Teresa Chew

After I graduated I moved out immediately and worked assorted jobs, as I couldn’t afford college.  I married Earl Meininger (Tony's older brother) in 1975 who was an officer in the Merchant Marine's on cargo vessel's.  We had 2 wonderful sons, the joys of my life, Otto in 1976 and Earl in 1978.

We bought property on the Washougal River in 1975, lived there until we out grew the cabin in 1978, rented that out (still is rental) and bought a home in Pleasant Valley.  Lived there for 10 years.  Then in 1984 we bought property next door to a cabin on Washougal River (from Marshall Shields, Shield's sporting goods and Fort coach...this property was the last piece of the Shields family 6,000 acre homestead) we had our home built in 1988 and is where I live today.

Since my husband was at sea half the year we decided we didn't care to drive BMW’s and it would be better that I stay home with the boys full time.  As soon as our sons were in school so was I volunteering my time working with children at school any way I was needed, I was sooo lucky to share all that time with my sons.  Also, that left my schedule open to travel with the boys to see their father.  So if the boys and I weren't flying somewhere to see Dad, we were driving there on the weekends.

While living in Pleasant Valley I went to Clark College to get my degree as an Administrative Secretary, with the boys in sports, the traveling and volunteer time at school that degree took me 5 years to achieve. Yet during this time I also worked part-time for the Clark County Assessor's office and got involved in the county.

In 1984 my perfect world fell apart and I put my husband in rehab for alcohol addiction, well it worked for a while for him, alcohol is a nasty addiction.    I joined Alanon and tried desperately to keep our family together which I did until 1994.  I started divorce proceeding in early 1995 and was finally divorced in 1996.

I adopted (not in paper but in love) 5 boys (throw aways) over the years whose parents were off doing only God knows what.  And I have one (adopted) grandchild, Corbin Andrew who is 9 months old and the light of my life.  My sons are busy doing their own things.  Otto served 4 years in the Air Force,  is now involved in Air National Guard at Pang and is working making wafers.    Earl graduated from Clark last year, took a year off this year and will be attending UW, or UDub as he calls it in the fall.  Earl has been involved with a wonderful gal, Brooke for a couple of years now and I guess grandchildren are not on their goal sheet for now which is fine by me.

Today, I am still single and I plan on staying that way.  I enjoy my grand baby, visiting my independent sons, country dancing and my county friends.  I sew blankets, hats, etc. for the babies in my families, and stay close to my aging parents.