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The incessant march of time continues to take a huge toll on our extended family of tens of thousands of cousins.  

Sadly, in the years that have elapsed since July 1, 2000, when we started counting with precision, an alarming number of Minerd- Minard- Miner- Minor cousins and spouses has passed away, all of them descendants of southwestern Pennsylvania pioneers Jacob and Maria (Nein) Minerd Sr. We extend our deepest sympathy to their loved ones.

The data suggest that, on average, we lose a cousin or their spouse every 2.53 days. No epidemic illness is at work. Rather, it's the normal cycle of life, reflecting the family's enormous headcount, aging of the baby boom generation and the backfilling of past years' data as we learn more. It's a staggering toll, but certainly is not comprehensive, as we have no true way of knowing the status of every single branch of the clan.

Only a miniscule fraction of the total names at death was some form of M-M-M-M -- less than one percent. Not surprisingly, everyone else carried some other, different name -- more than 99 percent.  This is because, as the family has grown to an immense population, the proportion of cousins who descend from females doubles with each succeeding generation, and with that the number of other names.

January 1, 2020 to Present (48):

Daniel Lee Norris - Moatsville, WV - May 26, 2020

Family of George Riley Minard

Karen Lee (Mayle) Hill - Newark, OH - May 26, 2020

Family of Stephen T. Minerd

Robert L. Bryner Jr. - Connellsville, PA - May 24, 2020

Family of Mary Eleanor (Firestone) Bryner Rhome

Sandra (McKnight) Engle Brown - Canfield, OH - May 19, 2020

Family of William Stewart McKnight

Barbara (Patterson) Spease - Washington, PA - May 18, 2020

Family of Grace Olive (Miner) White

Jacob Aaron "Jake" Shaffer - Stoystown, PA - May 16, 2020

Families of Oakey David Harbaugh and Annie Gertrude Shroyer

Christie Renee (Miner) Mastache - Canton, OH - May 16, 2020

Family of George Riley Minard

Sharon Lynn (Jewell) Kennedy - Massillon, OH - May 8, 2020

Family of John Henry Kennedy

Jonevieve "Jonnie" (Spoor) Fletcher - Greenfield, IN - April 27, 2020
Family of Rachel (Minerd) Mayle

Ora Ray Liston - Mill Run, PA - April 25, 2020

Families of Oakey David Harbaugh and Annie Gertrude Shroyer

Arthur Robert Horstman - Greensboro, NC - April 19, 2020

Family of Laura Edna (McKnight) Horstman

Iris Lola (Crawford) Carmichael - Clarinda, IA - April 18, 2020

Family of Lola Rebecca (Minard) Crawford

Tina Rooks - Columbus, OH - April 17, 2020

Family of Stephen T. Minerd

William Glenn Pirl Sr. - Normalville, PA - April 13, 2020

Family of Franklin Miner

Lloyd Waner "Fickle" Mayle - Shinnston, WV - April 8, 2020

Family of Rachel (Minerd) Mayle

Reid Dalton Ritenour Sr. - Elyria, OH - April 7, 2020

Family of Ida (Murray) Ritenour

Louis Anthony Stryker - Frontenac, KS - April 7, 2020

Family of Orville Baldwin Minerd

Robert G. "Bob" Mayle - Chesterhill, OH - April 3, 2020

Family of Inez Gertrude (Hayes) Crippen

Jackson D. Conn - Confluence, PA - March 29, 2020

Family of William Austin Rowan

Robert R. Gorsuch - Hooversville, PA - March 19, 2020

Family of Carl V. Gorsuch

Deborah Ann (Szwed) Parfitt - Alverton, PA - March 18, 2020

Family of Austin J. Firestone Sr.

John William Hiles Jr. - Round O, SC - March 13, 2020

Family of Daisy (Minerd) Hiles Predilla

Donna J. (Shroyer) Kistner - Connellsville, PA - March 11, 2020

Family of Charles H. Rose

Larry Francis Miner - Canton, OH - March 9, 2020

Family of John Andrew Miner

Mark Imler Eno - Phoenix, AZ - March 8, 2020

Family of Minnie (Younkin) Rhoads

Betty Jean (Minerd) Dennis - Hopwood, PA - March 8, 2020

Family of James Whalen Minerd

Zachary Thomas Highsmith - Newport News, VA - March 6, 2020

Family of Orlan Lloyd Miner

Robert Francis Lostetter Sr. - Oakdale, PA - Feb. 27, 2020

Family of Edward John Miner

Sandra Kay (Torrence) Meeks - Canton, OH - Feb. 23, 2020

Family of Mary (Mayle) Croston Hunter

Debra (Bruening) Rodman - Maryland - Feb. 21, 2020

Family of John Walter Miner

Linda L. (Mayle) Miner - Canton, OH - Feb. 17, 2020

Family of George Riley Minard

Clifford Miner Sr. - Philippi, WV - Feb. 14, 2020

Family of George Riley Minard

Carol Gene Zollars - Waynesburg, PA - Feb. 11, 2020

Family of Cleveland Farabee

Christopher Redding - Lumberton, TX - Feb. 9, 2020

Family of David "Nesbit" Miner

Benny Joe "Ben" Rodeheaver - Kingwood, WV - Feb. 5, 2020

Family of Alfred Rankin

Thelma (Adams) Rodeheaver - Kingwood, WV - Feb. 4, 2020

Family of Alfred Rankin

Mark W. Nicklow - Connellsville, PA - Feb. 4, 2020

Families of Alvin Howard Jennings Sr. and Julia Ann (Ream) Nicklow

Debra Ann (Kepics) Minerd - Poland, OH - Feb. 3, 2020

Family of Thomas Minerd

Cyrus M. Meyers - Indian Head, PA - Jan. 27, 2020

Family of Rachel Ruamy (Long) Pritts

Beverly Lynn (Dalton) Miner - Philippi, WV - Jan. 21, 2020

Family of George Riley Minard

Eunice Juanita (Armstrong) Fergason - Durant, OK - Jan. 20, 2020

Family of Laura (Brown) Barnum

Bonnie L. Sanner - Connellsville, PA - Jan. 17, 2020

Family of Ida (Murray) Ritenour

Mary Louise (Richards) Miner - Trafford, PA - Jan. 14, 2020

Family of Franklin Miner

Donna Jean (Shroyer) Smith Harman - North Huntingdon, PA - Jan. 13, 2020

Family of Laura Belle (Younkin) Shroyer

Jeremy D. Rowh - Canton, OH - Jan. 12, 2020

Family of Sarepta (Kennedy) Mayle

Susan Elizabeth Lenhart - Beaufort, SC - Jan. 11, 2020

Family of William Austin Rowan

Garry L. Kennedy - Canton, OH - Jan. 7, 2020

Family of Opha Cleophas Kennedy

Danny Eugene Johnson - Amsterdam, OH - Jan. 6, 2020

Family of Ruth Ann (Minerd) Mayle