I have been my family's genealogist since my dad started writing his autobiography in 1989. (He was a United Methodist minister from 1933 until his death in 2003--nearly 70 years. His book, The Mob and The Flock, by Paul N Jewett, was published posthumously in 2010).

The families I started researching were my dad's maternal ancestors--Hunsaker and Basler (to be sure the info in his book was correct, as I was typing the manuscript into the computer for him). Since my dad's family genealogy was already published (Jewett), I then added my mom's ancestors (Billig, Kistler, Boyer, Ritter and Stang--all of German descent). I gradually expanded my research to include my husband's family (Paulson and Larder), and our sons' inlaw families (Conery and Beckhardt).

When I discovered Find-a-Grave in 2008, I became interested in becoming a contributor because I noted during my research that many direct ancestors were not included, or memorials were incomplete. A niece was a contributor so I, too, became a member and began adding the records from my research. Where existing memorials were incomplete, I suggested to those contributors the info that would complete their memorials. Some of those memorials were subsequently transferred to me.

I have enjoyed communicating with other genealogy contributors ... it has increased my commitment to include as many family members to this public record as possible.

I have been my family's genealogist since my dad started writing his autobiography in 1989. (He was a United Methodist minister from 1933 until his death in 2003--nearly 70 years. His book, The Mob and The Flock, by Paul N Jewett, was published posthumously in 2010).

The families I started researching were my dad's maternal ancestors--Hunsaker and Basler (to be sure the info in his book was correct, as I was typing the manuscript into the computer for him). Since my dad's family genealogy was already published (Jewett), I then added my mom's ancestors (Billig, Kistler, Boyer, Ritter and Stang--all of German descent). I gradually expanded my research to include my husband's family (Paulson and Larder), and our sons' inlaw families (Conery and Beckhardt).

When I discovered Find-a-Grave in 2008, I became interested in becoming a contributor because I noted during my research that many direct ancestors were not included, or memorials were incomplete. A niece was a contributor so I, too, became a member and began adding the records from my research. Where existing memorials were incomplete, I suggested to those contributors the info that would complete their memorials. Some of those memorials were subsequently transferred to me.

I have enjoyed communicating with other genealogy contributors ... it has increased my commitment to include as many family members to this public record as possible.