Contributors and Researchers

We would like to thank the wonderful people who helped make this web site possible by sharing their information, research, documents and photos.  By pooling our resources, we all gain a more complete and accurate view of our ancestors.  We appreciate your generosity which benefits all who are interested in the families on this web site. [Our apologies if we've inadvertently failed to add someone to this list.]  

	Fay Atchley Sandy Augusta Will Babb Sherry Berthot Carroll Biddix David K. & Marsha Biddix Larry A. Biddix Randy Biddix Alvin & Betty Bittick Betty Bittick Mrs. Clifford Bittick Clinton A. Bittick Dwight Bittick Mrs. Eugene Bittick George B. “Bruce” Bittick Joan L. Bittick Johnny M. & Jane Bittick Nanette Bittick Rollie Joe "Pete" Bittick, Jr. Ruby Bittick Ruth Thompson Bittick Alyce Bitticks Jan Bowers Shari Brame Janet Brewer Dorothy Howell Brown Thelma Brown Forrest W. Budd Roger Burnett Ron Butler Sally Byers Elizabeth Calvery Gary Carson Maxine Williams Carter Nina Castillo Ara Belle Bittick Clark Betty Wease Clark Sherry I. Clark Rachel M. Colvin Joyce Comer Melanie Cook Alyson Crippen Bill Currie Rebecca Dally Lavonda Declippel Gary Dewey Alice Dollahan David H. Dolson
	Patricia Doughty Pansy Ruth McLaughlin Duckworth David C. Ellis Vane Elms Cathy Erwin Melba Fisher Joan Hall Forbes Myrtle M. Freeman Allen Freudenrich James Fritsch Danna Gibson Mark Gillespie Thelma Goodwin Darlene Green Johnnie Smith Griffin Midge Hall Betty Harmon Jerry Harper Jim Harrison Doris Bittick Hays A. J. Heck Ruth A. Helvy Doug & Sarah Guinan Henggeler Susan Wallace Hervey Nellie C. Hiday Kim Hilderbrand Allan and Ida Hill Mary Hill Lewis Hornaday Jane Howard Brec Humber Jessie Maude Ikard Patricia Jobski Joni Johnson Earl Bittick Jones Lee Jones Shirley Sherrell Kates John & Lee Ann Kay Robert Glen & Carole Ann Kirby Robert 'Shawn' Kirby Fannie Lee Nan Lee Winnie Lee Danny & Annette Leer
	Wanda Maloney Charlotte Maness Jesse Mathews Margaret Ferguson Maulin Anita McKinney Sue McLaughlin Robert G. Melson Dorothy L. Miller Charles Nahlik Lavinia Nance Elisabeth Napper James Wendell Nave Hugh and Betty Bittick Neal Mark & Shannon Neely Susan I. Nelson Robert J. Owens Jane Paessler Melinda Hamilton Patrick Pam Parry Vi Parsons Edward B. Peed Sandra Perry Suzann Hubbard Peters Justin Pittman Edith Pomeroy Louis E. Pondrom Marianne Cowan Pyeatt Sharon Reed-Miller James & Tina Reno Charles A. & Versal Rogers Eddie & Tamala Rogers Chuck Rowe Lynn Salonen Claudia Schlueter Deb Schmidt Beverly Shikles Paula Sisco Della (Bittick) Smith Carolyn Thomas Sorensen Barbara Spray Joanie Stoy Sherry Taylor Millard Thompson Frances Titsworth Rich VanWagenen T. V.  & Joyce I. (Perryman) Vessell Kathy Waddoups Dene Walls Larry Washam Ramona Bittick Watson Paul T. White Carol Ann Williams Brice Willis Garron M. & Fern Woodruff Michael & Diana Wright

WE, THE STORY TELLERS

We are the chosen. My feelings are in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors.

To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve. To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before.

We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called as it were by our genes.

Those who have gone before cry out to us:  Tell our story. So, we do.

In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us?

How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do? It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen.

The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it.

It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us.

That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.

That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.

(Unknown Author)