Chris was born in beautiful scenic and rural, Cleveland, Ohio. Chris´ Dad, "Big Jim", suffered through the economic hard times as Cleveland´s heavy industry went through its normal cyclical boom and bust period working for Erie Railroad, Ford Motor, Euclid Machinery and others and buying a house in the real (at the time) rural area of Berea, Ohio. With a growing family his Dad sought out a more stable job and began his long career working for the Post Office in their new home town of Berea. Chris is the oldest of five children and has two brothers and two sisters.

Laurel was also born in Ohio, in a truly rural area of Wadsworth, and grew up on her Grandfather´s farm in Barberton. Grandpa Messner would give each of the Messner children one acre of the family farm on which to build a house as they got married. When Laurel´s Mom, Ruth Messner, married Hugh Otto, they also got their parcel and moved into "Messner Ridge" as it was called at the time. So many of the Messner children were growing up, getting married, and staying in the area that Stimson Road near the Messner farm was experiencing its own little housing boom. Although Hugh was a city boy, he was a very hard worker but with a growing family and often only seasonal work available in this rural area, he began looking for more steady full time work and also applied for a job with the Post Office. After a short stint as a temporary worker, Hugh began his long career as a letter carrier in 1957. Laurel is also the oldest of five children and has two brothers and two sisters.