I was born and raised in Wellston, Ohio, the youngest in a family of 6 children that made it to adulthood. I joined the military in my early 20s, married, and had 4 children of my own. My mother had begun compiling family histories and genealogy records for as long as I could remember. Shortly before she died in 2003, I joined Ancestry and started to formally compile family records. Through Ancestry, I discovered and joined Find-A-Grave. It is extremely satisfying to remember the departed and to unite family members in death, even though they were separated through circumstance or events when they were alive.