I happened across this website in 1997 and love visiting here; many of my friends tease me thinking it odd to have such a fascination as this. I have always liked walking thru cemeteries, old and new, looking at stones and reading their stories. It's not a fascination about their death, to me it's more about the person's life and their contribution in this world be it small and perhaps insignificant to us but how huge it was for the ones who knew them. I love to share their stories, their tears and most importantly their memory.

When I found this site it was interesting to read about famous people but now my searches are more about everyday people. I added my father first, his parents and a few friends and check back occasionally to make additions and research memorials to track down and connect family members. With all the new additions to this site I have discovered a great deal recently about my ancestry and am enjoying finding out 'where I came from' ... Additionally I am hoping to offer info to other memorials in the hopes of filling in the blanks for someone else who may be searching their backgrounds.

The direct relation family Graves I search for are Werts; Wertz; Strunks; Mills; Golladay; Murray; Ressler; Rasor; Ruxer; Hartley & Watt.

Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all of my Ancestors are behind me. be still they say. Watch and Listen. You are the result of the Love of thousands.
~Linda Hogan, Native American Writer


Dear Ancestor,

Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you laughed and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.

~ Author unknown

I happened across this website in 1997 and love visiting here; many of my friends tease me thinking it odd to have such a fascination as this. I have always liked walking thru cemeteries, old and new, looking at stones and reading their stories. It's not a fascination about their death, to me it's more about the person's life and their contribution in this world be it small and perhaps insignificant to us but how huge it was for the ones who knew them. I love to share their stories, their tears and most importantly their memory.

When I found this site it was interesting to read about famous people but now my searches are more about everyday people. I added my father first, his parents and a few friends and check back occasionally to make additions and research memorials to track down and connect family members. With all the new additions to this site I have discovered a great deal recently about my ancestry and am enjoying finding out 'where I came from' ... Additionally I am hoping to offer info to other memorials in the hopes of filling in the blanks for someone else who may be searching their backgrounds.

The direct relation family Graves I search for are Werts; Wertz; Strunks; Mills; Golladay; Murray; Ressler; Rasor; Ruxer; Hartley & Watt.

Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all of my Ancestors are behind me. be still they say. Watch and Listen. You are the result of the Love of thousands.
~Linda Hogan, Native American Writer


Dear Ancestor,

Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you laughed and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.

~ Author unknown