TWO - Heppner Gazette-Time?., Hi ppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 10, 1991
Mother, son reunited after 61 years
to cement their lies and help Melvin
establish his roots, they visited the
family cemetery and showed him the
farmhouse where he was bom.
Many more family reunions are in
store, they said. The Morrow Coun
ty folks are looking forward to a trip
to Michigan, and when Melvin
returns, he and his wife plan to spend
a month in Oregon to become better
acquainted with many more of his
relatives.
And he has lots of new-found
family-Anna and her husband,
Felix, who live in Heppner, have
tour children and five grandchildren;
Fran and her husband David, lone
raised one son and two daughters
and have six grandchildren; Joe has
three children and “ numerous”
grandchildren. Sue and her husband
Darrel, live on Buttercreek.
L-R: Fran Barnett, Joe Heath, Sue Vinson, Melvin Gilchrist and
Anna S chw arzin.
A Heppner woman has a new son.
This wouldn’t be unusual in itself,
but the son is 61-years old and has
two children and four grandchildren
of his own.
As a young woman. Sue Vinson
gave up her gave up her eldest son
for adoption at birth 61 years ago in
Kansas. “ My family was very
poor,” said Sue, “ So I gave this son
up for adoption, hoping he would
have a better life. I gave my word
that I would never try to find him.
And I kept my word. But I always
hoped that someday he would find
m e.”
V inson’s son, M elvin, was
adopted by a couple named
Gilchrist, who moved to Michigan
when he was very young. His adop
tion papers were all in order, but his
birth certificate was never transfer
red to the Gilchrists. When he was
16, however, he needed his birth
certificate for proof of age to apply
for a Social Security number. It was
not until then that he learned about
his adoption, because his adoptive
parents had not wished him to find
out.
Many years later, a cousin of the
Gilchrist family, who was tracing his
ancestors through the Mormon
Church records, came across Melvin
Gilchrist's birth record. It also listed
the birth of a daughter, Anna
(Schwarzin) who had been delivered
by the same doctor. But there were
no further clues as to the
whereabouts of these missing
relatives.
When Anna’s father George
Maybury, died, he left his Kansas
property to her. She later sold that
property to a woman who also hap
pened to be a Historical Society
member in Kansas. It was this
woman who eventually gave
Schwarzin’s Heppner address to
Gilchrist.
In 1957 Sue and her two daughters
Anna and Fran Barnett came to
Oregon so that Sue could help keep
house and act as nurse for her
brother-in-law who had recently had
a heart attack and his wife. Fran’s
father had just died and it seemed to
be the time to make a move. Once
in Oregon Sue met Darrell Vinson
and a year later they were married.
Anna and Fran knew that there
was something about a previous
child, but the time never seemed
right to discuss it with their mother.
Then Anna received a letter in
dicating that Gilchrist was seeking
information about his background.
But he voiced concern over his
mother’s health and stressed that he
would understand if Schwarzin did
not wish to respond.
This lead to a mother-daughter
talk that Schwarzin said should have
happened years ago and plans for a
Memorial Day Reunion.
The reunion was a joyful one as
they greeted each other with hugs at
the home of their brother, Joe Heath,
in Kansas. And, Fran says, Melvin
“ fit right in.” She said that the two
brothers, Joe and Melvin, share a
love of antiques.
“ The first time we talked on the
phone,” laughed Fran, “ we talked
for 102 minutes. He’s a real
character. I think he can hold his
own in the family.”
It was a case of everything falling
into place, she added. “ Mother is
thrilled.”
Three days in Kansas, however,
just didn't give them enough time to
catch up on the past, they said. But
Several classes have been added to
the swimming lessons scheduled at
the Heppner pool. Emergency Water
Safety. Advanced Swimming and a
one-week beginner session.
Emergency Water Safety is a
10-hour course scheduled for July 29
to August 2, 9 to 11 a m. Course
prerequisites are: (1) have an
American Red Cross intermediate
swimming certificate; or (2) be able
to sw im continuously for 5 minutes
performing the crawl and side
stroke, jump into deep water, swim
four body longths underwater, sur
face and tread water for one minute.
EWS is a prerequisite to the water
safety instructor course which will
be offered the end of August and first
part of September. The exact dates
will be announced later.
“ The city of Heppner is always
looking for individuals certified for
water safety instructor,” aid pool
manager Sarah Carlson. Minimum
age requirement for WSI is 17 years.
Cost is $15 with a book fee of $2.75.
Advanced swimming is a 10-hour
course planned for August 5 through
9 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Course prerequisites are (1) com
pleted EWS, (2) successfully com
pleted the American Red Cross
sw immer’s course, or (3) be able to
swim continuously for 10 minutes
using any of the basic swimming
Greg Holland, assistant golf pro
from Pendleton, will be giving golf
lessons at Willow Creek Country
Club on July 16.
Beginning classes will be from
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and in-
•
Chemicals « Parts •
Starting Monday, July 15th
7 a.m. - 6 p.m
7 a.m. - 5 p.m
Phone 989-8221
Toll Free - 1-800-452-7396
W asco P arts O u tlet
M-F
Sat.
7 a.m. -
8 a.m. -
Phone 442-5781
6 p.m.
5 p.m.
Morrow County Grain Growers
Í
?50 Mdin
Lcxingion. f>regon
VK9-R22I
*
CENEX
LANDO LAKES
• Tires • Batteries • Chemicals • Parts • Automotive • Calkins • Case IH • Parts •
strokes (craw l, breaststroke,
backcrawl, side stroke), surface dive
to eight feet and perform survival
float for five minutes in deep water.
Advanced swimming is designed
for the skilled swimmer. It provides
an opportunity for individuals to
learn and perfect eight different
swimming strokes as well as entries
and turns. Participants will be swim
ming lengths of the pool.
“ This would be an excellent way
to get into aerobic shape for fall
sports or for anyone interested in the
WSI course to be offered this fall,”
said Carlson. The course fee is $15.
One week of beginner lessons are
scheduled for August 12 to 16.
Beginner III will be from 11:30 to
12:15 p.m.; Beginner II is from
12:15 to 1 p.m.; and Beginner I is
from 1 to 1:45 p.m. The fee is
$7.50.
Courses that still have openings
are the July 15 to 26 swimmer’s
classes from 12:15 to 1 p.m. and the
July 29 to August 9 preschool classes
from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and
intermediate classes from 12: J5 to
1 p.m.
Carlson said that individuals sign
ing up for lessons should be remind
ed that they are not officially
registered for the class until the $15
registration fee has been paid. In
dividuals must register for lessons at
the Heppner pool.
Inetia Cantin (I) and G ary Nolan
Gary Nolan, in charge of
maintenance and housekeeping at
Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Hepp
ner, presented Inetia Cantin with a
plaque commemorating her retire
ment from PMH recently.
Inetia, who is retiring after 16
years as PMH housekeeper, began
her hospital career when Eileen
Wyman
(Laughlin)
was
administrator.
Inetia was honored with cake,
punch, hors d’oeuvres and gifts from
hospital staff and administration at
a party at the hospital July 5.
Mrs. Cantin says that she and her
husband. Merlin, recently acquired
a motor home and plan to do a little
traveling. They have already plann
ed a trip to Merlin’s home state of
Minnesota.
The Cantins have four grown
children, daughters, Linda Wameke,
Montana:
Sharon
W ithers,
Gladstone; and Pam Voltz, Mesa,
Arizona; and a son Leslie, Portland
and nine grandchildren.
Weddings
Golf pro to give lessons at WCCC
H A R VE S T
Mon. - Friday
Sat.
Senior citizens from lone, Lex
ington, Heppner and other areas in
South Morrow County are welcome
to come to St Patrick’s Senior Center
dining room area Tuesday, July 16,
from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. for the
purpose of expressing their concerns
about the health care system in Mor
row County.
There will be opportunity to
discuss the 10 key issues of health
care that came out of community-
wide discussions in late June as well
as other concerns at this first focus
group meeting.
Pastors Grace Drake and Stan
Hoobing will be the facilitators for
this meeting. They are looking for
seniors to give their wisdom and
knowledge and concerns. “ So mark
your calendars and plan to attend.
Your imput is important,” said
Pastor Hoobing.
Pool adds swimming classes
• Hardware » Fire Equipment • Water Tanks « Hose * Nozzles » Full Service Shop » Brain Storage ■ Propane Sales « Tires • Batteries
Î
Seniors needed for
Inetia Cantin retires from PMH
input on health care
termediates will be from 1:30 to 3:30
p.m.
Those interested may sign up at
WCCC or call 676-5437 or
676-5563. A registration fee of $10
is payable in advance to WCCC.
Library hours
reduced
Because of budget cuts the Hepp
ner Library has reduced its hours to
10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays; 1:30 to
5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday, and 1:30 to 7 p.m. on
Wednesdays.
Librarian Dorthy Wilson says that
the library welcomes volunteers and
donated books.
New titles in the library are
“ Secrets of the Morning,” by An
drews; “ Pomp and Circumstance,”
by Stewart; “ Vortex,” by Bond;
“ The Other Side of Love,” by
Briskin; “ Thunder of Erebus,” by
Harrison; “ Sorceress of Darshiva,”
by Edding: “ The Rustlers of West
Fork,” by L’Amour; “ An Occa
sion of Sin,” by Greeley; “ Pacific
Beat,” by Parker; ‘For What It’s
W o rth ,” by Harvey; “ The
Piranhas,” by Robbins; and “ The
Kitchen God's W ife,” by Tan.
The library also has a limited
supply of books on tape, said
Wilson.
Film planned at
Lexington Baptist
A film on the theory of evolution
entitled “ God or Gorilla.” has been
scheduled for Sunday, July 14, at 7
p.m. at the Lexington Baptist
Church.
Darrell Gilyard will deliver the
message. Everyone is invited to
attend.
W e Do
SCREEN
PRINTING
•Labels
•Bumper Stickers
•D ecals
Gazette-Times
676-9228
Hj®
Crawford — Wells
Lori Ellen Crawford and Lt. Robert P. Wells were married May 11, 1991,
in the Chapel at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. The reception was held
at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club.
The bride was given in marriage by her mother and father Clyde and
Wilda Crawford of Eugene, former lone residents. She is the granddaughter
of Irene Dalzell and the late Arthur Dalzell of The Dalles.
The groom's parents are Rose and Dale Archer of Richland. WA and
Dick and Jeanette Wells of Bellingham. WA.
Lori is a 1988 graduate of the University of Oregon. She is a northwest
representative for Mayer/Berkshire Hosiery.
Wells is a 1986 graduate from the University of Washington. He is a
naval aviator of EA 6B Jets, stationed at Whidbey, NAS.
Volunteers sought for clothing
data collection
If you are a mature woman, do
you have difficulty finding attractive
clothing that fits your changing
figure? If you do, you have com
pany. It is recognized that physical
changes in women over 55 make
shopping for clothing difficult.
The Extension system across the
United States is participating in the
collection of measurement data to
develop a new sizing system for
mature women. The Extension Ser
vice in Oregon is seeking volunteers
^
The spirit o f July is
at its most dramatic in
jew elry set with fiery
red r u b ie s and d a z z lin g
diam onds.
We think it’s a terrific way to
light up every day of the year.
Member
Jewelers o( America. Inc
Peterson's
Heppner
• Electncal • Petroleum • lubricanti
to participate in the training on how
to take 57 different measurements
accurately for women more than 55
years of age. The training will be in
Portland in late August.
The trained volunteers will then
take the measurements of women in
their communities. If you are in
terested in participating as a
volunteer data collector, phone
Carol Bennett, Morrow County Ex
tension Agent at 676-9642.
<-v;si
í
Jewelers
676-9200