talk.mcphersonscots.orgMcPherson Scots Talk

The Clans and Associates of the McPherson Scottish FestivalGames September 22, 2020 Judy McDiffett Filed under: Events — Clan Chairman @ 7:11 am Judy (Long) McDiffett, was born September 28, 1945 at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. She was the daughter of Elbert O. and V. Ruth Long of Potwin, Kansas. She is survived by a sister Janet Gibson of Hutchinson, Kansas, her husband Richard McDiffett Newton, daughters Holly McDiffett-Mahaffey (Terri) of Half Moon Bay, California, Adrianne Hultman of Newton, and a son Tyler R. McDiffett of Wichita. She leaves two granddaughters (Jessi and Kelly Coleman) and two grandsons ( Dylan and Connor Hultman) and many special friends. Judy and her Husband Richard served as the Vendor Chair for the McPherson Scottish festival from 2008 until the festival closed in 2016. They loved the festival and were loved by the people they served. Judys assistance and love of the festival along with many others were what made the festival great. Judy assisted with the motel arrangements for all of the participants and judges that attended the festival as well as helping Richard with the vendors and exhibitors like the sheepdogs, falconers, and Highland Cattle to name a few. Judy passed into mortality to spend time with her many friends in Heaven on September 15, 2020. Baker Funeral Home Valley Center is handling arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com Comments Off on Judy McDiffett March 3, 2019 Larry E. Williams Filed under: Festivals — Clan Chairman @ 2:24 pm McPherson Scottish Society – Treasurer Larry Emmett Williams, 82, passed into eternal life on Feb. 14, 2019, at his home in McPherson. He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, on July 11, 1936 to Zella (Venrick) and J. Emmett Williams. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Xan, his daughter Jesslyn of Tulsa. Xan was the committee chairperson for the sponsors that donated to the Scottish Festival. Larry was the Scottish Society Treasurer along with Verla Thompson. He server on the board for 20* years and managed the taxes and kept the balance sheet for the McPherson Scottish festival. He also was very meticulous in counting every penny and insisted on counting and recounting the gate to make sure that all the money was reported correctly. Many of the people that were involved in the production of the festival did not see all that Larry did as he operated in the background ensuring that all the bills were paid. We were very thankful for all his efforts that he did for the smooth operation of the festival. Thank you and peace be with you. Comments (0) John W. Ferrell Filed under: Clans , Festivals — Clan Chairman @ 8:28 am John William Ferrell, 88, of McPherson, KS, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, surrounded by family at McPherson Hospital. He was an educator and administrator at Central Christian College, McPherson. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War Era. John was a member of the McPherson Free Methodist Church where he was chairman for the Finance Committee and the Facilities Planning Committee. He was past president of the McPherson Rotary Club, director and founding board member of the McPherson Scottish Festival and co-founder of the Highland Games, chairman of the board at McPherson Family Life Center, served on the board of Oakdale Christian Academy in Jackson, KY, and served on the board of directors at The Cedars. He was the Hometown Hero” in 2002 by McPherson County United Way and McPherson Chamber of Commerce. I spent many years with John planning the Festival as the Clan Chairman under his leadership. He was very meticulous, and required perfection in how the festival was organized. He put together an outstanding team of up to 14 team leaders and managed up to one hundred volunteers to put on the festival. He and my father ,”Webb Clark”, were founding board members of the festival. John was also my neighbor living a few houses down the street, so we also became close friends. When he retired from the festival after 15 years of service, he mentored me to takeover the Chairmanship. It was always a pleasure and the great quality of the festival was due to his leadership. John will be missed as a friend and Scott. Comments (0) December 8, 2018 Stuart C. Cummins Filed under: Clans , Festivals — Clan Chairman @ 12:31 pm I must apologize it has been a while since I have been keeping things up to date. I will try to do better. It is with a sad heart the my good friend Stuart C. Cummins has passed away on December 1st 2018. He was a strong supporter of our festival which has also gone. Stuart believed in his heritage and the importance of passing it along to future generations. Stuart and Nancy were always there never missing a year. He represented Clan Stuart well and would have his whole clan there at times in support of his heritage and our festival. He became a leader of Clan Stuart moving from commissioner, to vice president, to president of the clan over the years. The word Clan means family in the scottish tradition and Stuart was definitely a family man that loved God and his country as well. I remember watching Stuart and Nancy arrive with their dog Angus to the festival. They were always one of the first ones there except for Ralph Barkley who has since passed as well. He was also a strong supporter of the festival in his Bright yellow trusou and deep booming voice. You could almost hear him across the festival grounds. And you would always see Dean and Jean Robertson show up and pitch their tent right among them. And before they could get setup Dean would be spinning some yarn to impress the Ladies or anyone else that would listen. Yes these were very good times and good friends. They were extended family, we were extended family, brought together by the festival reunion every year. They are missed greatly as is the festival that created this family. Ceud Mile Failte! for all the memories. Deus maille ruinn gus an coinnich sinn a-rithist. Comments (0) November 28, 2010 2010 Clan Report Filed under: Reports — Clan Chairman @ 4:26 pm We had another good year at the festival. Everyone enjoyed the festival this year again, impressed as always, by the park that we have the festival in so we want to give our thanks to the park department and city for letting us use the park. The Friday ceremony and supper went off without any major problems. Laird McGregor did a wonderful job for us on the Friday gathering. The supper works good in the cabin and I think it should continued to be used in the future. Dr. Earl Estill and Nancy Dunn did a great job on Sunday’s Kirking, the clan representative for Clan Campbell said it was one of the best services he had been to. Lottie Herod of Clan McLean took care of the Hospitality tent in in a grand manner with the help of friends and relatives. Nancy McArthur Cochner of Clan Arthur has accepted to be the host for next year. We had 26 clans registered and 25 attending. Three of those clans are new clans or have new representatives for their clans. Saturday’s rain sent some clans home early and we had water in a couple of tents. Getting more than 26 or 27 clans accommodated will be addressed on where to place them. If anyone has any suggestions on how to gain more space and still have good foot traffic give me your suggestions. We are continuing to have the clans have their AGM meetings in the area or during the festival. This is wonderful and we wish to do what we can to encourage their participation. SAMS Scottish American Military Society”, have their local AGM here yearly and are going to try and have their national here in the future. Clans Arthur and McPherson are having their AGM meetings in Wichita during or just before the festival. Hopefully they will bring some of their officers to enjoy our festival. Clan Hay is hoping to have their AGM here in 2013 We need to Ann Hastler put together a list of rooms and caterers and local...