Good Morning Derryberry’s Across America



Good Morning Derryberry’s Across America

This is to further update regarding our National Derryberry Reunion to be held July 12th, in beautiful Branson, Missouri, deep in the Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri. If you have questions, or need more information or help or whatever, please call Kaye or Don Cross at 1-417-881-3355, or email to cross_kaye@. Please let us know if you will be staying at Grand Oaks, HOWEVER CONDUCT ALL RESERVATIONS TYPE BUSINESS DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL, DON AND KAYE CROSS WILL NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR ROOMS OR ACT AS LIAISON TO MAKE RESERVATIONS. WE DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR RESERVATIONS ARE STANDING AT REGARDING NUMBERS, BECAUSE OF THE DISCOUNT ON THE MEETING ROOM WHEN WE MEET THEIR QUOTA.

As all of you became aware from the last Derryberry newsletter, I am in trouble health wise AGAIN. Don and I have been living in a nightmare for the past six months, which culminated with the doctors telling us I am dying. HOWEVER, I am responding exceptionally well to the medications…HOORAY. Now they tell us I am still dying, but instead of having a couple of years at the max, they expect me to have a pretty good quality of life for an indeterminable number of years. Andy Derryberry says I have the trait of a true Derryberry, never tell one what they can’t do. I want to thank everyone who has been praying on my behalf, many of my needs over the past several months have been met as an answer to all those prayers. For those who are curious or interested, I have pulmonary hypertension, that’s the “other” hypertension, it is always debilitating and usually deadly. Anyone who wants can read more about it on the internet, a good website is the one for the Pulmonary Hypertensive Association.

NOW, for those of you who don’t know much about Branson, MO.

Branson is about a lot more than just country music shows. Yes, they have country music shows, but they also have other shows—gospel music, comedy, show tunes and pop and more; do you like a good magic show, they have two; Shoji Tabuchi has a theatre there, now that is a fiddler; the Dutton Family Show and the Hughes Brothers Show are both family groups that put on a variety of music, dance and comedy; Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede is a top of the line dinner show; Spirit of the Dance is in town, that’s good stompin; Acrobats of China keep folks holding their breath. These are just a few of the many.

If shows are not your ticket, or you think folks don’t live just by shows alone, there’s a lot of other things to see and do: The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama, depicts the epic story of this long standing novel; Showboat Branson Belle features a beautiful sightseeing cruise and dinner; you can Ride the Ducks on a tour of the place in and out of the water; Silver Dollar City and Celebration City are theme parks which families really enjoy; Branson Scenic Railway gives a 40 mile round trip excursion thru Ozark foothills and tunnels; White Water is Branson’s largest water park; Veterans Museum features exhibits and murals honoring all branches of military service; Titanic: the Legend Continues is a museum housing more than 400 artifacts from the Titanic; Hollywood Wax Museum is terrific; Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum is, too; Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure allows you to walk among thousands of free flying butterflies; Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum is the same one that was in southern California, the family moved it here in its entirety. Plus there is even more.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is just a hop, skip and a jump down the road with its outstanding Victorian architecture and Great Passion Play.

If golfing is your bag, plan to try one of several terrific courses. If you would rather fish, hey, they’ve got streams, rivers, lakes. Plus, just up the road in Springfield, Missouri is the original home of Bass Pro Shops, the single biggest fishing and boating store we’ve ever heard of. Perhaps shopping is what you would rather do. Branson has several outlet malls, tons of specialty shops and new this past year is Branson Landing which is in Old Downtown Branson on the lake front. There is some serious shopping and eating to do in any of the many department quality stores, small shops, lunch stops and dinner places. If you want to enjoy Branson hometown atmosphere, try breakfast at the Branson Café, or stop in at Dick’s 5 and 10 cent store, both in downtown, but not part of Branson Landing.

If you are completely pooped out by this time, just reading about all this fun, you can always make plans to come to the Derryberry Reunion, which will be held at the Grand Oaks Hotel in Branson. Dinner will be potluck per usual, with us furnishing the meat, utensils and drinks.

Last year’s reunion was a lot of fun and we hope to make this year’s even better. But, that all depends on you. We need folks to bring memorabilia about their branches of the family so we can have a good historical display. We want folks to please send copies (no originals, please) of their baby pictures, yes that means those old, old baby pictures in some cases, like mine, or Don’s, to Kaye as soon as possible. We will have a contest with reunion attendees guessing who the pictures are of, with a decent prize awarded for those guessing the best. We will repeat the candy in the jar contest, in spite of the riot that caused last year. Most of all we want to repeat the good time everyone enjoyed last year, but we can’t if you don’t come. So we hope to see you there.

SORRY, THIS BULLETIN IS SO LONG, FURTHER UPDATES SHOULD BE SHORTER.

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This is our first memo regarding meeting hall and hotel/motel accommodations.

Arrangements have been made with the Grand Oaks Hotel, Branson Missouri, for guest rooms and meeting hall accommodations. The rooms are very nice and a discount cost has been arranged at $65 per night (more information regarding these rates are provided below); however we are not required to stay there. Other motels in the area have cost ranging from $35 to $100 and more per night. Kaye and I (Don Cross) have stayed at the cheaper motels and have been very satisfied. Later, we will send information regarding the other motel/hotels.

We are hoping to have well over 100 people at this reunion. If we can have at least 15 rooms reserved at the Grand Oaks we will have the meeting room at no cost.

The meeting room, which consists of two rooms with the adjoining folding partition removed, can accommodate 150 people at seating only. That is, with seats arranged sort of like church pews with a podium and microphone at front. With tables, the hall can accommodate 65 to 75 people at one time. That should be enough because for meals and for visiting we will have people coming and going and will not likely have everyone in the hall at once. Near the hotel are several fun things for children to do. We will send more about that in another memo.

The hotel has two buildings.

Guest room accommodations in both buildings offer standard rooms, which are two queen sized beds, work desks, bathroom with shower and double vanities (one vanity outside the bathroom). For $75 per night in Building 1 members of our group can select King Size bed with Jacuzzi for two. Both buildings have convenient elevators.

Building #1 offers the convenience of the Indoor Pool and Indoor Hot Tubs, Fitness Center, Guest Laundry, Wireless DSL Internet, Continental Breakfast, Deluxe Room Accommodations, Handicap Rooms, Suites, and a Ticketing Office and Schedules for Branson Attractions.

Building #2 (where our reunion will be) offers the convenience of the Outdoor Pool, Continental Breakfast, Guest Laundry, Standard Room Accommodations, Suites, Meeting Rooms and Handicap Rooms.

If you want to reserve a room in either Building 1 or Building 2, you must make the reservation at least 30 days prior to the reunion by calling 1-800-553-6423. Please identify yourselves as members of the Derryberry Family Reunion Group at group discount rates. We have a group of 65 rooms on hold until 9 Jun 2008. After that date the rooms that have not been reserved will be released for general availability; however, it will not be too late to make reservations at group rates as long as the rooms are available; at least that is our current understanding. The rooms are reserved for two days, 11 and 12 July. You can accept the room for one day, if you like, or for more than two. For more information online go to

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The following is taken, loosely, from a Grand Oaks Hotel Brochure:

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When you choose The Grand Oaks Hotel for your group or reunion you will be welcomed with a smile by our friendly staff. Your friends and family will receive the service and attention as special as your get together is to you! We aim to not only meet, but EXCEED all of your expectations with a smile! At The Grand Oaks Hotel, we guarantee unforgettable memories to carry home with you.

Deluxe Double Queen available in both buildings

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Double Vanities:[pic]

Or a King Size Bed

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Which Comes With Jacuzzi For Two

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Work Desk

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All amenities available that are located outside the guest rooms are available to our group regardless of the building where they are located. These include:

The indoor pool inside building 1:

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Two Indoor Hot Tubs inside building 1:

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Fitness Center

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The outdoor pool at Building 2: [pic]

Other Amenities Are:

❖ Elevator access

❖ Indoor corridors

❖ Sundeck

❖ Game Room

❖ Data Port Telepones

❖ Extended Continental Breakfast

❖ Guest Laundry Facilities

❖ Wireless DSL Internet

❖ Ticketing Services (see below)

❖ Rollaway Beds, Futons and Cribs (fees may apply)

❖ Meeting Rooms (fees may apply)

❖ In-room Coffee

Ticketing:

Wondering what shows you should go to, what attractions to visit. Our ticketing staff is at your service to assist and make recommendations. For your convenience we offer full service ticketing to all of the Branson shows and attractions. Ticketing is available for individuals and groups. Our onsite ticket office, Branson Vacation Company, is available to assist your family and friends with all of your ticketing needs during your stay.

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For ticketing

Please call or stop by for more information

(417) 336-6423 Ext. 520

(800) 627-4596

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