Bio-Miner, MinnieGary

Minnie (Miner) Gary
(1892-1985)

Minnie Edna (Miner) Gary was born in 1892 in Hexebarger, near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of Ephraim and Rosetta (Harbaugh) Miner.

Minnie married Jacob Arthur Gary (1884-1969), the son of John and Catherine (Ansell) Gary. As a young man, Jake labored as a timberman in nearby Barronvale, Somerset County, and is said to have met Minnie when boarding at her parents' home.

The Garys had 12 children -- Harry R. "Pappy" Gary, Charles Glenn Gary, Lester Elwood Gary, Roselyn Erma "Rosie" Trimpey-Henry, Lillie Fern Brocht, Gladys Louise Kreger, Katherine Olive "Katie" Hoover Mostoller, John R. Gary, Edna Tressler, Frank Ferling Gary, Norman Clark Gary and Paul Gary.

At the time of Minnie's death in 1985, her brood of offspring had grown so large that the Somerset Daily American reported that her survivors numbered as follows: 40 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren.

The Garys first resided in Middlecreek Township. After the death of Minnie's father Ephraim in 1921, they moved back to Hexebarger, eventually purchasing his home. They were said to have been "proud people who were never afraid to work or afraid to try. Community involvement was always big in the family."

Logging railroad and laborers at Barronvale at the turn of the century, which may show Jake among the crew.

According to a memoir by great-granddaughter Melissa Kreger-Lintz, "They were the generation that went through the 'Great Depression.' Everyone in this generation was very effected by it. They were always kind of funny about food and wasting things, for example, using everything and eating everything. No one was ever allowed to throw away anything."

In the photo seen at right likely was taken in the 1930s, after their first seven children had been born.

Despite tight finances, Jake is said to have purchased a pound of candy every two weeks on pay day, so each of his children would receive a piece for themselves.

Minnie and Jake were strong Christians, and were lifelong members of the Old Bethel Church of God. They are known to have attended many of the Harbaugh Reunions over the years. They imparted a strong sense of faith and family in their children, a quality which shows in the lives of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Three of the offspring -- Gladys, Frank and Norman -- each celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary. Today the family holds an annual reunion in Rockwood, PA, in July.

Jake and Minnie (front, center) and their entire brood of adult children, likely taken at the Kingwood IOOF Grove circa 1950

Virtually all their sons worked in the coal fields and/or clay mines of Somerset County. Eldest son Harry, for example, was a coal miner for 43 years, starting at Belltown and Acosta, PA; then to clay mines at Fort Hill, PA in the 1940s; then with A&A Coal in the '50s; and at Shamrock, PA for Black Beauty Coal (1948-1955); Brush Creek Valley Co. (1957-1962) and for Everett Snyder from 1963-1967.

Sons John and Lester and son in law Harold Kreger, and perhaps others, served in World War II.

At some point, Minnie's cousins Emma (Miner) White and Lucy (Bedillion) Martin came from Washington, PA for a visit. Minnie's daughter Gladys helped cook a meal for their most welcome visitors. Later in life, in 1981, long after Emma and Lucy had died, other cousins of the Farabee branch came to Kingwood to meet Minnie. Among other questions, Minnie asked the Farabees if they knew what had become of Emma and Lucy.

The Garys enjoyed the annual Harbaugh Reunions. They are known to have attended in 1955-56 and 1964-67 when they received the award for "Longest Married Couple," in 1957 when they won the award for "Largest Family in Attendance" and several other years when Jake was "Oldest Man" and Minnie was "Oldest Woman."

Somerset newspaper coverage of the tragic death of grandson in law Lloyd F. Sterner

The family went through more than its share of heartache. Son Lester lost a finger in a mining accident. Son in law Edward C. Trimpey died at age 42 in 1956, leaving his wife Rosie and nine young children at home. Son in law Julius W. Hoover died in 1971 at age 56, leaving his wife Katie and four children. Grandson Harold R. Gary died at age 31 in 1964, leaving one infant daughter. Grandson Orville Gary, age 21, was killed in an automobile accident in August 1965. Grandson in law Lloyd R. Sterner died in a workplace accident in June 1969, at the Ankeny Bros. Lumber Co., when, said a newspaper, he was "struck in the abdomen by and end of a six-by-eight inch timber that was kicked back by a gang edger he was operating... The 14-foot timber was being fed through the machine under heavy air pressure when the accident occurred."

Jacob died at home on Feb. 27, 1969. He was laid to rest in the nearby cemetery of the Old Bethel Church of God. The old graveyard is at the corner of the old 500-acre farm once owned by Minnie's great-grandparents, Jacob and Catherine (Younkin) Minerd Jr., dating to 1829.

Minnie outlived him by 16 years. On a hot August day in 1978, as a teenager, Minerd.com founder Mark Miner and his parents went to Kingwood to search for their family's roots. By chance (or was it fate?), they had an opportunity to meet Minnie at her home. The color photo seen here of Minnie was taken that day. She spent an hour or two seated in her kitchen, telling them stories about her life, and her father's experiences in the Civil War. It was a defining and inspiring moment in our family research effort.

[For a more detailed description of this extraordinary visit, see "My Brush with History: The Day Ancient Voices Came Alive When I Met a Civil War Veteran's Daughter."]

Minnie passed away on April 13, 1985, at the age of 93. She was buried beside her husband at the Old Bethel Cemetery, on a hill above the valley where her great-grandparents, Jacob and Catherine (Younkin) Minerd Jr., settled in about 1803.

Jake and Minnie are pictured and featured in Book II of Down the Road of Our Past, Vol. II, published by the Rockwood Area Historical and Genealogical Society. Sons in law Ed Trimpey and Julius Hoover also are pictured in the book in connection with their work for General Refractories Company. The Garys also are pictured and mentioned in the October 1995 issue of the Hexie Gazette newsletter, published by the late Clyde B. Miller.

Minnie and her role in inspiring the family research are mentioned in an article, "Family Is Everything," authored by the founder of this website and published in the Fall 2008 edition of Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine.

She and Jake also are pictured and prominently described in a 2011 book about her father -- entitled Well At This Time: the Civil War Diaries and Army Convalescence Saga of Farmboy Ephraim Miner. Their son Norman Clark Gary and daughter Gladys (Gary) Kreger also are mentioned in the volume. The book, authored by the founder of this website, is seen at right. [More]

At rest, in the Old Bethel Church of God cemetery

Son Harry "Pappy" Gary (1909-1985) married Cora Grace Sanner (1910-1975) on Aug. 30, 1928, when he was age 19, and she 18. They had eight children -- Betty Jane McClintock, Patrick "Jean" Phillippi, Harold R. Gary, Howard R. "Bob" Gary, James E. Gary, Nola Marie Sterner Hoover, Judith K. Gary and Orville F. Gary.

Harry was a coal miner for 43 years. In his early years, he mined at Belltown and Acosta, PA. Later, in the 1940s, he worked in the clay mines at Fort Hill, Somerset County. In the 1950s, he labored for A&A Coal and at Shamrock, PA for Black Beauty Coal (1948-1955). From 1957 to 1962, he mined coal for the Brush Creek Valley Company, and from 1963 to 1967 for Everett Snyder. He was a member of the UMWA Local 1742. He was president of the Somerset County Trappers Association in his leisure.

Tragedy struck Harry and Cora with the loss of four of their children over the years -- in December 1941 when their seven-month-old daughter Judity K. Gary died; in April 1964, when married son Harold died of heart disease; and in August 1965 when son Orville, age 21, was killed in an automobile accident near Meyersdale. They also faced heartache when son in law Lloyd R. Sterner was killed in a sawmill accident in 1969.

Daughter Patricia "Jean" Gary (1931-2003) was the same age as some of her uncles and aunts. She married Charles O. "Wimpy" Phillippi. The Phillippis had two children -- Teresa Baker and Merle R. Phillippi. Jean was active in citizens groups and loved to play bingo. Charles was an Army veteran of World War II, and a longtime coal miner. He passed away at age 77 on March 22, 2000. She died at age 71, at the home of their son in New Centreville, Somerset County, on March 27, 2003. They rest in Laurel Cemetery in Rockwood.

Son James E. Gary (1935-1992) married Carol Shanks. They had six children -- David Gary, James Gary, Eugene Gary, Allen Gary, Kathy Gary and Sandra Gary. James was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and a member of the Rockwood American Legion Post. James died on March 3, 1992, at the age of 56, and was laid to rest in the Rockwood Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Son Howard R. "Bob" Gary (1934-2011) was born on April 21, 1934, in Hexie. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and was a coal miner early in his adult life. Later, he was employed for many years as a lineman with a telephone company in Pittsburgh. He was married and had two sons -- Howard Gary Jr. and Mark Gary. Said the Daily American: "He was an accomplished woodworker and carpenter who demonstrated at Mountain Craft Days and the Springs Folk Festival." He and his relatives "made many biblical canes from wood and sold them, donating all proceeds to Sought Out Ministries in Somerset. he was a longtime Boy Scouts of America leader and received many awards, including the Presidential Award for Scouting. Howard enjoyed feeding God's birds at Siemons [Lakeview Manor] and was a great lover of nature. Most of all however, he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Bob passed away at the age of 76 on March 11, 2011, with interment at Highland Cemetery in Garrett, Somerset County.

Son Charles Glenn Gary (1911-1974) married Frances Pritts (1922-1980), the daughter of Edmund and Isabelle (Yoder) Pritts. They were 11 years apart in age. Charles and Frances had four children -- Fred Richard "Brownie" Gary, Charles E. Gary, Leona Ulery and Kenneth R. Gary.

They resided in Markleton, near Kingwood. Charles was a longtime coal miner, and a member of the United Mine Workers of America. He died on Aug. 30, 1974 at the age of 63.

Frances outlived him by 16 years. She slipped away in death on July 17, 1980. They rest together at the Old Bethel Church Cemetery.

Their son Fred Richard "Brownie" Gary (1940-1996) died at age 55 while at work behind a Sears building along Route 31. Said the Daily American, "He had a history of heart problems and apparently suffered a fatal heart attack while unloading old refrigerators in his truck, police said." The date of his passing was Feb. 7, 1996.

Son Norman Clark Gary (1914-2002) was a coal miner for 43 years, laboring in the fields of Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. On Sept. 30, 1935, at Kingwood, Norman married Olive Faidley, the daughter of David and Mary (Gross) Faidley. Rev. J.I. Kalp performed the ceremony.

In 1959-1960, Olive served on the building committee that oversaw construction of the "new" Old Bethel Church of God, across the road from the old church. Then, in 1960, she took part in a mortgage burning ceremony when the church completed repaying a $13,800 building loan ahead of schedule. Said the dedication booklet, "Due to the goodness of our Heavenly Father, the faithfulness of members and friends by sacrificial giving, the indebtedness has been liquidated as of January 1, 1967, approximately four years ahead of schedule." During the mortgage burning ceremony, on Jan. 8, 1967, Olive helped drop the mortgage contract into "the flames." A copy of the program booklet for the mortgage burning ceremony is in the archives of the Historical Society of the Churches of God in Findlay, OH.

Heartache rocked the family in mid-September 1993 when grandson John Wesley Shaulis, age 16 and a student at Rockwood High School, was killed in an automobile accident near New Centerville, while traveling in the northbound lane of Route 281.

Norman passed away on Feb. 15, 2002, at the age of 88, after 66 years of marriage. Norman and Olive are mentioned in a chapter on the "Faidley Families," written by her brother Peter, in the book, Mongst the Hills of Somerset

Old Bethel Church (left) replaced by a newer one, with the 1967 mortgage burning event program booklet

Son Lester Elwood Gary (1916-1986) was a coal miner near Rockwood, Somerset County. He married Dorothy Wanetta Colgrove (1920-2003), the daughter of Edwin and Cora (Vann) Colegrove. Their wedding took place on Christmas Day 1938. Lester and Dorothy had two children -- Evanell Breegle and Elwood "Jake" Gary.

A World War II veteran, of the Army infantry division, Lester is known to have labored for Brush Creek Valley Company in the 1950s and '60s, and was a member of the UMWA. He also was a member of the Somerset VFW and Disabled American Veterans of Meyersdale. Dorothy, said the Daily American, "was retired from the Rockwood School District where she worked in the cafeteria. She was a member of the Rockwood United Methodist Church." Their home was at 676 West Broadway in Rockwood.

In about 1978, Lester responded to a letter from the future founder of this website, and provided information about the Civil War service of his grandfather, Ephraim Miner. The original letter is preserved today in the Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Archives.

Lester passed away at age 69 in Rockwood on Feb. 11, 1986. Dorothy lived for another 17 years. She died on Oct. 20, 2003, at the age of 82. They rest together for eternity in the Rockwood Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Son Frank Ferling Gary (1918-2004) married Minnie Mae Engel, the daughter of Ernest and Elizabeth Engel. The Garys were wed in 1940 in the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Frostburg, Allegany County, MD. After their marriage, Frank and Minnie resided in Rockwood for three decades, and then moved to Somerset, where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had two children -- Paul E. Gary and Janet Elaine Orawiec.

Moonlighting and then after retiring from a career in coal mining, Frank assisted Minnie in the operation of Gary's Styling Boutique for 33 years, said the Daily American. He was a member "of Somerset Alliance Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and usher for 30 years. He had been active in both the former Rockwood E.U.B. Church and the Rockwood Alliance Church." Frank also enjoyed gardening and flowers, while Minnie relaxed with hobbies such as sewing, gardening and flowers.

In August 1990, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a special event at the Star-Lite Roller Skating Center Building. The Daily American, which ran a feature article about the anniversary, said that the "highlight of the event was the reaffirmation of wedding vows by Rev. Vance, Somerset Alliance Church." In all, they were married for 64 years.

Frank enjoyed attending Gary Reunions at Rockwood Park, where the founder of this website met him and enjoyed their conversations.

Frank passed away at home at the age of 85 on Feb. 16, 2004. Following a funeral at the Somerset Alliance Church, he was laid to rest in the Rockwood Odd Fellows Cemetery. At the time of Frank's passing, he was survived by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Their son Paul Ernest Gary (1940-2005) was a prominent entrepreneur and businessman in Somerset for nearly four decades. His death at age 65 in August 2005 was the top headline in the Somerset Daily American, where a Somerset County Commissioner said his "efforts on the Route 31 corridor, fixing up storefronts, is phenomenal." He also was lauded for developing the west end of Somerset. The Daily American published a list of 12 companies he owned and another 15 businesses for which he served as landlord.

Hot Rod Magazine, Feb. 2006

Their daughter Janet Elaine Gary (1942- ? ) married Rudy Reid Orawiec, son of John and Kadeene (Pritts) Orawiec. Their nuptials took place on Dec. 30, 1961, at the Rockwood Evangelical United Brethren Church. They resided for more than 30 years in Washington County, PA, and had two children -- Trudi Anne Alexander and Keith Gary Orawiec. Janet served for more than 25 years as an organist at Beulah Baptist Church and Library Baptist Church. She also was employed for more than three decades as a computer analyst with Westinghouse Electric Corporation and John J. McMullen. Rudy worked as manager of seismic and vibration testing for Westinghouse.

Daughter Rosie Erma Gary (1919-1985) was born on Sept. 27, 1919 in Hexebarger. She was married twice -- first to Edward Carl Trimpey (1914-1956), son of William A. and Delila Edna (Younkin) Trimpey.

Rosie and Edward were wed on Oct. 23, 1936, when she was age 17, and he was 22. They went on to have nine children -- Allen Dale Trimpey, Violet "Bunny" Rea, Joan Ansell, Pamela McClintock, Edward Paul Trimpey, Clark G. Trimpey, Harold J. Trimpey, Mark Trimpey and Jacob Trimpey.

Edward died at the age of 42 on June 2, 1956, leaving Rosie a widow at the age of 37. Ed later was pictured in the book, Down the Road of Our Past, Book II, published by the Rockwood Area Historical & Genealogical Society.

After Edward's passing, Rosie made her own living working for Jarmco Poultry Company.

Seen at right, Rosie and Bunny pose in a four generations photograph with Rosie's mother and grandmother Rosetta Miner.

She later married her second spouse, in 1973, Wilbur "Wib" Henry (1919-2000), son of Harvey and Mary Alice (Liston) Henry, grandson of Simon and Salome (Younkin) Liston, and great-grandson of Frederick F. and Sarah (Faidley) Younkin. Wib was "a lifelong farmer who owned the Henry farm which was in the family for over 100 years," said the Daily American. As the farm's original owner was his great-great-grandfather, Somerset County pioneer settler Frederick G. Younkin, Wib graciously allowed his farm to be a stop on the inaugural Younkin-Junghen Reunion tour in 1991.

Rosie passed away on April 29, 1985, at the age of 64. She was laid to rest with her first husband in the Old Bethel Church of God Cemetery.

Their son Allen Dale Trimpey (1944-2005) served in the Navy in the Seabees, and resided in Martinsville, VA, where he "was a counselor and chairman of Alcoholics Anonymous in Martinsville and Danville," said the Daily American. He died at age 60 on May 5, 2005. His remains were returned to Somerset County for burial in Old Bethel Church Cemetery.

Rosie posed proudly in front of their log house and barn in Hexebarger, near Kingwood, just down the road from where her parents and grandparents lived

Their daughter Violet "Bunny" (Trimpey) Rea (1937-2005) married Robert J. Rae, and resided in Ridgway, PA. "She was a past member of the Order of the Eastern Star," said the Daily American. "She had been employed by Alltel Corp. for 26 years before her retirement." Violet died at age 68 in Rigdway. She was laid to rest in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. She was survived by five daughters and two sisters.

Their daughter Joan Trimpey married William Donald Ansell (1935-2000). He worked on industrial construction crews all over the world. William passed away on April 17, 2000. Joan is a horticulturalist and her plantings have been published in the Laurel Leaves newsletter of Laurel Hill State Park. She also attended the 2011 national Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Reunion in a Civil War dress, as part of the Sons and Daughters of Union Veterans of Somerset County.

Trimpey reunion, 1947

Daughter Lillie Fern Gary (1921-2006) married Homer B. Brocht (1921-2002), son of Bruce and Mary Martha (Fisher) Brocht. They were wed on April 26, 1939.

The Brochts had five children -- Roger Brocht, Rickie Brocht, Kathy Hay, Robin Zambanini and Nancy Schrock.

The Daily American noted that Homer "was a retired railroader for the Western Maryland Rail Line with 40 years of service and also farmed and raised beef cattle. He was an avid hunter and fisherman." They resided in Rockwood, and attended the historic Mt. Union Church, where they helped underwrite the cost of new hymnals still in the pews today. They also were longtime attendees of the Old Bethel Church. Said the Daily American, she "was a dedicated, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law and sister to all her family relations and friends."

Homer died on Sept. 14, 2002. Lillie outlived him by four years. She passed away on Oct. 7, 2006, at the age of 85, and was laid to rest beside Homer at the Kingwood Odd Fellows Cemetery. At the time, she was survived by 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Zambo's Country Cottage in New Centerville, near Rockwood

Their daughter Robin Brocht married Mark Zambanini, who at one time was Chief of the Sipesville (PA) Fire Company. In July 2002, the Zambaninis were part of a massive national, state and community-wide effort led by Governor Mark Schweiker to rescue nine trapped coal miners in Quecreek, Somerset County. Among other news media outlets, Mark was interviewed on CNN, Fox, KDKA-TV and in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. They were befriended by broadcaster Geraldo Rivera, and are mentioned in Andrew Morton's book, Nine for Nine, and in the Post-Gazette's book, All Nine Alive! Today they own Zambo's Country Cottage restaurant along Route 281 (New Centerville Road) in New Centerville near Rockwood, Somerset County. Robin and her sister Kathy have donated hymnals to the historic Mt. Union Church near Casselman, used in the 1990s and 2000s for the annual Younkin-Junghen Reunion religious services.

Their daughter Nancy Schrock married Wayne D. Schrock, son of Wayne Delbert and Nancy Jane (Brocht) Schrock. They are pictured and profiled in the volume, 'Mongst the Hills of Somerset. The profile said that the Schrocks' daughters "assist with the farm chores and are active in the Milksquirts 4-H Dairy Club. The Schrock family are active members of the Holy Trinity Lutheran church in Berlin."

Daughter Gladys Gary (1922-1995) married Harold Dalton Kreger (1921-1997), seen here, the son of William W. and Pearl (Clevenger) Kreger, and the grandson of Benjamin F. and Emily J. "Emma" (Younkin) Kreger. Their wedding took place on Nov. 14, 1940, in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD. They resided in Casselman, Somerset County and had three sons -- Harold Dalton Kreger Jr., Larry William Kreger and Kerry Ray Kreger.

As a girl, Gladys was close with her grandmother Rosetta Miner, and they shared a sleeping bed in the family farmhouse. One day, while walking home from a local religious revival, Gladys discovered that the soles of her shoes had worn through, and was afraid that her father would find out and become angry. That night, she prayed that God would somehow provide. Two days later, her grandmother took her to town to buy new shoes, thus instilling a belief in the "power of Jesus," she said.

Harold was a life member and past president of the New Centerville and Rural Volunteer Fire Departments, former emergency medical technician (EMT) and captain of the New Centerville Ambulance Association, and was active with the New Centerville Farmers and Thresherman's Jubilee for many years. He also enjoyed boiling maple syrup, gardening and hunting. Gladys, said the Daily American, enjoyed "quilting, sewing, crocheting, gardening and taking care of grandchildren and her husband." Her beautiful quilts were on display at the jubilees. See one of her creations, a checkerboard pattern, in our Online Quilt Museum. They graciously and lovingly opened their home to the founder of this website one cold evening in November 1991 to share personal remembrances of the family's past.

Gladys passed away in Somerset Hospital on Jan. 6, 1995, at age 72, after suffering for many years with emphysema. They had been married for 54 years. Harold followed her in death nearly three years later, on Nov. 8, 1997, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. They rest together for all time at the Kingwood Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Their daughter in law Reba Kreger was featured in a photograph in the Nov. 29, 2003 edition of the Daily American in connection with the bookshop she owned, Young Heart Books, in Somerset.

Daughter Katherine Olive "Katie" Gary (1924-1989) married twice, first to Julius C. Hoover (1912-1971), the son of Scott and Agnes (Bittner) Hoover. During their married life, the Hoovers had seven children -- Paul Hoover, Beverly McClintock, Brenda Zimmerman and Bernice Haburcsak, and three who may have died young and have not yet been identified.

Julius worked at local clay mines near Fort Hill. He later was pictured with his fellow laborers in the book, Down the Road of Our Past, Book II, published by the Rockwood Area Historical & Genealogical Society. He passed away at the age of 58, at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown, on Feb. 1, 1971. Burial was in Addison Cemetery.

As a widow, Katie provided for herself by working in the factory of Gilmore Manufacturing, where she retired after 15 years of employment. She also was a member of the Kingwood Rebekahs and attended the Somerset Missionary and Alliance Church.

Katie then married her second husband, Clarence "Bud" Mostoller (1931- ? ), on June 2, 1979. He was a construction laborer.

In July 1989, the founder of this website met Katie at the annual Miner Reunion held in Kingwood, at the home of cousin Evanell (Miner) Kimmel Nicklow. They talked and agreed to share information at a future date, including some old family letters and penny postcards that Katie kept in a box at home. The second meeting was destined to not happen. Katie died just two months later, at home, on Sept. 17, 1989, at the age of 65. She was placed at rest beside her first husband in Addison Cemetery.

Son John Gary (1926-1994) was a veteran of World War II. He married Doris Carney (1929-1987), a native of England, and the daughter of John and Claudine (Perridge) Carney.

They had three children -- Rosetta Hostetler, Pauline Leonard and Robert John Gary (who died in infancy in 1954).

The Garys made their home in Markleton, where John was a member of the Kingwood Church of God, Ursina American Legion and Confluence VFW.

John outlived her by seven years. He passed away at home at the age of 68 on Oct. 22, 1994. Burial followed in the Old Bethel Church Cemetery.

Son Paul J. Gary (1931-2010) married twice, first to Dolores Morrison and second to Kathleen Knopsnyder. Paul and Dolores had two sons -- Norman Gary and Mark Gary. Kathleen brought a son and daughter to the marriage -- Richard Gary and Christine Hoover.

Paul "was a member of the Rockwood fire department and the Trinity Reformed Church in Rockwood," said the Daily American. He passed away at the Somerset Hospital, at the age of 78, on May 21, 2010.

They had two sons -- David P. Tressler, who married Suzette Smith, and Donald D. Tressler, who married Renee Glotfelty.

Minnie and Jake's children, grandchildren and un-countable numbers of their offspring have held reunions at the Rockwood Park picnic pavilion in the late 1990s and early 2000s.