WAITSBURG - A phone call from Waitsburg resident Laura Jean Hevel's distant relative put responsibility in her hands that she never thought she would have.

That phone call was from Hevel's grandmother's first cousin twice removed, Gail Parsons of Elma. Parsons had been the keeper of the family history, including letters from a very significant ancestor. And Parsons wanted Hevel to have some of her artifacts. Now, she is the keeper of letters and artifacts from her ancestors and has collected the information of her family tree for future generations.

"One day, the phone rang and it was she,"...