45th Class Reunion
The Haysi High School class of 1961 met for their 45th class reunion at The Breaks Interstate Park on July 21-22, 2006. Twenty-four members of the graduating class and several friends, family and spouses were present.
The class members attending were: John Anderson, Denver Bailey, Phyllis Rasnake Bostic, Kennith Branham, Patsy Dye Conner, Sue Counts, Alta Delaney Edwards, Kay Powers Edwards, Chris Guss, Ira Mac Hay, Janice Pauline Cochran Hutchens, Woodrow Lockhart, Jr., Nancy Barrett Killian, Kelly Puckett, Kathleen Barton Rasnick, Bonnie Sue Deel Ratliff, David Jack Ratliff, Daniel Boone Sutherland, III, Mary Lee Owens Sutherland, Kit Sykes, Margaret Campbell Turner, Johnny Van Dyke, Johnny Viers, Zay Powers Viers.
The classmates met for an enjoyable gathering, wiener roast, and music and songs (by Kit Sykes and Johnny Viers) on Friday night. On Saturday morning, the group met for Breakfast at the Lodge. Some of the group were able to tour the Haysi High School Building. A few of the members of the class then drove to Clintwood for a tour of the Ralph Stanley Museum. On Saturday night, the class members and their friends, family and spouses met in the Dickenson Room of the Lodge to continue their fellowship. All of the classmates shared stories, remembered our deceased classmates and enjoyed catching up on each others lives. Sue Counts’ mother, Allene Sykes was with us again this year. In addition, Katy Jo Powers, retired Home Economics Teacher, attended this year.
Sue Counts gave a report on the Haysi High School Class of ’61 Memorial Scholarship Endowment which was started in 2001 at the 40th class reunion in memory of those classmates who have died. The Scholarship Endowment Fund is under the Watauga County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the NC Community Foundation. This website was created to keep everyone updated.
As of 06/30/2006, the fund balance was $7,764.35. The 2006 recipient of the $350 scholarship award from the Memorial Scholarship Fund was Tarah Coleman (this was the fifth scholarship awarded). She is attending Virginia Tech and studying Chemistry. The $350 will be sent to Virginia Tech to be used for college related expenses.
Donations to this Scholarship Endowment are welcome, and contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to Haysi High School Class of ’61 Memorial Scholarship Fund and mailed to Sue Counts, PO Box 2642, Boone, NC 28607.
As a result of the donations made by the members of the Class of 1961 during the evening of July 22, 2006, an additional $2,325 was contributed to the scholarship endowment, bringing the total to over $10,000. CONGRATULATIONS to the entire class for this accomplishment! In less than five years, the Haysi High School Class of 1961 Scholarship Endowment Fund has given five scholarships amounting to $1,350 and still has a balance of over $10,000 in the Endowment.
Kneeling: Jimmy Van Dyke, Kelly Puckett, Denver Bailey, Johnny Viers, Kennith Branham.
Sitting: Margaret Campbell Turner, Alta Delaney Edwards, Nancy Barrett Killen, Janice Pauline Cochran Hutchens, Sue Counts, Patsy Dye Conner, Mary Lee Owens Sutherland, Kathleen Barton Rasnick, Kay Powers Edwards.
Standing: Kit Sykes, Chris Guss, Daniel Boone Sutherland, III, Woodrow Lockhart, Jr., John Anderson, Phyllis Rasnake Bostic, Ira Mac Hay, Zay Powers Viers.
Haysi High School Class of ’61 Met for 49th Class Reunion
Top of stairs to bottom: Chris Gus, Ronald Sykes, Nancy Barrett Killian, Alta Delaney Edwards, Denver Bailey, Mary Hay Beasley, Phyllis Rasnake Bostic, John Anderson, Vivian Turner Wampler, Johnny Viers, Zay Powers Viers, Jimmy Van Dyke, Ruth Owens Church Perrigan, Kit Sykes, Sue Counts and Mary Lee Owens Sutherland.
The Haysi High School class of 1961 met for their 49th class reunion at The Breaks Interstate Park on September 25, 2010. Sixteen members of the graduating class and several friends and spouses and one teacher were present.
The class members attending were: John Anderson, Denver Bailey, Mary Hay Beasley, Phyllis Rasnake Bostic, Sue Counts, Alta Delaney Edwards, Chris Gus, Nancy Barrett Killian, Ruth Owens Church Perrigan, Mary Lee Owens Sutherland, Ronald Sykes, Kit Sykes, Johnny Van Dyke, Johnny Viers, Zay Powers Viers, and Vivian Turner Wampler.
The classmates met for an enjoyable dinner in one of the new log cabins in The Breaks Interstate Park. The dinner was prepared by Zay Powers Viers and Johnny Viers with some assistance from Sue Counts and Janice Kitts. Music and songs were provided by Kit Sykes, Johnny Viers and Janice Kitts. The members of the class of 1961 were happy to be together and to catch up on old times. Two of the members (Ruth Owens Church Perrigan and Vivian Turner Wampler) had never attended a class reunion before, so it was the first time since graduation that many of the class had seen them. The class members learned that one of our classmates, Ruth Owens Church Perrigan, had recently been selected as the “Senior Mrs. Dickenson County Fair 2010” winner. Many of the classmates shared stories, remembered our deceased classmates and enjoyed catching up on each others lives. In addition, Katy Jo Powers, retired Home Economics Teacher, attended this year.
Sue Counts gave a report on the Haysi High School Class of ’61 Memorial Scholarship Endowment which was started in 2001 at the 40th class reunion in memory of those classmates you have died (over 25% have died as of 2010). The Scholarship Endowment Fund is under the Watauga County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the NC Community Foundation. As of 06/30/2010, the fund balance was $10,194.41. Since the fund started, there have been ten scholarship recipients and a total of $3,310.00 given to these ten recipients. The 2010 recipient was Jordan Childress, son of Gilmer and Charlotte Childress of Haysi, VA. Jordan is attending UVA-Wise and majoring in Communications.
Donations to this Scholarship Endowment are welcome, and contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to Haysi High School Class of ’61 Memorial Scholarship Fund and mailed to Sue Counts, PO Box 2642, Boone, NC 28607 or to the North Carolina Community Foundation, Landmark Center, 4601 Six Forks Road, Suite 524, Raleigh, NC 27609.
The 50th Haysi High School Class of 1961 will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2010 in The Breaks Interstate Park. Mark this date on your calendar NOW so that you can be a part of our BIG 50th Celebration! Two committees were formed at this reunion, the Reunion Committee and a Fund Raising Committee to make the 50th Reunion the very best yet! It is hoped that ALL of the living members of the Class of 1961 will be in The Breaks for the BIG 50th. Sue Counts will be working on a Facebook Page for the Haysi High School Class of ’61 Memorial Scholarship Fund, so keep an eye out for this.