2009 Howard Family Reunion June 12-14

Attendees of the 2008 Howard Family Reunion outside Mamacitas.

It is once again time to prepare for the 2009 Howard Family Reunion in Kerrville, Texas. This year's reunion is scheduled the weekend prior to Father's day, Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14th. Reserve your room at Inn of the Hills now by calling (800) 292-5690.

If you are interested in playing in the annual golf tournament at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, call Bubba Petrus at 361-364-2622 to reserve your spot. This year's tournament returns to the Scott Schreiner Municiple golf course.

We hope to see you in June!

2009 Howard Family Reunion
Fri - Sun June 12 - 14, 2009
Inn of the Hills, Kerrville, Texas
(800) 292-5690

It's That Time of Year Again

Yes it's time to start planning your trip to the 2008 Howard Family Reunion in beautiful Kerrville, Texas. Reserve your room at Inn of the Hills now by calling (800) 292-5690.

Justin Smith is our 2008 Reunion President and he and Tifani are hard at work spreading the word and making preparations. If you know of any family members with out of date email addresses, please leave a note in the comments section below. We've seen a dramatic drop-off in recent years of attendees actually named "Howard." If your last name is Howard and you attend this year's reunion, I guarantee you will be treated like royalty!

If you are interested in playing in the annual golf tournament on Friday, call Bubba Petrus at 361-364-2622 to reserve your spot. Last year's champion, Zach Petrus, is currently participating in the regional 2-A High School golf meet in San Marcos so someone is going to have to step it up to knock him out of the top spot. Zach and his brother Josh Petrus also hold the 1st Annual doubles tennis title. And finally, please, please, please, someone needs to take down Angie Bownds and Mary DeVaudrecourt - our two years running high-fiving doubles dominos champs.

We will continue holding the Saturday business meeting and dinner at Mamacita's Restaurant. Everyone seems to enjoy ordering off the menu and we don't have to bother with the hassle of catering.

Need to know more? Click on the Inn of the Hills link in the right sidebar for information about the many great amenities offered by our reunion host.

We hope to see you in June!

2008 Howard Family Reunion
Fri - Sun June 6 - 8, 2008
Inn of the Hills, Kerrville, Texas
(800) 292-5690

Tentative Reunion Schedule

Friday, June 6
1:00pm -- Golf Tournament at Scott Schriner Municipal Course
7:00pm -- Dinner & sign-in (at Mamacita's?)

Saturday, June 7
9:00am -- Domino Tournament
6:30pm -- Banquet Dinner & Business Meeting at Mamacita's

Sunday, June 8
9:00am –- Breakfast & Checkout


Attendees of the 2007 Howard Family Reunion gathered at Mamacita's Restaurant for the annual dinner and business meeting.

Outdated Email Addresses

Based on my initial email notice for the 2008 Reunion, I need updated addresses for the following family members:

Bruce Robinson
Don Johnson
Donna Driggers
Dorothy Howard
Clyde Howard

Top Ten Things Learned at the 2007 Howard Family Reunion

HFR Banquet at Mamacitas.
Originally uploaded by Keith Petrus

10. It helps to be part mountain goat to play tennis at the Inn of the Hills.
9. Sometimes it's easier to just send the teenagers to CiCi's.
8. Brennen McKee likes shivering and Desiree Lewis is little Miss Photogenic.
7. Don't drop a domino through the little umbrella hole in the middle of the table.
6. When the guys in the other cart say you should "go for it," you should probably just lay up.
5. The two-years-running domino champs should not receive a bye in the 1st round.
4. Wide tables are effective in preventing obnoxious high-fives.
3. Deck chairs can unexpectedly become teeter-totters.
2. Always have your camera ready in case someone dumps a plate of mashed potatoes in their lap.
1. Never turn your back on Garrett Bownds when he's holding a tennis racket.

Friday, June 8, 2007
Friday's HFR Golf Tournament saw a light turn out but everyone enjoyed playing the scenic Kerrville municipal course. The golfers split into two groups of three, with Bubba Petrus, Linda Petrus, and Zach Petrus in one group and Ronnie Petrus, Keith Petrus, and Josh Petrus following not far behind. With all those Petrus' there was naturally lots of bragging going on. The biggest braggart of the bunch, Zach Petrus, took 1st Place. Linda Petrus was 2nd.

Saturday, June 9, 2007
The reluctant winner of the Singles Domino Tournament was Ronnie Petrus. He previously threatened to drop out several times before taking the title. Angie Bownds was runner up in Singles. And for the third year running, Angie Bownds and Mary DeVaudrecourt took 1st Place in Doubles Dominos after an inexplicable first-round bye in which no team could be found willing to play them. Bubba Petrus and Zach Petrus were the runners up.

Brothers Josh and Zach Petrus took the title in the 1st (possibly annual) HFR Tennis Tournament, defeating the 20-plus years older team of Angie Bownds and Keith Petrus 4 games to 3.

The annual HFR business meeting was held Saturday evening at Mamacita's restaurant. Special thanks to reunion president Julius "Bubba" Petrus Jr. for his two years of service to the reunion. Justin Smith will preside over the 2008 reunion with newly elected co-Vice Presidents Hilda West and Theresa Robertson.

Sunday, June 10, 2007
Thanks to the Inn of the Hills late-checkout policy (2:00 p.m.), everyone enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and final pool-side gathering Sunday morning.

2007 Howard Family Reunion Attendees:

Pat Petrus, 81, Skidmore, Texas - Senior Member Award
Hilda West, 70, Odem, Texas
Theresa Robertson, 66, Skidmore, Texas

Joy Webber, 74, Anson, Texas - Farthest Traveled Award
Brenda Harrison, 53, Anson, Texas
Tifani Smith, 27, Anson, Texas
Desiree Lewis, 9, Anson, Texas
Kenlee Smith, 6, Anson, Texas
Kelton Smith, 3, Anson, Texas

Bubba Petrus, 58, Sinton Texas - Reunion President
Linda Petrus, 50, Sinton, Texas

Mary DeVaudrecourt, 56, Bastrop, Texas

Ronnie Petrus, 55, Skidmore, Texas
Diann Petrus, 49, Skidmore, Texas
Lanna Petrus, 28, Austin, Texas
Dwayne Pekar, 29, Austin, Texas
Kenna McKee, 4, Round Rock, Texas
Brennen McKee, 3, Round Rock, Texas - Youngest Member Award

Angie Bownds, 50, Beeville, Texas
Garrett Bownds, 27, Mason, Texas
Whitney Bownds, 25, Mason, Texas

Keith Petrus, 42 Skidmore, Texas
Cathi Petrus, 43, Skidmore, Texas
Josh Petrus, 17, Skidmore, Texas
Zach Petrus, 16, Skidmore, Texas

Total Attendees = 25

Plan ahead for 2008
It's never too early to plan for next year's Howard Family Reunion. It costs nothing to reserve your room early and you can always cancel later if something comes up. Just give the Inn of the Hills a call at (800) 292-5690 and tell them you would like to reserve a room for the 2008 Howard Family Reunion.

2008 Howard Family Reunion
Fri - Sun June 6 - 8, 2008
Inn of the Hills, Kerrville, Texas
(800) 292-5690

Inn of the Hills to Host 2007 Howard Family Reunion

It's official! The 2007 Howard Family Reunion will by hosted by Kerrville's Inn of the Hills Resort and Conference Center.

Reunion president Bubba Petrus and "New Site Search Coordinator" Mary Nell DeVaudrecourt polled family members by email and received unanimous approval on the move. We believe Inn of the Hills offers a better value with more comfortable accommodations and more amenities than GRRVR. And, by keeping the reunion in Kerrville, we can continue to make use of their very nice municipal golf course, restaurants, and other attractions.

The standard Inn of the Hills room rate is $87 per night (+ taxes). Amenities include a restaurant on-site, tennis courts, putting green, olympic size pool (and kiddie pool), poolside snack bar, pub with live music, Sunday brunch, etc. View photos and a complete list of amenities on their website at www.innofthehills.com.

Make plans now to attend the 2007 Howard Family Reunion, Fri-Sun, June 8-10, 2007.

Tentative Reunion Schedule

Friday, June 8
1:00pm -- Golf Tournament at Scott Schriner Municipal Course
7:00pm -- Dinner & sign-in

Saturday, June 9
9:00am -- Domino Tournament
6:30pm -- Banquet Dinner & Business Meeting at Mamacita's

Sunday, June 10
9:00am –- Breakfast & Checkout

2006 Howard Family Reunion Photos

061006 Howard Reunion-51.JPG
Originally uploaded by Keith Petrus.

We had a great time at this year's reunion and have the photos to prove it! Click here to view the entire photo set.

2005 Reunion Photos

061005HowardReunion - 2
Originally uploaded by Keith Petrus.

At long last, I am finally getting around to posting Don Howard's photos of last year's Howard Family Reunion. Click on the photo to view the full set of Reunion pictures.

Beverly June Robinson Lazo

For those of you who never had the opportunity to meet Bruce Robinson's sister Beverly, Bruce writes "My Sister had a web page that she maintained up until her sight failed her completely. She was a writer, poet,singer/song writer and so much more. I wish you all cold have known her. Next best thing is her website A Poet's Heart."

Photos by Don Howard

Will, Micah, Hannah, and Brooke
Originally uploaded by ckpetrus.

Here's a teaser for some of the photos to come. That's William Petrus, Micah McKee, Hannah Petrus, and Brooke McKee striking a pose on the deck of one of the 1-bedroom cabins.

Update Your Email Address

Many of the announcement emails I sent out came back undeliverable. If you have recently changed your email address, please post your new address to in the "Comments" section below.

Howard Family Memorials

Velma Bernice (Jerden) Yates, 1911 - 2002
Velma was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church, in Dallas, Texas, Member of Eastern Star. Velma was preceded in death by her husband Hugh H. Yates. She is survived by sons Jerry W. Yates, Mesquite, Texas, Luther B. Johnson Jr. Dallas, Texas, Donald R. Johnson Garland, Texas, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Velma is buried in Forney, Texas -- Jerry Yates

Eva Catherine (Howard) Robertson, 1908 - 2001
Eva Robertson, or Grandma "Robby" as we called her, was a strong and independent woman. She and Grandpa "Skoot" operated "Skoot's Cafe" for years in Odem, Texas. In her 70's, she worked at an "old folks" home where it was often noted that some of the "old folks" she cared for were younger than she was! Grandma Robby was a frequent attendee of the Howard Family Reunion from its very beginning. She was the recipient of the reunion's "senior" award in 1992 and again in 1999. At 91 years of age, she attended her final reunion in a wheelchair. That's Howard dedication. -- Keith Petrus

Kenneth "Pete" Thompson, 1931 - 2001
Pete Thompson, 70, a retired electrical engineer and graduate of Texas A&M, passed away Friday, March 30, 2001. Pete was a long time supporter of the Howard Family Reunion, serving as President of the Reunion back in 1972 & 1973. Pete traveled to many different counties and courthouses over the many years to research the Howard Family Genealogy. Pete was very thorough in his research and made many significant finds. Outside the Reunion, Pete was very active in his church. On different occasions, Pete and Bernice would stop by in Houston, to visit us, on their way to Mexico to do missions work. I, as well as many others, got to know Pete through the Howard Family Reunion. We will all miss him greatly in the years to come. -- Don Howard

Weldon Ellis Howard, 1922 - 1999
On a sunny spring-like March day with a brisk breeze and blankets of wild flowers nearby, Weldon was laid to rest beside his beloved Helen, we called Yankee. Their plot in Beeville Memorial Park is just a few yards beyond the entryway with its marble statue of Christ sculpted by Gustzon Borglum, Beeville's famous artist who was the sculptor of Mt Rushmore. Weldon was loved by many, and they'd always smile when they recall his funny one-line sayings, his great outlook on like, and his genuine kindness. -- Annetta Bailey