THE AVA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1981 30-YEAR REUNION was held June 17 & 18. Friday night’s festivities were held in downtown Springfield at the Springfield Brewing Company. The following classmates were in attendance: Rick “Moose” Allen, Tracy Gardner-Snodgrass, Mike Haynes, Brad Johnson, Warren Lawrence, Chris Letsinger, Mark McGarry, Julie Mullin Vanzant, Myra Myers Lawrence, Vickie Rogers LaSalle, Malissa Schroeder Spanbauer, Sandy Sievert Colson, Randall Turner, Clarissa Waters McGarry, Bill Watson, Katrina Welch Matney, Lynn Wilkes, Clay Witt, Rod Witt, Ed Wittorff, Betsy Stadler Smith and Yvonne Rasch Dilley. Coach Larry Silvey also stopped by to visit. Ava Country Club was the site of Saturday evening’s festivities. Dinner was catered by Brooke’s Country Kitchen. Holly Dry of Proverbs 15 Photography was the evening’s photographer and the cake was made by Patsy Stewart. The evening began with much visiting and Lester Platt asked the blessing on the food. A time for our classmates who have served in our military was observed and spoken words, pictures and a few moments of silence for classmates that we have lost. A video of school memories and past reunion events was shown as well as a video from our very successful football season. Former teacher, John Wallace stopped in and a mystery person dropped off our senior class folder from 1981. Was that you Mr Butterfield? Classmates voted to start a scholarship fund in memory of the following classmates who have died: Sid Allen, Kevin Beason, Mark Coonts, Melvin Levan, Judy Miller Denney, Angela Williams and Randy Green. A Committee will meet at a later date to start the process. The reunion events will continue this Saturday, July 9, with a Springfield Cardinals game and gathering at Rod Witt’s home in Nixa. Left to right on the ground: Steve Sinclair, Ed Wittorff, Rod Witt, Clay Witt, Jemi Morrison Dixon, Marvin Dixon, Randy Pierson, Homer Brazeal. Sitting in chairs: Lisa Applequist Taber, Preston Breshears, Betsy Stadler Smith, Katrina Welch Matney, Eddie Dry, Nova Plumb Eubanks, Donna Nelson Hull. 3rd Row: Randal Turner, Jodie Holt Sell, Roger Evans, Chris Letsinger, Clarissa Waters McGarry, Jalanna Fleetwood Cobb, BJ Harvill, Venae Streight Heier, Dee Anna Main Glaser, Rick “Moose” Allen, Lester Platt. Back Row: Bill Watson, Malissa Schroeder Spanbauer, Mark McGarry, Terry Pool Bedsworth, Dusty Means, Joe Wilson, Julie Mullin Vanzant, Laura Farris Camp, Jason Jones, Warren Lawrence, Myra Myers Lawrence, Vicki Rogers LaSalle, Terri Robertson, Kim Stillings Stamper, Veronica Mayfield Casper, Lynn Wilkes and Jeff Ellison. Not pictured but coming in later were Leslie Wolfinbarger Martin, Yvonne Rasch Dilley, Jane Brown and Wanda Goodman Dennis.
