2025 Martha’s Vineyard, MA => Eckles-Sharp Family Reunion

We started out with a plan to do the reunion in Texas in the fall but it got complicated and Mom was ok with flying, so we did a left turn. Todd arranged a week in Martha’s Vineyard from September 7th to the 15th (The first week off season). Allie and Brandon helped with their intimate knowledge of Martha’s Vineyard. There were 29 people, 25 Eckles/Sharps, 1 Juers (Casey’s Brother), 1 fiancee and 2 girl friends. We had two houses in Oak Bluff. A main house with nine bedrooms for everyone staying the week and a smaller house for the weekenders.

Everyone had to take a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Mostly people left their cars on the mainland but Todd, Brandon and Ryan took the car ferry. Three cars across 29 people was a challenge. Fortunately, we could walk to a lot of things.

Organizers

The main house was spacious with six bedrooms and a great room with kitchen, dinning room and family room. There was also a TV room. The ressessed part of the house was actually an attached apartment with three bedrooms.

There was a big open park in front of the house with an ocean view

Ryan interrupted his reunion to take a national welding certification test- which, of course he passed and we celebrated!

Ocean view from the porch which got a lot of use

Schedule

Sunday - Restaurant for dinner

Monday - Calendar and Swag bag - Mark Dinner - Spaghetti

Tuesday - Todd Dinner - 5 Course Meal

Wednesday - Mahjong(Casey) - Chip Dinner - Pizza - Jewelry(Chip)

Thursday - Fishing (Jeff) - Jeff/Mike Dinner - Gourmet Meal with Fish

Friday - Nails(Camila) - Kurt Fish Tacos - MK Birthday with Book Exchange

Saturday -Art(Colleen) - Clam bake(Todd) - Wine tasting(Jackie) - Photos(Brandon)

Sunday - Leftovers

Monday - Checkout

Top row (L to R)

Rachel, Will, Dana, Kurt, Colleen, Chip, Todd, Jeff, Rebecca, Mark, Lauren, Uncle Dave, Mike, Ryan and Camila.

Middle Row (L to R) Jackie, Mike, Casey, Alex, Nick, Luke,

Botton Row (L to R) Matthew, Mary Kate, Reine, Alicia, Brandon, Jess and Allie

Dave Juers and Casey Eckles, Brother and sister

Chip’s Family: Top (L to R) Matthew, Chip and Ryan

Bottom (L to R) Mary Kate, Colleen and Camila

Mark’s Family: Top (L to R) Luck and Nick

Bottom (L to R) Jess, Alecia, Jackie and Mark

Jeff’s Family: Top to Bottom: Alex, Mike, Jeff and Reine.

Kurt’s Family: Top (L to R) Kurt, Will and Janelle

Bottom (L to R) Dana and Rachel

Rebecca and Mike: Unfortunately, Garrison and Amie, and Maddie and Ethan were not able to attend

Todd’s Family: (L to R) Brandon, Allie, Lauren and Todd

Classic girl cousin photo (L to R) Rachel, Lauren and Mary Kate

Classic lineup by height (It has changed a lot over the years) Rachel, Mike, Alex, Nick, Allie, Mary Kate, Lauren, Luke, Will, Ryan, Matthew, Mike Sharp instead of Garrison and Brandon

Engaged: Brandon and Allie with her parents who own a house on Martha’s Vineyard

New Couple: Luke and Jess

Fun picture from the Farmers Market

New Couple: Will and Janelle

Random activities

Gift bag from Jackie and Todd as well as Martha’s Vineyard Schedule and Guide from Allie and Todd

Kurt getting apple fritters and donuts at Back Door Donuts - We had them most mornings - I don’t want to see another and apple fritter until next reunion

Preparing Todd’s five course meal

Tiny gingerbread house at the MV Campground

Ryan found a perfect access to the beach for Mom and I. We had a great time on beach watching the waves,feeling the breeze and the sun

Jaws was filmed on MV and it was the 50th anniversary of the film release, so Ryan and Jeff got

T-shirts

Playing Mahjong with Gram

It was Mary Kate’s birthday on September 12th during the reunion and Rebecca and Todd had close birthdays. Mary Kate wanted a book exchange. It was fun to hear everyone introduce their book and do an exchange

Most of the OOG’s (Original Older Generation) with Gram

Mary Kate Todd and Rebecca with Birthday cake. It was half carrot cake and half red velvet,

Gram gave a heartfelt speech after the wine tasting that brought tears to most of us-bottomline: you’re all here because of me.

We visited a lot of galleries and Colleen liked the weird sculptures

We had to give her a group hug after her speech to show our appreciation

Todd catered a Clam Bake with lobster and a lot of the YG’s (Younger Generation) needed help with their first lobster. Jackie did wine tasting and wine facts.

Colleen led an art project making zig-zag books using photos of current and past reunions.

Camila brought nail polish supplies and the

ladies had fun as well as some guys!

Zig-zag books

Hanging out at Nancy’s close to the harbour.

Back to the beach on morning of the last day with with Colleen, Ryan, Camila, Mary Kate and Matthew - We had the beach to ourselves - Ryan and Camila brought lunch