The descendants of the late John Reece Smallwood and Almira Woodward Smallwood met at the home of Ann and the late J.M. Bearden Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 for their annual reunion with their children, Mary and Jerry Williams, Jymie & Byron Reno, and Chuck and Karla Bearden as hosts.

John Reece was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., May 5, 1851. He came to Texas in 1870 and worked in a sawmill in Bend, Texas. He married Betty Cowell in Bend in 1876. The Cowell Crossing, below the Bend on the Colorado river, was named for Betty's folks.

John Reece & Betty had a daughter, Pearl, and a son, John Gillespie. Pearl married Sam Kuykendall of Cherokee and they had a son Thad, and a daughter Ruby. John Gillespie married Margaret Gorman, who's folks had interest in Gorman Falls. John Gillespie and Margaret had five children, Buela, Verna, Gladys, Ned, and Little John.

Four years after John Reece's wife Betty died, he married Almira Woodward of Cherokee, Texas in Nov. 1881. To this union six children were born, Ella, Exxa, William, Endema, Jemima, (Mima) and Amy. All are deceased and most are buried in San Saba Co.

Family members began gathering for the reunion early Sunday morning. After warm greetings and many hugs there was lots of visiting, taking pictures, sharing memories, and working on the Smallwood genealogy.

Picnic tables and chairs were set up and after Chuck said the blessing a delicious pot luck lunch was enjoyed by all.

Family members attending were Sharon Ellis, San Saba; Harvey and Gloria Ivy, Irving, Tx.; Cassandra Champion and her dad Bill Champion, Katy, Tx.; Billy Muhlinghaus and his son William Muhlinghaus, Roulette, Tx.; Margaret Ivy Landgrebe Westhoff and her daughter Lillian Smith, Gonzales, TX.; Connie and Harold Hoode and their grandchildren Stephanie and Jim Brandon Chase, Arlington, TX.; Jeriann Cox, San Angelo; Jeremy Holmes and son Rowdy and Ronnie and Tracy Holmes and children Kailey and Breck, Bertram, Tx.; Brett and Kathy Bearden Loeffler and children Kamryn and Trevor, Mason, Tx.; Mary & Jerry Williams, Burnet; Jymie and Byron Reno, Bertram, TX., and Billy Charles (Chuck) and Karla Bearden, Mason.

Even though everyone had a great time and enjoyed seeing each other, the reunion ended on a sad note, when Billy Muhlinghaus had to be taken by the San Saba E.M.S. to the Llano Hospital. He spent the night and his son took him home Monday morning. His cardiologist in Roulette confirmed the findings of the Llano Drs., it seems he had a light stroke, but is doing well at his home at this time.