In 1926, Catherine Baker Dunlap was born next door to where she now resides with her husband of 64 years. Dr. Hughes from Gresham came out to the family home to deliver her and she has lived in nearly the same spot ever since. Attending school in Aims for grades 1-8, Catherine attended high school in Corbett. She vividly remembers the difficult Depression years. Dad farmed and also sold wood that he logged. Although never hungry living on the family farm, she well remembers putting the high school yearbook together with ribbon because they were not able to get any needed brads to get the job done. After high school graduation, Catherine went to work at the weather bureau set up at Crown Point. The current weatherperson had been drafted, and Catherine was selected for the job! Both her brothers went off to war, one with the Navy, the other with the Air Force. Brother Jim had met Frank Dunlap from Ohio while in the Navy, so when Jim came home from serving, Frank decided to visit him while docked in Astoria. One set of eyes laid on Catherine, and the rest was history! They dated five times while Frank was in Astoria and both knew it was something special. They met in March and married in December. Catherine was 20 years old. Getting married in Gresham, they put together a diesel shed and a grain house to create a home. This is the home they currently reside in, and have added on a total of six times! Giving birth to two daughters, Catherine had difficulties with her pregnancies. After the age of 40 when the girls were 12 and 14, she and Frank still yearned for more children, so they went on to adopt SEVEN children. Not all of the children were white, and they were a variety of ages as well. All adoptions were from the Children's Services in Portland. The road they live on has been moved over the years so that their home is nearly right on the road. As a result, they have had numerous folks stop over the years for assistance or just to say "hello." They try to always leave their light on, and help all that stop by. Over the years Catherine has been involved with all her children's activities as well as being involved with the PTA and and on the school board. When folks think of someone living a very FULL life, they need to think of Catherine Dunlap!
