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MARCELLA LEDOUX aka DONDALLY ANN BRESTER
Dondally Ann Brester
DOB 5/30/72
I was twelve years old when I first made the decision to someday find my birthmother. I began searching for her on my eighteenth birthday, and finally found her in Spring 1999. I met her face to face on my 27th birthday, May 30, 1999. Her mental illness is why I was taken away from her at birth, The thought of searching for my birthfather and siblings had never crossed my mind until my birthmother told me about them. I was born May 30, 1972 at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg, Washington. My birthname was Dondally Ann Brester. My adopted name is Marcella Ann Barrett. I was taken into state custody at birth and placed in the foster home of Buford and Naia Wheeler until sixteen months old. My adoption to Lonnie and LaVelda Barrett was finalized April 25, 1974.
MY BIRTHMOTHER ~ IDA MAE ANDERSEN
Ida Mae Andersen
DOB 03/24/1947
My birthmother was born March 24, 1947 and died January 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Her maiden name is Ida Mae Andersen. She has a brother named John Andersen. She was married to Kenneth Gardner between 1964-1966, and they were divorced in April 1970. They had two children (Francis and Kenneth Jr.) who were placed for adoption. She married Dennis Lee Brester in March 1971, and they were divorced in February 1974 (no children). Ida Mae had three children (me, Karen Andersen, and Baby Boy Andersen) with Harold Charles Sallee, but they were never married to each other. Karen and I were both placed for adoption, but it is unclear what happened to Baby Boy. Ida Mae believed that he died but could not remember if it was before, during, or after childbirth.
I was reunited with Ida Mae on May 30, 1999. I spoke to her on the phone a couple times after that, but we did not maintain contact. I attempted to visit her a few years later, but she was not home at the time and did not return my letters or phone calls. I received an email from her best friend in March 2007, informing me that she had died in January. Shortly after that, this friend sent me a package in the mail with several photos, letters, and cards which Ida Mae had left behind for me.
Ida Mae told me that her brother (John Andersen) could give me the details about my birth siblings which she could not remember. I made first contact with him via telephone on October 12, 2002 and learned that he had maintained contact with Frances over the years. He had also been in contact with Karen off and on. He suggested that I contact King County Department of Social and Health Services to obtain information regarding Kenneth. He had no recollection of another boy being born in 1980. He said Ida Mae was diagnosed with manic depression and explosive personality disorder, and that it was in the best interest of all her children to be placed for adoption.
MY BIRTHFATHER ~ HAROLD CHARLES SALLEE
Harold Charles Sallee
DOB 08/02/1935
My birthfather (Harold Charles Sallee) was born August 2, 1935 in Tacoma, WA.. His mother was Helen M. Phillips, and his father was Charles Harold Sallee. Helen was born August 5, 1918 and died September 19, 1998 in Tacoma, WA. Her parents were Charles and Rose Melvin (maiden name Eikes). Harold has a brother named Fred L. Sallee and a step-brother named Billie Phillips. Harold had three children (me, Karen, and Baby Boy) with Ida Mae, but they were never married. Karen and I were placed for adoption, but it is unclear what happened to Baby Boy. Harold had two children (Bruce and Paul) with his wife Bonnie (maiden name unknown). Bruce Richard Sallee was placed for adoption. Paul was raised by his father and grandmother.
One of my letters finally reached Harold in 2002. I spoke with him once via telephone on November 6, just a few days after receiving a letter from him. We exchanged a few letters, cards, and photos over several months. We discussed a mutual desire to meet in person, but he stopped responding to my mail for reasons unknown. He was in very poor health, so it's possible that he may have died.
MY BIOLOGICAL HALF-SISTER ~ FRANCIS GARDNER
WITH OUR BIRTHMOTHER AND HER BIRTHFATHER
Frances Mae Gardner
DOB 11/05/1966
Francis was born November 5, 1966 in Everett, Washington to Kenneth Sr. and Ida Mae Gardner. She was placed for adoption at three weeks old, and her name was changed to Melissa Vannie. She has kept in contact with her birth family throughout her life, and it was John and Mabel Andersen who gave me her contact information in Fall 2002. I had a search angel contact her via telephone and give her my contact information. Frances told the search angel that she would call when she was ready. I sent her a Christmas card and family photo, and she sent a photo back. She did eventually call me and we exchanged some birth family information, but we did not maintain contact.
MY BIOLOGICAL HALF-BROTHER ~ KENNETH FLOYD GARDNER JR. (LEFT)
HIS BIOLOGICAL, ADOPTED, OR FOSTER SIBLINGS??? ~ TRACEY (BACK) AND CHERIE (RIGHT)
Kenneth Floyd Gardner Jr.
DOB 06/18/1968
Kenneth Floyd Gardner was born June 18, 1968 in Seattle,Washington to Kenneth Sr. and Ida Mae Gardner. He was placed for adoption in September 1969 after spending an extended period of time in foster care. It is unclear what happened to him after that, or for how long birth family kept in contact with him. I sent a letter to King County Department of Social and Health Services seeking information in 2002, but this request was denied. In October 2007, I received several items which Ida Mae requested be sent to me upon her death, including photos of Kenneth Jr. from toddler to teen. After posting a picture of Kenneth with two other children (back of photo says Tracey DOB 7/26/62, Cherie DOB 6/26/73, Kenny DOB 6/18/68) someone emailed me some new information. There is a Cherie Rinehardt living in Federal Way, Washington with a "roommate" named Kenneth Gardner. I've not been able to track down an address yet. Cherie may have used the last names Lister or Lucas in the past. I've also been sent a couple of addresses under the listing "Kenneth Gardner" and I believe these may be my brother or his father; I've not yet sent a letter, but will be doing so in the near future.
MY BIOLOGICAL SISTER ~ KAREN ANDERSEN/GARDNER
WITH HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN
Karen Ann Andersen
DOB 11/02/1974
Karen Ann Andersen was born November 2, 1974 in Seattle, Washington to Harold Charles Sallee and Ida Mae Andersen. She spent an unknown amount of time in Ida Mae's custody before being placed for adoption and having her named changed to Denene (?). At some point in time, she was reunited with Ida Mae, Francis, John, and Mabel. The International Soundex Reunion Registry made a match in 2002 the same day I received her last known contact information from John and Mabel. With the help of search angels, she was traced somewhere back east and I made telephone contact with her. We exchanged a few emails and phone conversations, and discussed a mutual desire to reunite. The last contact I received from her stated that she was taking some personal time away, and that she would get back in contact with me when she was ready.
Baby Boy Andersen
DOB 1987 ???
Ida Mae Andersen conceived a fifth child in 1987, confirmed by the copy of an ultrasound picture which was sent to me recently. John and Mabel Andersen have no recollection of this child, and Ida Mae believed that he is deceased. She believed that he was ill at birth and died shortly after, although she said that he may have been miscarried or stillborn.
MY BIOLOGICAL HALF-BROTHER ~ BRUCE
WITH HIS WIFE AND NEWBORN BABY
Bruce Richard Sallee
DOB April 9, 1980
AND
Paul Sallee
DOB Unknown
Bruce Richard Sallee was born April 9, 1980 at Group Health Hospital in Seattle, Washington to Harold and Bonnie Sallee (maiden name unknown). His adopted name is Randall Lee McAleer. I did not know about him or Paul until I was contacted by adopted mother Linda McAleer. I met briefly with his adopted family and wife, but he did not attend because he was due to report at Job Corp. I spoke with him on the phone a couple times, and he never expressed a desire to reunite. I wrote him letters, but never received a response. Linda and I exchanged photographs and birth family information for several months, both trying to locate Harold and Paul. A search angel located Paul and called to give him my contact information. He called me the next day, but after several hours of conversation he remained skeptical that Harold was my father. I gave him Bruce's contact information, and they were reunited a couple days later. Shortly after that, Linda called to tell me that Randy was ending his search for our birthfather and that neither Bruce or Paul wanted any further contact with me.
So that's my story ... atleast, as much of it that I am able to share. Things haven't worked out the way I'd always hoped; but atleast I've found answers to some of my questions. Maybe someday I will be blessed with further knowledge of my birthfamily; if not then the blessing of my own two wonderful children is enough to keep me happy. The following picture was taken before our divorce; their father is now remarried and I will be taking my own marriage vows in the near future.
ME AND MY FAMILY IN 2003
PLEASE LOOK AT THE SIX PHOTOS BELOW THIS FORM.
These were sent to me after my birthmother passed away but they are not labeled.
If you can identify these people or have information about any of my birthfamily
Please use this form to contact me (Be sure to include the photo number).
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