On a beautiful July 30, Brettie Boy and I raced down to lovely Watseka, Illinois to attend the Summer Bash of the year...

Uncle Roy's 80th Birthday! 

Uncle Roy Amos Johnson, brother to my Dad & the finest Uncle anyone could ever have, was feted with a Surprise 80th Birthday Party planned & hosted by his loving wife of 50 years, our own Aunty Mary Lou.   

The venue was  the Michelin 3 Star restaurant named Trio's Steakhouse located just outside downtown Watseka. 

A huge throng gathered including Roy's sister Peggy with husband Bob, Peggy's daughter Jodi with husband Alan, and their lovely daughter Lily.  

Roy & Mary Lou's son Jason, with his babe wife Kira attended having driven up from St. Louis with their beautiful young son Jayden - who was the life of the Party!  

Aunty Mary Lou, Brett & I rounded out the full field of 12.

Picture upper left is Uncle Roy, surprised as he walked in to the restaurant.  Picture right is the entire crew coming together after dinner.

Around 6:30 we held a Teams Video Call and a number of people jumped on that couldn't make the trip to Watseka.

First on was cousin Debbie with her husband Aiden - who is also the Prime Minister of Ireland.  Soon after Roy & Mary Lou's daughter Rachel and her crew came on.  T'was great to see her, hunky hubby Brad and a couple of their young'ins.    

Next on was cousin Sharon reporting in all the way from California.  Sharon is by far the family's most famous celebrity, as she is a 3 time Emmy nominated Director/Producer/Writer direct from Hollywood!  She connected her father Steve & mom Mary via Facetime!

Cousin Barb crackled in from Indiana, with her son Jim , while my sister Jean with husband Steve - as irritating a brother in law that anyone can ever have - to round out the video chat!  Whew, the internet was buzzing! 

After the meal, Aunty Mary Lou laid on some luscious cupcakes for Dessert making it a meal to remember.   All too quickly the time had come and gone and we needed to say our Goodbyes for the 2 hour ride home.

But just a word about my Uncle Roy.   He has been an inspiration to me my whole life.  A Strong, Strong servant of Christ that is a visible example to all who see him.  A great Husband, Father, Brother and Uncle.  

He is the kind of Man that we all aspire to be.   

I love him dearly.  

 

Happy 80th Birthday Uncle Roy!

Praise God For Blessing Us With This Man!

God Bless You And Aunty Mary Lou!

 

Visit www.rickyjohn.com for more about our family!