I was born in Richmond, California and grew up in Concord, California. I interviewed my father's parents, William Clark Lewis, Jr and Hattie Rowell, back in 1980 for a family tree school project. That summer I traveled back to Oklahoma where both of my parents, Elbert E Lewis and Christine Marie Gurley, were both born and raised. When I met Opal Lewis Melton (my grandfather's younger sister) in Oklahoma City I was fascinated by all of the beautiful family photos she had on the walls of her home. I then new their names and faces and received copies of many photos and documents from my Great Aunt Opal.

We then went on to Ada where most of my mother's family lived. Her parents were Joseph Samuel Gurley and Mary Alice Oliver. We met with Mary Alice's youngest brother, Floyd Franklin Oliver and his wife Bessie Margaret Wyatt. She was a genealogist like Opal and shared lots of photos, documents and a family tree information with me. She also took me next door to the Pontotoc County Genealogical Society and showed me the information about my family in that county's history book that had been recently published.

In the matter of a few weeks I learned so much about my great grandparents' families on both my father's and mother's sides! I loved organizing the photos and documents and with my mother's help we started our own family history book.

I was only 17, and would not begin doing research until I was in college, but eventually made connections to help me find my Gurley and Rowell family lines. Back then we used legal size paper to complete our family tree lines and family group sheets, but soon there were new computer software programs that you could enter in details about each family member and then print out these same sheets on standard letter sized paper and create binders with them.

I enjoyed many years working with my mom gathering and discovery more photos and documents to validate and increase our family's tree. Without her knowledge of family members who she personally knew I never would have made it to where I am today. She died at the age of 94 on February 8, 2018. I still miss her, but as I continue to research our families I feel her close to me, still guiding me and pushing me along.

I am grateful for many aunts, uncles and cousins, who have also helped me through the years. They continue to inspire me to find and share all that I can on our ancestors, who sacrificed so much during their lives to help build a better life for their children and posterity.

Find A Grave has always been one of my favorite sites as it helps us to share memories, photos and even documents of our ancestors for free. I have used Anscectory.com for many years and love FamilySearch.org because it is free and easy to share with everyone just like Find A Grave.

I enjoy helping others start their own family histories and am currently the Director of the Oklahoma City Family History Center. I never dreamed I would end up living in Oklahoma, where both of my family lines lived before the state was formed in 1907. We moved our family to Edmond, OK in 1997 and remain here today : )

I was born in Richmond, California and grew up in Concord, California. I interviewed my father's parents, William Clark Lewis, Jr and Hattie Rowell, back in 1980 for a family tree school project. That summer I traveled back to Oklahoma where both of my parents, Elbert E Lewis and Christine Marie Gurley, were both born and raised. When I met Opal Lewis Melton (my grandfather's younger sister) in Oklahoma City I was fascinated by all of the beautiful family photos she had on the walls of her home. I then new their names and faces and received copies of many photos and documents from my Great Aunt Opal.

We then went on to Ada where most of my mother's family lived. Her parents were Joseph Samuel Gurley and Mary Alice Oliver. We met with Mary Alice's youngest brother, Floyd Franklin Oliver and his wife Bessie Margaret Wyatt. She was a genealogist like Opal and shared lots of photos, documents and a family tree information with me. She also took me next door to the Pontotoc County Genealogical Society and showed me the information about my family in that county's history book that had been recently published.

In the matter of a few weeks I learned so much about my great grandparents' families on both my father's and mother's sides! I loved organizing the photos and documents and with my mother's help we started our own family history book.

I was only 17, and would not begin doing research until I was in college, but eventually made connections to help me find my Gurley and Rowell family lines. Back then we used legal size paper to complete our family tree lines and family group sheets, but soon there were new computer software programs that you could enter in details about each family member and then print out these same sheets on standard letter sized paper and create binders with them.

I enjoyed many years working with my mom gathering and discovery more photos and documents to validate and increase our family's tree. Without her knowledge of family members who she personally knew I never would have made it to where I am today. She died at the age of 94 on February 8, 2018. I still miss her, but as I continue to research our families I feel her close to me, still guiding me and pushing me along.

I am grateful for many aunts, uncles and cousins, who have also helped me through the years. They continue to inspire me to find and share all that I can on our ancestors, who sacrificed so much during their lives to help build a better life for their children and posterity.

Find A Grave has always been one of my favorite sites as it helps us to share memories, photos and even documents of our ancestors for free. I have used Anscectory.com for many years and love FamilySearch.org because it is free and easy to share with everyone just like Find A Grave.

I enjoy helping others start their own family histories and am currently the Director of the Oklahoma City Family History Center. I never dreamed I would end up living in Oklahoma, where both of my family lines lived before the state was formed in 1907. We moved our family to Edmond, OK in 1997 and remain here today : )