Hosts: Beth Perry Johnston, Florence and Larry Bowe, Kitty and Darrell Leabo, Evaline and Bob Bixby, Charlotte Perry
    
    The theme of this 35th Gerking Family reunion was “Honoring Our Founders.”  Florence and Larry Bowe had decorated the Seal Rock Community Club with banners, pictures and items of historical family interest.
    Kitty Leabo, using wheat from the former Hal Gerking ranch plus some other wheat, had made beautiful favors for reunion guests. The wheat was tied with colorful calico ribbon and gave an old-fashioned pioneer look to the favors.
    Using the guest book which has been at every Gerking reunion since the reunions were begun, Beth Johnston had prepared a notebook containing notes about each reunion and the names of those registered for each reunion. The front cover of the notebook featured a “Reunion Honor Roll” showing the names of those who had attended 13 or more reunions. It was noted that of those on the “Honor Roll,” Florence and Larry Bowe (29 years),  Opal Richey (28 years), Darrell and Kitty Leabo (24 years), Maude Wells (22 years), Sterling and Arthena Cox ( 20 years), Julia Gerking Hammond (15 years), and Lola Graves (13 years) were in attendance at this reunion.
    At 11:00 a.m. family memebers gathered at the Seal Rock Community Club in Seal Rock, OR for a praise service led by the Bixby family.
    The potluck meal featured fresh tuna prepared to perfection by Chef Dennis Langston of Newport, OR.
    Following the meal, President Martha Wells called the business meeting to order.

Approval of Minutes
    In reference to the family poll taken at the 1993 reunion, Florence Bowe noted that while 22 people said they were descended from James Gerking, James was the son of Jonathan Rice Gerking; therefore, everyone present was a descendant of Jonathan Rice Gerking, and some also are descendants of James Gerking.
    It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the 1993 Gerking Reunion with Florence’s statement duly noted. The motion passed.

Financial Report
    Treasurer Beth Johnston said the savings account balance as of July 31, 1994 was $1,132.73.

Correspondence
    Letters expressing regret at not being able to attend the reunion had been received from Wally Young of Honolulu, HI; Evelyn Finke of Syracuse, NE and her sister, Edith Manschreck of Cook, NE; Betty and Dorwin Robinson of San Jose, CA; Kathryne Voelker of Arlington, VA, and Fay H. and Drusilla B. Ferree of Denver, CO. The Ferrees had also sent along copies of  the Ferree / Gerking family history they had prepared for distribution at the reunion.
    A thank-you card for the Family’s donation had been received from the Blue Mountain (Kees) Cemetery.

Other Business
    Florence reported she is still concerned about conditions at the former Kees Cemetery where Jonathan Rice Gerking is buried.
    It was moved by Sterling Cox that the Gerking Family Association commit itself to donating $50.00 per year for upkeep of the Kees Cemetery and that the subject of the donation be brought up at each reunion for reconfirmation. The motion was seconded and passed.
    President Martha asked Florence to contact the cemetery and suggest those in charge get in touch with other families whose ancestors are buried there to see if they also would contribute to upkeep.
    In response to a question, Florence said while no firm proof exists, there are enough signs pointing to a German birth for John Gerking that she feels comfortable saying he was born in Germany.
    For the progenitor roll call, Florence provided a listing of the children of Jonathan Rice and Nancy Ann Myers Gerking. Of their 13 children, 4 were represented at the reunion, with 15 descendants of James, 5 of Benjamin Franklin, 6 of Samuel Isaiah, and 2 of Nancy Angeline.

Election of Officers
    President Martha told the group that as long as her mother, Maude Wells, is willing to travel to the reunions, Martha would be happy to serve as President if the group wished. She then opened the floor for nominations.
    Sterling Cox nominated Martha Wells for President, Beth Johnston for Secretary-Treasurer, and Florence Bowe for Historian. It was moved by Maude Wells that Sterling’s nominees be elected by acclamation. The motion was seconded and passed.

Next Year
    Concern was expressed at the low attendance at recent reunions plus the fact that almost no younger people attend any more. A general discussion produced suggestions that the family consider making sure the reunion site was “child-friendly,” holding the reunion in the same place every year, and perhaps making a Gerking T-shirt. Everyone agreed that the family needs to think seriously about whether or not the reunions  will be able to continue without an infusion of younger blood.
    President Martha called for volunteers to host next year’s reunion, and there were none. She then asked anyone who would like to volunteer later contact her, Florence, or Beth by April of next year.

Founders’ Day Program
    Florence give a presentation on the origins of the Gerking Family reunions and then presented a birthday present to Lola Graves in honor of Lola’s birthday being the same day as John Gerking’s. All sang “Happy Birthday” to Lola. Florence explained the significance of many of the photos decorating the room, including those of reunion founders Ethel Gerking Leabo and Bill Perry and former family historian, Will Junkin. One of the pictures was of a lovely cake made  by Kitty Leabo for the first reunion; Kitty, too, was presented with a gift by Florence.
    Florence also had prepared a family history  quiz which was enjoyed by and proved to be a learning experience for all present.

Prizes and Talent
    Prizes were given to Maude Wells, the oldest person present; Connie Anderson, the youngest; and to Sterling and Arthena Cox, who had traveled from the farthest distance to attend the reunion. Additional prizes were given to those present who had also attended the first reunion (Darrell and Kitty Leabo, Florence and Larry Bowe, Maude Wells, Julia Ann Gerking Hammond, Arthena and Sterling Cox, and Beth Perry Johnston).
    Lenora Beck Shearer was recognized for her dramatic presentation of a poem, and John Shibley for his story-telling ability.

    A collection was taken to defray reunion expenses, and $126.00 was received. There being no further business, President Martha then adjourned the business meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Beth Perry Johnston, Secretary

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Allen, Jim    Spanaway, WA Allen, Vesta    Spanaway, WA Anderson, Connie J.    Willamina, OR Beck, Oliver (Oz)    Echo, OR Bixby, Bob (James R.)    St. Helens, OR Bixby, Evaline    St. Helens, OR Bixby, Gerry    Tacoma, WA Bixby, James R. (Bob)    St. Helens, OR Bixby, Jay    St. Helens, OR Bixby, Joe    Tacoma, WA Boehi, Mary Cleve    Florence, OR Boehi, Ron    Florence, OR Bowers, Dick (guest)    Newport, OR Bowers, Frances (guest)    Newport, OR Bowe, Florence Chappell    Portland, OR Bowe, Larry    Portland, OR Cox, Arthena    Redlands, CA Cox, Sterling Q.    Redlands, CA Dreske, Marvin    Aloha, OR

Gerking, Claude    Rainier, OR Graves, Lola    Richland, OR Hammond, Julia Gerking    Hillsboro, OR Johnston, Beth Perry Wasby    Newport, OR Langston, Dennis (guest)    Newport, OR Leabo, Darrell    The Dalles, OR Leabo, Edith (Kitty)    The Dalles, OR Lewis, Paul A.    Eugene, OR McBurnett, Susan Dreske    Aloha, OR Perisich, Florence    La Pine, OR Purvine, Ken    Hillsboro, OR Purvine, Mary Lou Gerking    Hillsboro, OR Richey, Opal    Hillsboro, OR Shearer, Lenora Beck    Estacada, OR Shearer, William    Estacada, OR Shibley, John    Estacada, OR Shibley, Margaret    Estacada, OR Wells, Martha    Portland, OR Wells, Maude    Vernonia, OR