Author Archives: Roxanne Lowe

Remembering Frank McLean: A Legacy of Leadership and Service

by Roxanne Lowe

The Board of the Washington State Genealogical Society is saddened to inform you of the death of Frank McLean of Yakima.

Whether you knew Frank or not, you likely knew of his accomplishments and contributions to Washington pioneers and our WSGS family.

Frank McLean

Frank joined WSGS in 1986 and remained a dedicated and contributing member until his passing on Monday, June 8, 2026. He served as President, Vice President and most recently, as Treasurer. Frank was named a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and YVGS Yard Sale Team Award Volunteer for 2018.

Frank was instrumental in the development of the WSGS Centennial Pioneer Certificate Project, working with others who shared the vision of tracing all pioneers and Indigenous individuals living in Washington Territory at the time of statehood on November 11, 1889. He devoted countless hours reviewing submitted genealogies, carefully verifying source documentation, and helping add approximately 44,000 names to the WSGS Pioneer database.

In 2023, Frank assumed a similar role with the Pioneer Pursuit program. An excellent researcher and historian, he diligently reviewed more than 2,750 names of those living in Washington at statehood, ensuring that all supporting documents were accurate and well-sourced. His commitment to ensuring those genealogies would be available for free on the WSGS website is a testament to his commitment to family history.

In addition to his service with WSGS, Frank was President of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and also served on its Board. He was deeply involved in his local organization, the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, where he served in many roles, including President, Membership Chair, Publicity Chair, and Bulletin Printing Assistant. He also headed the society’s semi-annual yard sale and, since 2004, served as Building and Maintenance Supervisor for its library. As the society’s “tech guy,” Frank helped digitize thousands of obituary records from paper files and index cards and kept the computer working. Frank was also involved in copying and extracting information from Yakima County School Census records from 1900 to 1930.

To learn more about Frank, read his “Meet the Board” feature on the WSGS Blog here.

Frank is survived by his wife, Delma Roloff McLean and sons Bruce, Scot and Mark and wives and grandchildren and preceded in death by daughter Ann. Brookside Funeral Home, Yakima is handling the arrangements.

Donna McLain Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Donna McLain of Longview, Washington who was selected by the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Donna has been a member of LCGS for many years, and during her tenure she has served as a member of the society’s board, as a greeter at in-person meetings and two terms as secretary.  Her secretarial skills are outstanding, and her minutes are presented in a very businesslike and detailed manner.  She has also been an active participant on the program committee, and she recommends presentations of interest. Donna is a great asset to our society, as she consistently offers thought-provoking input to all board discussions, and she is always willing to see a project through to its completion

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Michele Norton Mattoon Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Michele Norton Mattoon of Seattle, Washington who was selected by the South King County Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Michele has been treasurer of SKCGS for several years, performing all the duties of the office very efficiently.  In addition, she has taken on side projects of sorting and cataloging newspaper obituary clippings and digitizing miscellaneous society records. These are projects she has quietly completed for the posterity of the society.

Michele’s dedication behind the scenes is greatly appreciated by the society.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Tina Lawson Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Tina Lawson of Auburn, Washington who was selected by the South King County Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Tina has made a quiet impact since she joined our society, volunteering to solve problems as we moved from mostly in-person meetings to a mostly online group during COVID. She took our Google workspace, and made it work for both the board, our members, and eventually, our website. She even figured out how to keep our website constantly updated, teaching all responsible parties how to edit the shared calendar, spreadsheet, or PDF document, which show up on SKCGS.org. She figured out how to include our blog posts and index in the website.

Tina also quietly created a publicity team who worked together seamlessly, sharing information about our meetings and our mission widely. She also volunteered to lead the bylaws team, which brought us into compliance with the new Washington State non-profit law.

As a board member, Tina helped each of us use our online tools effectively, and used her experience both in business and in other non-profits to help us develop plans, surveys, and programs, raising our success and enthusiasm greatly.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

LeeRoy Kind Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing LeeRoy Kind of Marysville, Washington who was selected by the StillaguamishValley Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

LeeRoy spearheaded the Weller’s Funeral Home Card Project for SVGS. This project required the digitization of 4,000 3×5 cards. These cards span funerals from the 1880’s to the 1980’s and contain valuable family data which had not been publicly available until now. He also indexed the cards in preparation for loading them onto our website.

When the project stalled, LeeRoy stepped up and completed it on his own. LeeRoy’s willingness to work from home, as well as during his volunteer shifts at the library, has been instrumental in completing this project. We continue to be grateful for his diligent work ethic.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

How to Post Your Meetings and Events on the WSGS Blog and Website

by Roxanne Lowe

Do you want to broadcast information about your local society, workshop, genealogical tip, or a research query? Just send it to the WSGS Blog and WSGS Meetings and Events! Your post will be seen by more than 1,100 genealogists from around the state and beyond. Just email a Word document, text file, PDF or graphic to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org and Info@wasgs.org and we’ll do the rest!

We’re always looking to publicize local events and workshops, feature stories, updates from your society, and other genealogical information that might be of interest to our many subscribers and viewers.

We hope to hear from you soon! And don’t forget to encourage your Society members to subscribe to the Blog for the most up-to-date information from around the state.

Bill Grant Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the late Bill Grant of Arlington, Washington who was selected by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Bill began as a volunteer with SVGS in 2017 and continued supporting the society until his death earlier this year.  He served as a volunteer librarian, working every Saturday afternoon.  He also served as Education Chair  for several years.  He had deep roots in New England and Nova Scotia and was a great resource for people looking to research those areas.  He was a member of the monthly New England Research Group where his knowledge was especially appreciated.  He counted Benjamin Franklin and five other signers of the Declaration of Independence in his “family tree.”

Bill’s cheerful smile and helpful attitude will be missed by all.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org.

Ann Eklund Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Ann Eklund of Bainbridge Island, Washington who was selected by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Since joining BIGS in 2021, Ann has consistently been a vital and willing contributor. For several years, Ann has infused our special events—from Antiques Roadshow and BIGS at the Beach to the Winter Holiday Celebration and our milestone 20th Anniversary Party—with her unique “magic.” Drawing on her background as an educator and school administrator, Ann has masterfully organized volunteers, cultivated genuine connections among members, and thoughtfully critiqued each event, creating a blueprint for the next time around. Her efforts are always delivered with a warm smile and an open and positive attitude.

Ann was elected to the BIGS Board in 2024, where she has continued her work with our special events, creating a committee charter and yearly workplan. Her skills in organizational and team management are valuable assets, greatly appreciated by her fellow board members.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Jim DeLucia Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Jim DeLucia of Ferndale, Washington who was selected by the Whatcom Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Jim is recognized for his outstanding contributions to WGS since 2018. As head of Research-Reviews, he assists global researchers from Canada, Switzerland, England, and the U.S., connecting people with their heritage. Jim also serves as the editor of the monthly newsletter, keeps society publications updated, and manages commun­ications as the primary email contact, fostering collaboration. Jim’s work with the Web Team has improved the website, increasing membership.

Jim maintains 4,373 files on his home computer and has converted research publications into accessible CD formats, preserving historical data. He curates the society’s library of old items and helps craft outreach letters. An active member of the “Missing in America” project for six years, Jim exemplifies dedication and service. Jim’s contributions significantly benefit the society and community, making him a deserving nominee for this volunteer award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Barbee Buchanan Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Barbee Buchanan of Yakima, Washington who was selected by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Barbee has been a member of YVGS since 2015.  A retired educator, she has the skills to do our monthly book review, encouraging members to go to our shelves and not always the internet.

Barbee is a librarian every Wednesday and on the second Saturday of each month.  She is willing to be a substitute if someone is gone.  She is working on a marriage records’ project of our old index cards verifying the information is correct before the information is added to our database.  Barbee covers our library phones during yard sale week.  She has been on the vice-president’s program committee for the last 8 to 10 years and is our check-in person at these events.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.