My interest in genealogy started a few decades ago, sparked by my "Auntie M" who is an avid genealogist and Find-A-Grave contributor. Life with children interfered (but still was time happily spent!) and serious research was delayed until a job with the State of Oregon paid me to do what I love - research people!
As Research Project Manager for the Oregon State Hospital Replacement Project I was honored to manage research of the cremated remains at Oregon State Hospital. The goal of our team was to properly identify each one of the over 5,000 individuals cremated and stored in copper urns. The project culminated in a lovely and respectful memorial to house unclaimed remains and many more have been claimed since.
I must note on here that a talented genealogist (and also a prolific Find-A-Grave contributor) volunteered to assist our team, and is continuing to do her own research and reuniting of those cremains with living relatives. Thank you Phyllis Zegers!
Now I'm happy to focus my love of research mostly on family genealogy and would enjoy the opportunity to manage memorials of relatives, or contribute additional information to those managed by others.