MINUTES OF THE GERKING FAMILY MEETING
August 9-10, 2003 — Athena, Oregon
Fifty-two members of the Gerking Family signed the guest book
at the 44th Annual Gerking Family Reunion held at and near Athena, Oregon. This
was a special reunion, held in conjunction with Athena Christian Church’s
celebration of Heritage Sunday. Heritage Sunday was designed to celebrate the
130th year of the church, which was founded in 1873 by Jonathan Rice Gerking,
and the 100th year of the present building’s existence. The celebration was
also called a homecoming, and family members came from great distances to take
part in this reunion being held at the center of its roots. A list of Gerking
family members who signed the guest book is at the end of these minutes.
Saturday, August 9, 2003
Family members met at Rooster’s Restaurant in Pendleton, OR, for
a wonderful buffet dinner and family meeting. Following dinner President Susan
called the meeting to order. After remarking on the large number present, she
asked all to introduce themselves. It was a great sight to see so many happy
faces enjoying themselves. Many were present who had not attended a reunion for
many years.
Minutes of 2002
Reunion and Treasurer’s Report
Beth admitted to having left the minutes of the 2002 reunion
sitting on her kitchen table but gave a brief synopsis of what she remembered
of the meeting. Calling it a dull year, Beth said the report showed no expenses
during the year of August 1, 2002 through July 31, 2003. The July 31, 2003
balance in the family’s savings account was $1,284.14. Since then expenses for
having the book copied, doing the reunion mailing, and purchasing a Heritage
Sunday Book and CD for Historian Janelle to add to the family’s collection have
totalled $349.00, leaving a current balance of $935.14.
2004 Reunion
A discussion of reasons for the success of this reunion was
held, with some of the reasons being closeness to where the majority of the
family lives, people wanting to come back to their roots, and that it was a
two-day event. It was agreed the 2nd Sunday in August date is still a good one.
In the end, there was great support for holding another two-day reunion in
2004, at an area where camping was available so a Saturday night get-together
for bonfire, singing, etc. could be held. Lyndel Fullen volunteered to host the
2004 reunion August 7-8 of next year at Waterloo Park near Sweet Home, OR. Her
mother, Betty Van Meter, volunteered to serve as co-hostess.
Miscellaneous
• Fifteen more copies
of The Gerking Family in America had been run prior to this reunion.
While some had already been spoken for, Beth said she had brought copies with
her and they are available for purchase at the reunion. Dan Hebert suggested
that the book be burned to a CD, and that idea will be investigated.
• Historian Janelle
Jackson was unable to attend the reunion but had mentioned she is finding it
difficult to find time to both organize and catalogue the family’s genealogical
material and do lookups for family members requesting help. There was
discussion about how to help Janelle, and the suggestion was made that a
co-historian responsible for lookups would work. Alyce Rufi, who had traveled
from Texas to attend the reunion, said she had the Gerking book and computer
access necessary for this and volunteered to serve as co-historian. The group
approved the suggestion and thanked Alyce for her help.
• Nancy (Mrs. Lynden)
Gerking had brought with her a quilt that had belonged to Nancy Myers Gerking
and said she would put it on display following the meeting. It was indeed a
beautiful quilt and in remarkable condition.
Reunion Collection
A collection to cover reunion expenses was held and amounted to
$290.00, which included a $50.00 donation from Alyce Rufi in honor of James
Claude Gerking.
President Susan thanked everyone for attending and gave an
overview of Sunday’s activities, urging everyone to wear their nametags.
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Family members gathered at Athena Christian Church to attend
worship services. A very lively, history- and music-filled service was enjoyed
by those who attended. It was noted during the service that the presence of so
many Gerking family members nearly tripled the usual congregational attendance.
Following the service, there was time to tour the church and also to look
through all the historical items and artifacts the church has collected over
the years — a truly wonderful collection. A history book and CD had been
produced by church members Deborah Johns and Kayla Durfee, and a copy was
purchased for Janelle to add to the Gerking Family history collection.
At noon everyone gathered at Athena City Park for a delicious
picnic put on by the church. Following lunch there was a program of history and
reminiscences, in which some of our family members took part. On behalf of the
Gerking Family, President Susan presented the church with a beautifully framed
picture of Jonathan Rice and Nancy
(Myers) Gerking. The church presented to the family books that had
belonged to Charley Gerking and were found in a farm house that used to be
owned by his family. They also presented three Cradle Roll certificates which
included one for Ardis Dean Gerking in 1908, and two for Clara Blanche Gerking
— one for when she added to the Cradle Roll in 1904 and the other when she
“graduated” to the Primary Department in 1907.
The afternoon program ended at 3:30 p.m. so those traveling
from a distance would be able to get on the road early. Many of the family
lingered afterward to talk more with family and new-found friends.
Over the course of two days the following signed the guest
register:
| Given |
Surname |
Town |
State |
Descent |
| Patty |
Adsit |
Toledo |
OR |
James Gerking |
| Ceridwen |
Atwood |
Aberdeen |
WA |
Mary
Margaret Gerking |
| Bill |
Burnett |
Stanfield |
OR |
Mary
Margaret Gerking |
| Kathy |
Burnett |
Stanfield |
OR |
Mary
Margaret Gerking |
| Edward |
Dreske |
Portland |
OR |
Benjamin
Franklin Gerking |
| Jeannie |
Frantum |
LaGrande |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Jeff |
Frantum |
LaGrande |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Lyndel |
Fullen |
Sweet
Home |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Kelly |
Gabel |
College
Place |
WA |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Diane |
Gerking |
Blanchard |
ID |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Helen |
Gerking |
Milton-Freewater |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| June (Paasch) |
Gerking |
Pendleton |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Laverne |
Gerking |
Milton-Freewater |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Lynden |
Gerking |
Walla
Walla |
WA |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Marvin |
Gerking |
Blanchard |
ID |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Nancy |
Gerking |
Walla
Walla |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Bob |
Gilliland |
Weston |
OR |
Guest |
| William |
Granger |
La
Mesa |
CA |
Benjamin
Franklin Gerking |
| Joe |
Guttridge |
Springwater |
OR |
James
Gerking |
| Wilma |
Guttridge |
Springwater |
OR |
James
Gerking |
| Dan |
Hebert |
Kingston |
WA |
John
E. L. Gerking |
| Diann |
Hebert |
Kingston |
OR |
John
E. L. Gerking |
| Beth (Perry) |
Johnston |
Newport |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Beverly (Gerking) |
Lamont |
Pendleton |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Ladrew |
Lamont |
Pendleton |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Tory |
Lamont |
Pendleton |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Paul A. |
Lewis |
Eugene |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Susan (Dreske) |
McBurnett |
Beaverton |
OR |
Benjamin
Franklin Gerking |
| Blake |
McKinney |
Walla
Walla |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Kristy |
McKinney |
Walla
Walla |
WA |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Coni |
McMaster |
Kelso |
WA |
James
Gerking |
| Joanne |
Moore |
|
KS |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Dwayne |
Palumbo |
Walla
Walla |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Jan |
Palumbo |
Walla
Walla |
WA |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Jeanne (Beck) |
Perdue |
Chewelah |
OR |
James
Gerking |
| Roy |
Perdue |
Chewelah |
OR |
James
Gerking |
| Clayton |
Prussia |
Walla
Walla |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Darlene |
Prussia |
Walla
Walla |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Betty Ann Gerking |
Roach |
Fossil |
OR |
Martin
Peterson Gerking |
| Alyce A. |
Rufi |
The
Colony |
TX |
James
Gerking |
| Margaret L. |
Shearer |
Beaverton |
OR |
James
Gerking |
| Kathy |
Taylor |
Prosser |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Mathew |
Taylor |
Prosser |
OR |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Randy |
Taylor |
Prosser |
WA |
Solomon
Myers Gerking |
| Betty |
Van
Meter |
Keizer |
OR |
Samuel
Isaiah Gerking |
| Margaret (Beck) |
Wells |
Toledo |
OR |
James
Gerking |
| Wally |
Young |
Honolulu |
HI |
James
Gerkin |
Other family members attended the church service and picnic but did not
sign the guest book.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Perry Johnston,
Secretary