~Our Love Story~

Michelle is related to the Buckingham's of England, also has reported Cherokee heritage and legend holds that her father's family came over on the Mayflower.  Her Lyles side of her family came to the U. S. in the 1600's. When Derek & Michelle were dating they made the connection, that they actually lived on the same street growing up. They might have played together as children, fitting for these high school sweethearts, who traced their family history back to the same state, same county, and same town in the state of Georgia, around the time of the Civil War.  Michelle's family eventually settling in Tom Green Co, TX (trading out a vineyard in Georgia for land along the banks of the Concho) and Derek's settling in Indian Territory. Derek's family,  during her research many times,  was only a county or two over from her own family. His gr-grandmother was also known to be of Cherokee descent. His maternal side came from Belgium and another line tried their hand in mining for gold in Colorado.  Derek came to TX as a child with his family, met Michelle in high school, and they later married. They have three wonderful children and the rest is history, a sweet love story..........