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"It's been more than 40 years since some of these people have seen each other," Shelford said. "One person said, 'We're not going to recognize each other.' And I said, 'That's why we'll have school pictures on our name tags.'"

That isn't as easy as it sounds, Shelford discovered, since the school's first yearbook was published in 1954.

"It's been a difficult project, but we made it," she said of success finding photos that will help friends and former classmates know who they're talking to.

Kranich has headed up the reunion's photo committee.

"I got roped into helping her do a bunch of stuff with photos because I was here (in Homer) and have a photo scanner and could get the annuals," Kranich said.

Shelford came to Homer when she was 2 years old. She completed all 12 grades in Homer, graduating in 1955. Her husband, Lee, was born in Seldovia in 1935, and graduated from Homer in 1954. Today, the couple lives in Seattle, but visits Homer every year.

"I started at the Homer Heights School, the old log cabin on the hill, but we moved down (to town) in 1945 because my oldest brother had to start high school," Shelford said.

Homer School was a two-story building constructed in 1942, on the corner of what is now the Sterling Highway and Pioneer Avenue. A later addition still exists and is used by the city's maintenance department.

Although there is an age requirement for the reunion, graduation isn't necessary. In fact, it took a few years to get a graduating class big enough to really be called a "class."

"The first three years, there was one person at a time. Then it jumped to two. Then to three. When I graduated, there was a great big class of six," Shelford said with a laugh.

Coming all the way from Oklahoma, Dorene Hollis Miller is traveling the greatest distance to attend the reunion. The oldest attendee is currently a toss-up between Bud Deitz and Lillian "Blondie" Walli Miller.

"Also, Paul Putman's coming. He's not as old as them, but he's pushing it," said Shelford, who declined giving the age for either Deitz of Miller. Dianna Steinberger Tillion is probably in the same age category as Deitz, Miller and Putman, but Shelford wouldn't disclose her age, either.

"You've got to be careful about saying ages," Shelford explained.

Careful about ages, maybe, but not about the pranks pulled back in the day. Especially those involving outhouses.

"This one old guy got sick of his outhouse getting pushed over," Shelford said. "I think it was Keith Elliott that ran ahead of Lee (Shelford) and the rest of the group and they could see the guy sitting in there with his gun across his lap. ... So, they snuck around back and pushed the outhouse over on its nose. The only way out was through the hole."

Another time, a group of pranksters relocated someone's outhouse to the front of the Heady Hotel now the Heritage Hotel and decorated it with the sign belonging to Rev. Dale Davis of the community church.

"The stuff that went on was hilarious," Shelford said.

The reunion begins at 4:30 p.m. July 25, with a meet-and-greet at Land's End Resort. Dinner is at 6, dessert at 7:30.

"After dessert, we're going to have the emcee, Daryl Oliver, say a little bit and then we'll open the mic for people to get up and share stories and memories," Shelford said. "That should be interesting."

Storytelling will be followed by dancing to music by Johnny B. Throughout the evening, the 540 pictures Shelford has collected will be displayed on a 90-inch screen.

The following day, lunch is planned at Dianna Tillion's Halibut Cove home.

On July 27, Ray and Eileen Kranich are serving lunch at their cabin at Tutka Bay.

"Everybody I've talked to on the phone has said, 'Oh thank you, thank you.' They're so happy someone is finally doing this," Shelford said of the reunion. "It's going to be marvelous."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.