The Joymakers travel to Branson, MO

The Joymakers attend Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede" dinner & show. The Joymakers of Forest Home Baptist Church left for Branson, MO on Apr. 28 at 6 a.m. and returned May 1 at 5:30 p.m.

Roger Ralston led the group in prayer before leaving. Ray & Trey also saw the group in leaving.

Doris Snow, the tour director, asked the group to leave their problems and worried behind so they could have a relaxing and good time.

The group left an eatery two hours later in Marshall. Rue Taylor assisted the management in answering the telephone. After the next stop, a lot of the ladies started wearing their new white spring hats that were picked up at the last moment.

Members started going through their gift bags which they received when boarding the bus. The great banks, insurance agents & merchants of Kilgore donated the nice items.

Some deserving people got more candy and clothing. Sue Clements was responsible for the entertaining and turned the Bingo over to Billie Sue Bonds. Bond's Bingo has a lot of versions.

After introducing each other to the group, it was determined that there were four sets of brothers and sisters, aunts and niece, two sets of sisters, mother and daughter, cousins, lots of best friends and of course husbands and wives.

Buffets were very popular but not as much as the food on the bus. Candy man, Carnell Waller, nearly stumped everyone with his green peanut patties. J.C. Bearden and Johnny Clements served the cold drinks, water and other food. They did good until the cold water dripping from the cans hit a few bald heads. A lot shared their musical talents such as Bill Ward, Sue Clements, Doris Waggoner, Harold Ray Guin and The Mercer Trio-Jakey Still, Doris Snow and Talmadger Mercer.

Each morning the guests has posters or decoration on their doors. A few shoppers has to make their regular trips to WalMart. Rue Taylor found out that a department store credit card cannot be used at a gift shop. The public relations department of the hotel gave her a complementary bag for causing so much havoc. Lavelle Jenkins, Rue Taylor's apprentice, passed her test with flying colors. Now it is hard to tell which is which.

Also Mrs. Snow's name was confusing to the staff. LeRoy New, and entertainer, stopped by to give Neola Leach a hug and song for her. Betty Crews, Betty Bonds, Helen Alexander and Doris Waggoner has problems with doors....or the correct doors.

On Sunday morning, Harold Ray Guin brought the message from the Bible. Bill Ward sang some favorite songs. Both did a great job.

Sunday night, J.C. and Betty Bearden hosted a party with all sorts of refreshments and some of the local entertainment. The bus was all decorated when the group got on it Monday morning.

The people who went and saw five great shows were: Mary Anna Jackson from Corsicana, Patricia Stieglitz from Shreveport, LA, Kenneth Leonard from Tennessee Colony, Dan and Gloria Yancey from Flint, Gary and Theresea Davis from Lindale.

The rest are from Kilgore: Howard and Helen Alexander, Billie Sue bonds, Margie Cain, Louise McKinney, Betty Lee, Lee Ann Warren, Jakey Still, Bill and Glenda Ward, Carnell and Ann Waller, Harold Ray and Joanne Guin, Don and Betty Bonds, Travis and Betty Crews, J.C. and Betty Bearden, Johnny and Sue Clements, Talmadge and Laverne Mercer, George and Doris Waggoner, Art and Doris Snow, Rue Taylor and Lavelle Jenkins.

George Waggoner dismissed the group with thanking God for the safe return.