I believe we cannot know where we are going till we know where we have been. Having never known 3 of my grandparents means there was an empty space. Grandfathers have no pictures and paternal grandmother is only a photo. I now have her headstone. I have a connection.

Photos I take are for all of you, use them if you want. They are, however, very much family photos and I frown on most commercial uses of them.

Headstones do not just mark a place of rest, they tells us about the person, the times, the family. That is true, whether the stone is fancy, plain or missing. They tell us a story.

We are a nation of immigrants. We came here over the oceans. We went everywhere. Now, we look to see who we are and where we left family.

Now for the photos. I will endeavor to get the best picture possible. I usually take several and use my computer to achieve the best outcome. However, I have discovered that what looks good on my screen does not always transfer.

If you have noticed that the days seem to be cloudy. I have found I get better photos with cloud cover. Besides, I personally do better in shade and cool. I like to walk but sunny hot days are not my thing.

Oregon is also subject to wind, rain, snow and ice. Along with time, they take a toll on our headstones. Include environmental factors and the headstones can acquire a black covering that takes constant removal or a strong arm with extremely firm brush. On Memorial Day I watched a woman clean a family headstone for over an hour. When I talked to her, she remarked: 'I need to go home and get more bleach.' I do try to brush off and use some water to remove the dirt somewhat. However, these headstone do not belong to my family. I refuse to inadvertently damage them trying to get a better photo.

Lastly, we have clay here in Oregon and that means even the flattest ground, not covered by pavement, but including it, has pot holes. Walking is not fun.

As for exact location of the grave, I get that from the manager when I can. But, I like to walk, so you will get the section only because that's what I did.

I live in the 97128 zip code. That is the area around McMinnville, OR. There are five cemeteries list: Evergreen, St James, South Yamhill, Happy Valley, and the Masonic cemeteries in Mac and Lafayette.

There are 2 cemeteries I am not likely to visit. First, Happy Valley. It is way up in the hills and I understand there is no signage to show you the way. Second, is the Masonic cemetery at Lafayette. Lafayette's gate is never been open when I have driven by. Both have been subjected to vandalism. Both overgrown and records are incomplete, scarce. If I can get company, I might try it.

South Yamhill is a 'Pioneer' cemetery and some of our first Oregonians are buried there. It is very accessible and still a working cemetery. Its records I understand are also incomplete. It is, however, steep and on a hillside.

Evergreen, St James and the Masonic here in Mac. They are very near me.

So, to Evergreen and St. James. These are 2 separate cemeteries although the map makes them seem together separated by hwy. 47. Evergreen is north of 47 and a secular, for want of a better word. St. James is a Catholic cemetery. They have separate management.

Evergreen Memorial Park has 3 mausoleum areas. The largest has 8 building. The 2 oldest comprises of graves for above ground burial and niches for cremations. There are family plots and a special screened off area called the 'Baby cemetery' Still at the edge of the roadway along section D, there are two rows made up of almost exclusive infant markers. Not all infants are buried in either place. As long as there is space, you can choose to be anywhere within it for the most part. It has good records.

St James is another hillside but seems well laid out. It does have records. There is the bottom of the hill having the oldest graves, many are family plots. At the top is the alter and behind it a flat area where most current burials take place. Along the hedge that screens the cemetery from Hwy 47 are 2 row of infant graves.

The Masonic Cemetery in McMinnville is another hilly place. It also is well laid out. There are sections from the 1800's. Records appear to be well kept. After visiting it, it appears that abt. 2/3 are family plots. Some family's have several plots. Family plots are sectioned off and a cement barrier paced around it. Many have large family markers where those buried have their names and dates engraved. Smaller stone can mark each grave and others, individual markers.

The McMinnville Masonic is old with some graves well over a hundred. It contains many of McMinnville's founding families. Still, it is not regularly mowed and shrubs and trees can cover headstones easily. It also seems to have several unmarked graves. There is a 'Potter's Field' located here. But all in all, on a warm day with nice breeze, it is a pleasant place to visit.

There are other places in the area. On Hwy 99W, at the Wilco store, there is Malone's pioneer cemetery. It is well keep but must be about 20 ft. sq. Out side the 97128 area, there are many more.

I will do the best for you in a timely manner, if I can. I understand that these photos bring connections that otherwise may not be fulfilled.

As for when I add memorials, most are my own family. However, there are time when I find a marker or a series of graves that call to me. I take pictures and then check to see if they are already on and if there are any others with the same last name on that cemeteries list. If not, I go the my Ancestry.com and see what information I can gain about them. I add a memorial.

What grieves me most, however, is that these markers of persons past and their history is fading fast. For those who are now and maybe in future looking for connections of family, they may soon enough be gone.

Sincerely Nancy

I believe we cannot know where we are going till we know where we have been. Having never known 3 of my grandparents means there was an empty space. Grandfathers have no pictures and paternal grandmother is only a photo. I now have her headstone. I have a connection.

Photos I take are for all of you, use them if you want. They are, however, very much family photos and I frown on most commercial uses of them.

Headstones do not just mark a place of rest, they tells us about the person, the times, the family. That is true, whether the stone is fancy, plain or missing. They tell us a story.

We are a nation of immigrants. We came here over the oceans. We went everywhere. Now, we look to see who we are and where we left family.

Now for the photos. I will endeavor to get the best picture possible. I usually take several and use my computer to achieve the best outcome. However, I have discovered that what looks good on my screen does not always transfer.

If you have noticed that the days seem to be cloudy. I have found I get better photos with cloud cover. Besides, I personally do better in shade and cool. I like to walk but sunny hot days are not my thing.

Oregon is also subject to wind, rain, snow and ice. Along with time, they take a toll on our headstones. Include environmental factors and the headstones can acquire a black covering that takes constant removal or a strong arm with extremely firm brush. On Memorial Day I watched a woman clean a family headstone for over an hour. When I talked to her, she remarked: 'I need to go home and get more bleach.' I do try to brush off and use some water to remove the dirt somewhat. However, these headstone do not belong to my family. I refuse to inadvertently damage them trying to get a better photo.

Lastly, we have clay here in Oregon and that means even the flattest ground, not covered by pavement, but including it, has pot holes. Walking is not fun.

As for exact location of the grave, I get that from the manager when I can. But, I like to walk, so you will get the section only because that's what I did.

I live in the 97128 zip code. That is the area around McMinnville, OR. There are five cemeteries list: Evergreen, St James, South Yamhill, Happy Valley, and the Masonic cemeteries in Mac and Lafayette.

There are 2 cemeteries I am not likely to visit. First, Happy Valley. It is way up in the hills and I understand there is no signage to show you the way. Second, is the Masonic cemetery at Lafayette. Lafayette's gate is never been open when I have driven by. Both have been subjected to vandalism. Both overgrown and records are incomplete, scarce. If I can get company, I might try it.

South Yamhill is a 'Pioneer' cemetery and some of our first Oregonians are buried there. It is very accessible and still a working cemetery. Its records I understand are also incomplete. It is, however, steep and on a hillside.

Evergreen, St James and the Masonic here in Mac. They are very near me.

So, to Evergreen and St. James. These are 2 separate cemeteries although the map makes them seem together separated by hwy. 47. Evergreen is north of 47 and a secular, for want of a better word. St. James is a Catholic cemetery. They have separate management.

Evergreen Memorial Park has 3 mausoleum areas. The largest has 8 building. The 2 oldest comprises of graves for above ground burial and niches for cremations. There are family plots and a special screened off area called the 'Baby cemetery' Still at the edge of the roadway along section D, there are two rows made up of almost exclusive infant markers. Not all infants are buried in either place. As long as there is space, you can choose to be anywhere within it for the most part. It has good records.

St James is another hillside but seems well laid out. It does have records. There is the bottom of the hill having the oldest graves, many are family plots. At the top is the alter and behind it a flat area where most current burials take place. Along the hedge that screens the cemetery from Hwy 47 are 2 row of infant graves.

The Masonic Cemetery in McMinnville is another hilly place. It also is well laid out. There are sections from the 1800's. Records appear to be well kept. After visiting it, it appears that abt. 2/3 are family plots. Some family's have several plots. Family plots are sectioned off and a cement barrier paced around it. Many have large family markers where those buried have their names and dates engraved. Smaller stone can mark each grave and others, individual markers.

The McMinnville Masonic is old with some graves well over a hundred. It contains many of McMinnville's founding families. Still, it is not regularly mowed and shrubs and trees can cover headstones easily. It also seems to have several unmarked graves. There is a 'Potter's Field' located here. But all in all, on a warm day with nice breeze, it is a pleasant place to visit.

There are other places in the area. On Hwy 99W, at the Wilco store, there is Malone's pioneer cemetery. It is well keep but must be about 20 ft. sq. Out side the 97128 area, there are many more.

I will do the best for you in a timely manner, if I can. I understand that these photos bring connections that otherwise may not be fulfilled.

As for when I add memorials, most are my own family. However, there are time when I find a marker or a series of graves that call to me. I take pictures and then check to see if they are already on and if there are any others with the same last name on that cemeteries list. If not, I go the my Ancestry.com and see what information I can gain about them. I add a memorial.

What grieves me most, however, is that these markers of persons past and their history is fading fast. For those who are now and maybe in future looking for connections of family, they may soon enough be gone.

Sincerely Nancy