Next Saturday Seminar - October 12, 2019
Our usually 3rd Saturday Seminar is moved up to the 2nd Saturday due to early voting at the library. Join us Oct. 12 with your genealogy questions to ask of our panel of experts!
Where: Haggard Library program room, 2501 Coit Rd., Plano (map)
When: 10:15 till 12:30
Topic: Panel of Experts - bring your genealogy questions!
Download the flier here.
Where: Haggard Library program room, 2501 Coit Rd., Plano (map)
When: 10:15 till 12:30
Topic: Panel of Experts - bring your genealogy questions!
Download the flier here.
Dining Out and General Meeting - October 16, 2019
Join us Wednesday, October 16, for our Annual General Meeting Dinner. We will enjoy dinner, a recap of the last year's activities, and voting on members to join the Board of Directors for the next two years.
Where: Outback Steakhouse, 1509 N. Central Expy, Plano (map)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019 at 7:00pm
Dinner is $25 which includes a choice of entree (Outback Special, Chicken on the Barbie, or Perfectly Grilled Salmon), choice of side (mashed potatoes, baked potato, veggies, or broccoli), bread, choice of house or Caesar salad, and gratuity. You may pay at the door but please RSVP to Jean Funk before October 14th (so we can make name tags and know how many handouts and seats are needed). Dinner choices will be made at the restaurant that night.
Download the flier/menu options here.
Where: Outback Steakhouse, 1509 N. Central Expy, Plano (map)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019 at 7:00pm
Dinner is $25 which includes a choice of entree (Outback Special, Chicken on the Barbie, or Perfectly Grilled Salmon), choice of side (mashed potatoes, baked potato, veggies, or broccoli), bread, choice of house or Caesar salad, and gratuity. You may pay at the door but please RSVP to Jean Funk before October 14th (so we can make name tags and know how many handouts and seats are needed). Dinner choices will be made at the restaurant that night.
Download the flier/menu options here.
Time to Renew Your Membership
It is that time of year again - the Genealogy Friends year runs October 1st to September 30th so now is the time to renew!
Individual - $30.00
Family - $50.00
Pay at a meeting or mail to:
Genealogy Friends
PO Box 860477
Plano, TX 75086-0477
Individual - $30.00
Family - $50.00
Pay at a meeting or mail to:
Genealogy Friends
PO Box 860477
Plano, TX 75086-0477
September Newsletter
Here is a link to the September newsletter. Our past newsletters may be found in the Newsletter Archives under the Publications tab above.
Brenda Kellow
Brenda Kellow, the founding president of Genealogy Friends, died unexpectedly on August 10.
Brenda Joan Burns Kellow was a true daughter of Texas and of Collin County. Her family had been in Texas for five generations. She was born in McKinney. Her parents were from the Lucas/Wylie area of the county and her grandparents lived in St. Paul. During her youth, her family lived at Avenue P and 14 th Street in Plano. Brenda attended Mendenhall Elementary in Plano the first year that it opened. She graduated from Plano High School when it was located on Avenue H in what is now called the Cox building. She liked to tell people that she had three after-school jobs – she worked in a dress shop for a couple of hours while the owner took an afternoon nap; she ran the cash register at a restaurant where they fed her; and she sold popcorn at the local movie theater. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Plano. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in history.
After graduation Brenda got a job as a librarian at Collins Radio in Richardson. That is where she met her future husband, Bob Kellow. Bob and Brenda were married for 58 years. They had two daughters -Renee and Liz- and two grandsons – Nicolas and Michael.
Brenda developed a passion for family history and genealogy. At one time she joined 27 lineage societies “just to prove she could.” She was a Certified Genealogy Instructor. She taught genealogy classes at Collin County Community College and at SMU-Plano for a number of years. She had a knack for getting people enthused about researching their ancestry. For almost 25 years she also wrote a genealogy column for the Star Media newspapers, which consists of fourteen newspapers in the local area.
Brenda was instrumental in establishing Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries and served as its first president for several years. She was still a Board Member at the time of her death.
The Kellows moved to St. Paul about 14 years ago to build a house on land that members of Brenda’s family had lived on for many years. She loved living in the country where she hand-fed the cows and named all of her “grand-calves.” Brenda was a member of the Wylie Northeast Special Utility District Board of Directors and Bob is on the St. Paul Town Council. They are members of Corinth Presbyterian Church in Parker, which is the church where her parents were married.
A memorial fund has been established for Brenda with Genealogy Friends. Proceeds from the fund will be used for the genealogy section of the Haggard Library in Plano. Mail contributions to GenFriends, PO Box 860477, Plano, TX 75086-0477.
Brenda Joan Burns Kellow was a true daughter of Texas and of Collin County. Her family had been in Texas for five generations. She was born in McKinney. Her parents were from the Lucas/Wylie area of the county and her grandparents lived in St. Paul. During her youth, her family lived at Avenue P and 14 th Street in Plano. Brenda attended Mendenhall Elementary in Plano the first year that it opened. She graduated from Plano High School when it was located on Avenue H in what is now called the Cox building. She liked to tell people that she had three after-school jobs – she worked in a dress shop for a couple of hours while the owner took an afternoon nap; she ran the cash register at a restaurant where they fed her; and she sold popcorn at the local movie theater. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Plano. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in history.
After graduation Brenda got a job as a librarian at Collins Radio in Richardson. That is where she met her future husband, Bob Kellow. Bob and Brenda were married for 58 years. They had two daughters -Renee and Liz- and two grandsons – Nicolas and Michael.
Brenda developed a passion for family history and genealogy. At one time she joined 27 lineage societies “just to prove she could.” She was a Certified Genealogy Instructor. She taught genealogy classes at Collin County Community College and at SMU-Plano for a number of years. She had a knack for getting people enthused about researching their ancestry. For almost 25 years she also wrote a genealogy column for the Star Media newspapers, which consists of fourteen newspapers in the local area.
Brenda was instrumental in establishing Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries and served as its first president for several years. She was still a Board Member at the time of her death.
The Kellows moved to St. Paul about 14 years ago to build a house on land that members of Brenda’s family had lived on for many years. She loved living in the country where she hand-fed the cows and named all of her “grand-calves.” Brenda was a member of the Wylie Northeast Special Utility District Board of Directors and Bob is on the St. Paul Town Council. They are members of Corinth Presbyterian Church in Parker, which is the church where her parents were married.
A memorial fund has been established for Brenda with Genealogy Friends. Proceeds from the fund will be used for the genealogy section of the Haggard Library in Plano. Mail contributions to GenFriends, PO Box 860477, Plano, TX 75086-0477.
Microsoft OneNote Users Group
On the third Monday of every month, the new Microsoft OneNote User Group will meet in the Genealogy Section of the Library from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The group will focus on using MicroSoft OneNote to organize your genealogy research plans and research results. See the page for more information - OneNote Users Group.
Plano Old City Cemetery Association
The Plano Old City Cemetery Association (POCCA) is a non-profit, non-perpetual care association founded by descendents of those buried within its boundaries and other interested parties. Its mission is to preserve, restore and protect the property, gravesites, monuments and other appurtenances within the Plano Old City Cemetery located at 12th and H Streets in Plano, Texas. Any person who supports the mission of the Association is eligible for membership. Membership is by application & payment of dues, download the membership form here.
Ancestry.com Membership Discount
If you are an AARP member, you can save 30% off a World Explorer membership to Ancestry.com for one year. More information on Ancestry.com.
