A WARM WELCOME TO GARY AND PAM TURNER Everyone living here at Mountain Meadows has had his or her own personal journey to Ashland but new residents, Gary and Pam Turner, describe theirs as the place where, many years ago, they found their Shangri-La through serendipity. And, why you may ask, were they looking for Shangri-La? Because of their infant daughter, of course. But, let’s start at the beginning. Gary was born and raised in Modesto, California. His great-greatgrandfather left Oregon and was one of four families who founded what became Modesto back in the 1860s. After high school, he attended UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!) and then went on to UC Hastings College of Law, graduating with a degree in law in 1972. After passing the California bar, he worked for 7 years as a Public Defender in Stockton, California, and later as a partner in a general litigation firm. Pam was born in Decatur, Illinois but spent most of her growing up years in Niles, Michigan and Greensboro, N. C, After attending Smith College for her undergraduate degree, she went on to George Washington University, earning a degree in law in 1972. After passing the California bar exam, she started a private practice in Redding, California and for three years was the town’s only woman attorney. After meeting Gary at a conference in San Diego, they married and she joined him in the Public Defender’s office in Stockton. When their daughter, Abigail was born, they started looking for a new place to live, hence the now famous and serendipitous trip to Ashland. Ask them about it sometime! After Gary passed the Oregon bar exam in 1985, he was hired by Frohnmayer, Deatherage, the oldest law firm in Southern Oregon, and soon became a partner in the Medford firm. Gary and Pam then moved into their first house on Pine Street near Lithia Park and the OSF Theaters. After a number of visits from Pam’s parents, Paul and Myrl Burkholder, they too decided to move to Ashland (ShangriLa) from South Carolina and bought a house on Granite Street, right behind Gary and Pam’s house. Naturally, they became a big part of their granddaughter, Abbey’s life. Next, Gary and Pam moved just outside of town to fifteen acres of horse property on Old Highway 99, living there for seventeen years. In 1994, Gary became a sole practitioner in Ashland. After 16 years practicing law on the corner of Second and C in Ashland, in 2010 he was invited to return to Frohnmayer, Deatherage as a partner, where he specializes in estate planning, family law, elder law, and real estate and business litigation. Pam passed the Oregon Bar exam in 1987. She has served as the elected Ashland Municipal Court Judge since 2007, having been appointed a judge pro-tem (substitute judge) in 1988. Both Gary and Pam have had a number of talented mentors and wonderful opportunities in their careers over the years. Gary’s parents have passed on, but Paul and Myrl became his close family and have remained very inspirational and influential people in both Gary and Pam’s lives. Now, here is where Mountain Meadows comes in. Pam’s parents moved to MM about two years ago. Unfortunately, the family lost Myrl in December of last year. Paul continues to enjoy the MM lifestyle. So, when Pam and Gary were ready to move back into town after selling their horse property, they planned to renovate Gary’s old Ashland law office and enjoy Ashland “urban life.” However, after renting here for several months, they decided to stay in Mountain Meadows and became proud home owners at 785 Creek Stone Way in August. And, we are delighted to have them in our little corner of Shangri-La. What a challenging yet life-changing journey they had to Ashland many years ago. Welcome, Gary and Pam!