Updated August 7, 1997
The F.P. Fisher Family Reunion was held August 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1997 at Scout Canada's Camp Impeesa (near Pincher Creek) in Southern Alberta. Camp Impeesa has great facilities set beside a beautiful lake in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
Friday
The reunion started on Friday, August 1 at 8:30 p.m. at Camp Impeesa. Duncan Russell hosted an evening fireside where he invited cousins who knew Grandpa and Grandma Fisher to share some of their memories.
Ann Murray said that in many ways Grandma and Grandpa were a Father and Mother to her. As Grandma got older Ann would help her around the house. The family killed chickens for dinner and cleaned them at the kitchen sink. As a little girl Lorrraine Hartley came to visit. She stood at the sink fascinated by the process of picking feathers and cleaning chickens. Finally she said, "I can stand this any longer." So they got her a stool and she watched sitting. July 1st and Christmas were important holidays at the Fisher house. On July 1st the family would go to Waterton Dam or to the ball diamond and enjoy the day together. One of her favorite playing spots as a child was the closet above the stairs.
Janiel and Lee Duce were married in October 1959 in Salt Lake City. Grandpa came to the wedding. He folder his coat and held it together with clothes pins. When he put the coat on, Janiel saw that he still had the clothes pins on it. Finally she got the courage to tell him he had clothes pins in his coat. He was so appreciative. When Madge and Richard were married in cardston they stayed at the Fisher house in Hill Sping. Janiel helped Madge get ready and was running her bath. The water looked dirty so they emptied the tub and started to fill it again. The water seemed to get dirtier. Without knowing it the well was getting dry and the water was picking up dirt from the bottom.
Lee Duce was raised in Everett, Washington. Every three or four years the family would catch the train to Glacier where they would be picked up. He was about 11 years old when he received a patriarchal blessing from Grandpa. "I had a sense when he laid his hands on my head that this was a great man." At their 50th wedding anniversary, Lee remembers going horse back riding with his country cousins. They all knew how to ride. He slid off the horse "which sure embarrassed me." Lee said he got to know his grandparents through his mother. His mother always insisted on having family prayer. He remembered one time his short mother standing in the door blocking his way. "You're not leaving here until we have family prayer," she said.
Barbara Russell loved Grandma and Grandpa's house. She remembers the sound of the trees moving in the breeze. When she visited she would frequently have to sit outside and wait while Grandpa was giving patriarchal blessings. She was about eight years old when she received her patriarchal blessing from grandpa. She loved Grandpa's home-made cottage cheese with fresh water cress cut into it. "It was special when we went to Grandma and Grandpas because we had family prayer with them."
Melanie Seely remembers sitting on Grandpa's lap and his patting her cheeks. She was 5 years old when Grandma died. Not long after she had her tonsils removed. After the operation, when her mother came to visit, she sat up and said: "Oh, isn't she so beautiful." She had seen Grandma there beside her. One time some baby birds had died and were lying on the ground. She remembers Grandpa saying, "That is so sad." When she was nine, she received her patriarchal blessing from Grandpa. It seemed like a "pretty long prayer" at the time, but has been agreat inspiration throughout her life. As a baby Mary Jane cried a lot. Grandpa was always able to calm her down.
John Fisher travelled with his family from Ontario in 1958 so he could get his patriarchal blessing from Grandpa. While at Grandpa's house he asked to be able to sleep with him. John moved around in the bed and woke Grandpa. Grandpa got up in the middle of the night and let John sleep instead of having him moved. "That was the kind of man Grandpa was -- always considerate of other people."
Ron Burnham said Grandma always remembered birthdays. She sent him his first Bible when he was 12 and then sent him Jesus the Christ when he went on a mission. Ron remembers as a 4-year-old boy playing with kittens in the sandpile. He left one buried and went off. The cat died. Grandpa was very angry. When Ron was 14, Grandpa toured the mission with Uncle Glen. He came to Vernon where he took Ron into the bedroom and said he was going to get his patriarchal blessing. As a child when he was old enough to bebaptized he was invited to come to Hill Spring where he was baptized in the irrigation ditch. Grandpa officiated and Dan Davies baptised him. Grandpa was sure that all the important ordinances and blessings were performed for him.
If you have personal memories of Peirce and Sarah Fisher, please send them to John Fisher at fisher@ocii.com.
Saturday
Saturday morning the men prepared breakfast -- pancakes and sausage. Then while family visited in the Camp Impeesa training centre, others hiked Table Mountain. All were rewarded with a great view, but Ron and daughter Sharon Burnham got the prize. They made it to the top.
At 1 p.m. the family moved to the beach front where they swam, canoed and used the zip line out over the lake. Following that, the daring rappelled and climbed the 36 foot tall tower. We had a pot-luck dinner and then closed the day with a program and testimony meeting.
Each family group had an opportunity to entertain. Greg Duce showed his talent and skill juggling imaginery knives, guns, and his horse Silver. Ted Duce's children sang as did Dan Davies' grandchildren. Dan sang an old family favorite. Jim and Ann's Sarah and Sharon Burnham sang "I am a Child of God" in Japanese. Robert Seely played the violin and then joined his family in signing a primary song which his parents sang. Angelene Fisher recited a poem. Heather Fisher performed a one person act about finding gum under the chair outside the principal's office. John Fisher told stories about Robert Peirce and John Neff.
The highlight of the evening was stories by Uncle Frank and Aunt Lorraine. Uncle Frank recently heard someone tell a story he heard before but it was told slightly differently. Southern Alberta was in the midst of a dry spell and the crops were about to fail if they didn't get rain. As bishop, Grandpa called for the ward to fast and pray. At the end of the fast a testimony meeting was held. Grandpa walked into the meeting wearing golashes and carrying an umbrella. By the end of the meeting it was raining a"gully wash."
Aunt Lorraine told about being pregnant with he first child. During particularly difficult time, she stayed at Grandma's house to get the care and attention she needed. In the morning she overheard Grandma and Grandpa talking about breakfast for Lorraine. "Feed her gruel," Grandpa suggested. "Oh Peirce, you obviously never have been pregnant," replied Grandma.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
The official reunion end following church meetings in Pincher Creek on Sunday, where Lori and Barb Davies joined the family. That afternoon Jim and Ann and daughters Sarah and Chao-Yi went to Cardston to visit Aunt Ada and Aunt Loila. Monday the family that remained swam, canoed and did archery. On Tuesday they attended a temple session in Cardston and did 154 baptisms for the dead.
This was the last family reunion of the Millenium. Plans are already under way to hold the next family reunion in 2001, the year of Grandma and Grandpa's 100th Wedding Anniversary. A location is yet to be decided.
I am so glad to see this homepage. John asked me to write something as the president. Well I admit I am still humbled at the job that was given me last family reunion. I hope the year has been kind to all of you. I know the Lord is blessing many of us.
Lately, I have been reading Uncle Bob's book, A Faithful Generation. This is an excellent book. I found heroes on the pages. Heroes that I knew very little about. Through reading about their lives, I have found a renewed strength to live the gospel, keep covenants and just keep plugging away at life in general. While reading, I realized a reason for family organizations. We are all members of the same family. We can draw strength from our ancestors and from each other. Uncle Bob's book is an example of this. I'm sure that every one of the posterity of John Lye Gibb who reads it will feel as I did that it was written for them.
Because of a family organization we can stay in touch and we can learn who these people were, get information about them, and feel close to them through the previous generation. I can't imagine how any of us in the fourth generation would have gotten these stories of our ancestors if Uncle Bob hadn't shared them. My lovely wife and I spent part of our honeymoon in Orangeville an Aunt Ethel shared some stories that I would not have heard otherwise. You see, without biographies, family history work would be nothing but a collection of names and dates. I look forward to meeting John Lye Gibb and so many of my other ancestors because I know a little about them. Isn't it easy to just read all those things passed out at family reunions?
Recently, I was at a stake conference session. My stake president was speaking about a trip he head taken to Disneyland with all of his grandchildren. He was on a ride with his granddaughter. The car they were riding in was going up an easy slope and he noticed a sign that had a Briar Rabbit quote which said: "Ya can't outrun trouble 'cause thar ain't no place that far." He mentioned it to his granddaughter, who thought for a moment and said: "Yes, there is Grandpa. It's home with our family." This is from a nine year old. What a wonderful statement about our family. In most families, we can be safe and feel as though the troubles of the world won't reach us. May you (especially those of my generation) feel this way, as you discover our common ancestors, and, if you find something new, share it.
God bless, Keith Fisher E-mail < KFisher266@aol.com>
Uncle Bob had a heart attach November 12, 1996 and was rushed to the University of Alberta Hospital where he underwent a triple bypass operation. "After a week when we were certain we were going to lose him," Bob is gradually improving. The nurses in his unit call him their miracle. After a month in the Intensive Care Unit he is now moved to a step down unit, is breathing on his own, and getting better daily. Your prayers have helped greatly. Elaine Fry
Aunt Erva is in good spirits, although she requires someone to support her to walk. Her health and heart are good and she still reads a book a week in addition to her scriptures. She recently wrote to Bob: Dearest Bob, I know Heavenly Father loves you too and is mindful of your need and will bless you. Have courage, I know He answers our prayers With all my love, Erva
Ted and Sally Anderson are serving in Samoa. Lori and Barb Davies begins service in Kenya in mid-August 1997. Tom and rae Davies have been called to serve in Egypt.
Sarah Burnham, daughter of Ron and Shirley Burnham returned from serving a mission in Japan in May 1996.
Sarah Fisher, daughter of Jim and Anne Fisher, returned from the Japan Nagoya Mission August 2, 1996.
Kurt Fisher, son of Morgan and Kathy Fisher, returned from Kenya, Africa April 17, 1997.
Noal Fisher, the son of John and Melanie Fisher, returned in January 1997 from the France Bordeaux Mission.
Lisa Fry, daughter of Elaine and Earl Fry, is serving in the Canada Montreal Mission.
Stephanie Seely served in the Toronto Canada Mission. She is being married August 16, 1997 to John Walter Peck of Payson, Utah.
Adam Seely is serving a mission in Los Angeles California.
| Drop a note in the mail or e-mail us about other family members who are serving or just returned from missions. Please send missionary experiences to Joy Hansen, 673 N. 680 E., American Fork, Utah 84003. |
The Provo and Mount Timpanogos Temples are piloting a program where temple names become family responsibility and are held by family members, not at the temple. Joy Hansen has a number of family names for work in either Provo or Mount Timpanogos. Please contact her at (801) 756-6786.
A record of John Neff descendants is being prepared by the John Neff family organization. Please send your current family group information to Paul Fisher, 2325 Cinnabar Lane, Cottonwood, Utah 84121, phone (801) 943-7371, e-mail <JpaulF1@aol.com>.
We also will use this information for the F.Peirce Fisher family record and to correct the LDS Church's Ancestral File. We would like a copy of each family group record with documentation. The document will insure that this work doesnot need to be repeated. It would be nice if the family group sheets were submitted with a photocopied copy of birth, marriage and death certificates, but this is not necessary. However, the numbers from these certificates must be sent in. Please declare the agency that certified the record, e.g. Birth Certificate, Alberta Social Services and Community Health - Vital Statistics Registration #02-91-342797.
It also is important to have ordinance dates. Unless a baptism date is indicated a person is only listed on the Ancestral File as "Living." Then, when additional information such as a death date is entered, we have duplicate persons for the same family. This is the reason there are 16 children listed for Franklin Peirce and Sarah Fisher.
Family group sheets should be submitted to your family representative. If you do not have a family representative, one needs to be appointed. The following families have representatives:
For more information contact Paul Fisher at (801) 943-7371 or e-mail <JpaulF1@aol.com>.
For more information go to the Fisher House Publishers HomePage <http://www.ocii.com/~fisher/fhp.htm> or e-mail <fisher@ocii.com>
The International Neff Reunion was held in Salt Lake City, Utah June 26-28, 1997. Focus was on family research and family history with lots of activities for every age group. For more information contact Alice Neff, 832 Grenoble, Midvale, Utah 84047, phone (801) 255-1617, e-mail <neff@vii.com>. More information also is available on the Neff Homepage <http://www.ocii.com/~fisher/neff/reunion.htm>.
Some family members have expressed a desire to know more about the family health history so that we can deal with disease and aging better as individuals and as a family. Please send information about genetic diseases of family members, both living and dead. Indicate the cause of death and diseases of any of your deceased family members. Send the information to: John Fisher, 10907 34 A Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6J 2T9 or e-mail <fisher@ocii.com>.
| Area of Responsibility | Name | e-mail address |
| President | Keith Fisher | KFisher266@aol.com |
| Secy-Treasurer | Ellen Leavitt | |
| Chairs 2001 Reunion | To be appointed. | |
| Constitution review | Jim Fisher | jamesrf@utah.uswest.net |
| John Duce | ||
| Fisher Highlights | Richard Duce | |
| Frank Davies | fdavies@superiway.net | |
| Family History | Paul Fisher | JpaulF1@aol.com |
| Fishers of Men | Joy Hansen |
If you are related to the Fishers, send your web page and/or e-mail address to <fisher@ocii.com> so that we can add it to these pages.
Copyright 1997 FISHER House Publishers <http://www.ocii.com/~fisher/fhp.htm>
Last updated May 11, 1997
