____________________________________ From: [email protected] To: [email protected] CC: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Sent: 9/12/2008 12:30:38 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time Subj: Bottorff Hi Sandy, As you know I have been searching for Mary Turner, Helen Bottorff Roop’s daughter who was the informant on Helen’s death certificate. Sometimes I assume too much. I assumed Mary probably lived in Portland. I went to the white pages and then called every Mary Turner I saw listed in Portland. Of course, I was disappointed when I did not find her. I decided I would contact the Portland library. I find when I just ask for a “look-up” I usually get a note saying nothing was found. I sent an email and told them I would make a donation to the library if they could furnish me with a copy of Helen’s obit. Well, I got it today. Here is what it says: Helen Thompson A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 10, 1994, at Bible Temple Chapel. Mrs. Thompson died October 6 at age 76. She was born March 27, 1918, in Hedrick, Iowa, and moved to Portland in 1930. (I do not believe this is accurate. I believe she was born in 1920 in Minnesota. In the 1930 Keokuk County, Iowa census Helen is listed as a 10-year-old girl in the John A. Roop household. According to a letter written by Flossie Rees, Helen married Oscar Chiarini on July 22, 1939. I suspect it was more like 1940 when they moved to Portland.) Disposition by cremation. Surviving are her sons, Danny Thompson and Terry Lee Hobbs of Portland; daughter, Mary Kaye Turner of Sacramento, California; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. I just got home from a bridge game so it is too late tonight, but early tomorrow I will begin a search for her sons in Portland and her daughter in California. Helen died on October 6, and her service was not until October 10. I suspect time had to be allowed for Mary to get there from California. BUT, why would the boys wait for Mary to get there to furnish information for the death certificate??? I suspect her children know very little about her past. Had Helen talked to them about her past, I suspect they would have known her correct birthday and place of birth. Plus, Mary listed Helen’s father as ______Roop and nothing under the mother’s name. I would think even if Helen did not tell her children about the family tragedy, surely she would have talked about the Roop family enough for Mary to have known the name of the lady who was the adoptive mother. Helen was only 5 when her parents died. Note to Jim: Miles Bacon sent me some family information that includes the obit for Mary, your father’s first wife, and the obit for your mother. If you do not already have these, I will be glad to copy them and send them along. Now I can get to bed. I could not wait until tomorrow to share this good news. Patsy **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)