Collett-McKay families meet for 113th reunion

     Whether or not the number 13 caused the bad luck of too much rain, the 113th Collett-McKay Picnic was rained in, not rained out Saturday. The regular picnic grounds on the Gurneyville Road had been prepared by local relatives with mowing done and tables placed the day before.
     However, persistent rainfall Friday night and Saturday morning caused the decision to hold the reunion in the Kingman School gymnasium.
     Edwin Collett (born in 1862 and died in 1924) when a young man, applied for work at a Wilmington lumber yard. He told the prospective employer that he would be available any workday of the year except the second Saturday of August, when he would be attending the Picnic.
     In that same spirit of family loyalty 208 attended this year, in spite of the rain. Presumed to be the oldest person present was Mrs. Howard Magee, born December 23, 1886. The newest member present was Katheryn Elizabeth Talmage, born June 28, 1979, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Talmage (Karen), of Greenhills.
     While statistics were collected about the picnic, Katheryn Elizabeth slept peacefully on the lap of her proud grandmother, Mrs. Mary Ellen Inwood Talmage.
     Four inter-marriages between the two families formed the basis of the Collett-McKay Picnic. The couples were: Jonathan Collett and Sarah McKay, married in 1823 and Daniel Collett and Virginia McKay, married in 1827.
     The men were brothers, the wives, sisters. A third Collett brother, Moses, had a daughter and a son who married McKays: Mary Collett married Francis McKay in 1830 and Daniel H. Collett married Maria McKay, also in 1830.
     Mrs. Elizabeth Haydock Graham announced to the group that she and her husband, Frank would be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary the afternoon of September 2 and invited all present to attend. The couple distributed a page with mapped directions to their church where the party will be held.
     The prayer of thanks before the meal was led by the Rev. S. Eugene Collett of Chula Vista, Calif., who with his daughter, Carol, is visiting local relatives and friends.
     Many cousins had brought cherished momentoes of former Picnics -- whole group and small group pictures, clippings, and such. Some copies of the Collett family tree prepared by the late Howard Collett were made available at cost by Emily Inwood Kester. The hours were spent visiting, exchanging news, and delving into family stories.
     Those present from out of the state were: Mrs. Margaret Warwick of London, England; Miss Nancy Collett of Fort Myers, Fla.; Mrs. Fred Ames of Arcadia, Fla.; Miss Connie Collett of St. Louis, Mo.; Everett Nickerson of Riverside, Calif.; McKay Collett of Westbury, N.Y.; Dr. and Mrs. Howard Doster, Miss Susan Doster, Miss Anne Doster, Miss Cindy Shear, Miss Dagmar Clever, all of West Lafayette, Ind.; Mrs. Douglas Strecker and Debra of Spokane, Wash.; David A. Doster of Rochester, Mich.; Miss Valerie Edwards of San Diego, Calif.; Miss Kathie Browning of Greenville, S.C.; Mrs. Carol Collett of San Diego, Calif.; the Rev. S. Eugene Collett of Chula Vista, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Everett L. Baugh of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Baugh and Jimmy of Rochester, Mich.; Ricky Assad and the Rev. Steven Fitts of Louisville, both of Louisville, Ky.