The McNall family legacy continues as Jay and Sherry build their family
By LUELLA DOW
Contributor
Jay McNall said, “My dad, Murray McNall, went to Seward, Alaska to work in a gold mine in 1937. He and some other men had their plans changed and they worked on a road at Moose Pass. In 1937 he met my mother, Betty, they were married and he brought her down to Washington in 1939.”
The McNalls lived at Lind, Wash. where Betty managed a Shell station and Murray ran the “76” garage about a block away. They were friendly competitors.
Jay McNall said, “I was born March 7, 1941, one of the first babies born at Sacred Heart Hospital. My brother, Bill, was born in 1943.” Jay's brother was in such a hurry to see the world he couldn't wait to get to Spokane. He was born at Ritzville. Sister Mary joined the family in 1951 and brother Ed came along in 1956.
In 1947 Murray and Betty McNall moved their family to the wheat ranch. Jay's grandpa and grandma McNall, Jim and Arwilda, then settled on a farm at Rock Lake.
Jay joined the Air Force in 1961. He looked forward to the slogan with the promise of seeing the world. Instead, he was a mechanic in the motor pool at Fairchild from 1961-1965. While still tethered to the Air Force Jay did drag racing at Deer Park and won some trophies.
Sherry McNall said, “On my first date with Jay he took me to meet his folks at a family picnic.” Sherry didn't mind. She likes family get-togethers.
On July 11, 1964 Jay, with very formal, correct language, asked Sherry's dad for her hand in marriage. Her father replied, “Well, if you're going to take her hand, you have to take all of her.” They were married in 1965.
With a dizzying number of moves, Jay and Sherry lived in first one house then another, always living in or near Cheney. Jay worked for 17 years at Dave's Auto, then worked for Ratcliffe Ford until 1987.
Sherry worked for Jim and Darla Emtman for 11 years, then started her own day care business in 1984. She and Jay partnered in that business and several others. In addition Sherry kept the books for NW Systems TWT. “A trucking outfit,” she said, “And NW Microfilm, dealing in medical records.” Sherry was listed in “Who's Who” in 1994.
The McNalls have four children and seven grandchildren, two adopted grandchildren and another grandchild soon to arrive in June. “I'm so proud of them all,” Sherry said
The family works and plays together. With a motion encompassing their home, Sherry said, “This is the hub of our family. It's a family bread and breakfast.”
Jay said, “We've started another family tradition: Monday night dinner and TV.”
The McNalls have done some rock hunting. Jay tumbles them and Sherry has made jewelry. They love their horses, including the mare from the long line of quarter horses we talked about last week. Sherry sums their many activities in one sentence, “Family is everything to us.” And so it is.
Luella Dow in a Cheney-area author who can be reached at lotsaplots1@aol.com.
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