Those pics are gorgeous, verrry niice
I came up a dead end with the FAA re the N7697M, that N-number was assigned to a Cessna 175 that was destroyed in, 1991 methinks.
But, got 5 possibles, 2 very good leads, since the owners live within 30 minutes or so driving distance of where this bird is hangared.
Going down there again this coming week, will see what I can find out.