Collett, Hayen families have 66th reunion
Members of the Collett and Hayen families had their 66th annual reunion Sunday at Marion County Lake Hall.
Thirty-seven family members gathered for a potluck dinner and an afternoon of visiting and reminiscing.
After dinner, president Keith Collett and secretary Hollyce Morris presided over a short business meeting. Collett and Morris will repeat as officers for the 2026 reunion.
An annual auction of historical items garnered much attention.
Belonging to Fred Collett was an 1889 Paddock Hawley Iron Co. catalog, used to order supplies for the Collett family’s Elk Store, founded in 1884 or ’85.
A second item was a laboratory manual that belonged to Henry Collett when he attended Kansas State Agricultural College’s dairy department in September, 1924. This information was put to good use in Henry Collett’s Marion County farm.
In attendance from Marion were Howard Collett, Shirley Bowers, Stacey and Carla Collett, Chris and Kathy Meierhoff, Richard Bowers, Greg and Mary Beth Bowers, Erin and Keenan Meierhoff, Brandon Meierhoff, Samantha Collett, Max and Donna Hayen, and Virginia Downing.
From other Kansas communities were Anita Sly, Colleen Sly, Kiaan Seay, and Kaleb Collett of Salina; Clarice Hammer, Olathe; John Umberger, Lincolnville; Dan and Hollyce Morris, Topeka; Terry and Gina Marx and Deanna Talbott, Wichita.
Also, Rick and Collette Erickson, Chapman; Ron and Becca Wagner, Overland Park; Brent Hayen, Canton; Mike and Patty Hammer, Lenexa; Wayne Geis, Durham; and Keith and Anne Collett, Junction City.