as being the oldest person to attend the Pioneers reunion was Mary Hossack of Meeker, who is 96. She was given a corsage.
“She was born and raised in Meeker and never moved away,” Crawford said.