There was a reception honoring Rev. & Mrs. Lester H. Lunday, Sunday, March 1, at the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Lunday resigned as Pastor at Oak Grove following a service of 34 years in the Oak Grove Community.
The Lunday's came to this community in July, 1953 to what was then Bowers Baptist Mission. A mission of First Baptist Church, Drumright, located on property given to them by Joe and Pearl Bowers for the purpose of a church. The name was changed to Oak Grove when the Mission became a church.
Special music for the Lunday's were some of their favorite hymns presented by Robert and Brenda Annett, Marge Candler and what was lovingly called 'The Old Quartet' which was made up of George Brock, Orion and Beulah Cargill and Laverne Haskin. They were accompanied at the piano by Helen Linduff.
Testimonies of memories and happenings of the Lunday's were given by members of the Congregation. Rev. George E. Brock III was speaker and moderator for the special occasion.
Afterwards a fellowship was held in the Fellowship Hall with lots of picture taking and viewing pictures that members had taken during the time that the Lunday's have been at Oak Grove. And of course, enjoying the refreshments of cake and punch.
The guest book was presided over by Ruth Whorton. Decorations were ceremic statues of a little old man and woman in their rocking chairs. The one of the man had him holding a Bible in his hand and his hunting dog by his side. This is probably how Rev. Lunday will spend much of his time after retirement - with his wife, Bible and hunting dog.
The refreshment table was decorated with crystal and silver dishes and serveware. The color theme for the reception was carried out in peach and pale blue. Mrs. Lunday's cake was white with peach and blue flowers with an inscription saying 'Dorothy We Love You.'
Mr. Lunday's cake was chocolate decorated from a picture taken of Mr. Lunday with his pickup and his dog. They were given a blue and peach flower arrangement from the Dorcas class and a money tree from the congregation.
Those signing in at the guest book were: Their children, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Sanford and Mrs. Shirley Hill from Houston, Tx., his niece and husband, Mike & Viki Limes from Tulsa, Ok., his sister, Elsie Culbertson of Cushing, Ok. George & Luanne Worthy, John & Leota Miller, Ruth Keen, George, Kerry, Josh & Jake Brock, John & Emma Spire, Margaret Spire, Allen, Linda, Krystal, Jennie, & Sarah Hausner, Robert, Brenda, & Jeremy Annett, Roger, Susan & Justin White, Bill and Nova Meyers, Bob and Sandra Brock, Mickey Clark, Fred and Marilyn Robinson, Bill and Allene Matthews, Bea and Bessie Young, Jim and Kate Wiley, Mrs. C. M. Bell, Sara Randall, Stephanie Roberts, Susie Gann, Shawna Anderson, Keith Wiley, Jason and Jeanie Roberts, Ruth and Jack Wolff, Kay Cruzan, Steve and Suzie Crowder, Bridgett Randall, Mike and Lois Dawes, Donna Caruthers, Jason Fisher, Marlin, Laverne & Janet Haskin, Johnnie Mae Grimm, Randi Collier, Ann Randall, Orion and Beulah Cargill, Leroy and Helen Linduff, Lahoma and Sheila Brasel, Wilburn and Audrey Hope, Jane Ladd, Amber Gooding, Dana and Hugh Ann Goodacre, Pete and Lucille Cargill, Dewey Giddeon, Juanita Price, Charlotte Magdeburg, Bill, Marge, Chantz, & Chase Candler, Sandra Cobb, Jim Burke, Teressa Roberts, Willis and Lucille Trunk, Mr. & Mrs. Langston, Leonard Wells, Linda, Cindy & Steven Thornhill, Beth Gibson, Mable Collier, Elaine and Ramey Hart, Everett and Ruth Whorton, Paul Littleton, Wilma and 'Doc' Morley, Bill McPhail, Harold Spencer, Swede Dobson, Colleen Best, Dana Underwood, Charles and Carline Brasel, Bobby, Kathie, Kandi & Lacey Jo Brock, Joni Osterhout, Kim Giddeon, Lucille Hetherington, Alma Davenport, Lloyd Boyer, Rachel Cook, Tim Wiley, Latrisa Anderson, Mark Wiley, Darlene Law, Fred and Lonnie Ryan, Jerry and Belinda Linder, Silas, Ester, Shelpa & Surupa Masih, Luther Goodard, Nolan and Mae Vinson, Randall and Wanda Cargill, Larry and Sue Endicott, George and Virginia Brock, Shelia White, and Burney and Ruby Brasel.
Mrs. Brasel was one that came out from the Drumright Church to help organize. There are now three generations of Brasels attending Oak Grove regularly. Fellow Pastors visiting were Francis Boyer, W.S. and Ella Stevens, James and Opal Warnock, Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Matthews from Only Way Church and Bro. Jim and Dee Taylor from Terlton.
* * * A QMS Deezyne * * *