August 31, 2022 Issue, Page 18 of 30

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PG8 AT THE RODEO, Wednesday August 31, 2022 Need to recover from Labor Day weekend? Come in and see our great selection of recliners, living room sets and bedroom sets! Donnie Morey has carried on the family rodeo parade tradition with his grandson Tan- ner Newton. Courtesy photo. My daddy, the cowboy Having never missed riding in a single rodeo parade, Elk City woman reflects upon the strong family tradition By Shonda Little princesses and queens for the club, that we had the best childhoods because we got to be in- In April, Karie Dawn (Morey) Newton volved in that club. When Dana died, some of turned 41-years-old. And on the Saturday of us put on that gold satin and rode our horses Labor Weekend, she will ride in her 41st Ro- to lead the hearse," Karie Dawn remembered. deo of Champions annual parade that kicks off Yet, through all the rodeo play days and at 10 am in downtown Elk City. friends made throughout her entire lifetime Although the yearly rodeo boasts traditions loving horses, Karie Dawn gushes that her for countless western Oklahoma families, the father stands shoulders above all else in her rodeo parade is almost a sacred pilgrimage for memories. Karie Dawn's family. "My dad grew up here and went to school "| was only a few months old and only at Merritt," Karie Dawn said. "He has been weighed a few pounds when I rode in my first going to this rodeo his entire life. He remem- rodeo parade," Karie Dawn explained. "Daddy bers going to it when it was still in the red rock just put me up in that saddle with him, and baseball field. He was riding in the parade long we rode. That was 41 years ago, and I haven't before I was born. This is our family tradition missed one since." even bigger than Christmas or Easter. He goes Karie Dawn and her father participated in every night and has sat in the same seat for the Elk City Round Up Club for decades. In my entire life. So naturally, the first name that fact, she even served as the club's sweetheart, pops into a lot of people's minds when they princess, and queen. The group was like a fam- think about the rodeo is Beutler. But for me, ily of its own making, she detailed. the first name that pops into my mind is Dad- as Ile "It was folks like my dad, Dean Jay and Dana dy, my real cowboy." McCullough who served as the Roundup Club Likewise, many of her major life milestones R (800)925-4006 presidents back then. Of course, I have to list my rodeo mamas like Jean Webb, Joyce Nagle, correlate with the Rodeo of Champions week- end. For example, after Karie Dawn began dat- cHowToOm.cOm Monday Mary Hamilton, and Dana. They were always ing her now husband Chad in early 2003, his 2001 SOUTH MAIN Cash or Check ty around to help and treated each one of us like young son Hunter rode with her in that year's ay Lay-A-Way gc atursday we were their children. I always tell Miranda ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA Special Financing 9g Cummings and Christina Jay, who were also See Cowboy page 10.