Gearhart 70th

GEARHART 70th

Bud and Betty Gearhart celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2019, in Coos Bay, Ore., with a family dinner.

Clarence "Bud" Gearhart and Betty Hilligoss grew up in the cascade mountains, near Willamina, Ore., in the little mountain community of Gilbert Creek. Their fathers were both loggers, and their families knew each other. Bud and Betty attended the little country school there, then Laurelwood Academy where they both graduated. Following their graduations, they began to date and were married on July 7, 1949, in the Gilbert Creek Church.

In 1951–52 they moved to Bandon, Ore., where they lived for the next 50 years. It was there that they raised their three children: Rick, Randy and Sandi. They both worked in the timber industry for Rogge Lumber Company for many years — Bud as the head millwright and Betty as the bookkeeper for the company.

Following their retirements, they moved to Coos Bay in 2002, where they now live in a beautiful and serene country setting in the coastal range. They are active in the Coos Bay Church and stay busy with family, working on their many and various home projects, caring for their yard and garden, and walking. Until very recently, both still worked part-time. They consider themselves to be very blessed, and they celebrated their 70th anniversary morning by going for a 5K walk. 

The Gearhart family includes G. Richard "Rick" Gearhart of Coos Bay; Randall and Janell (Speak) Gearhart of Burlington, Iowa; Sandi M. Merrit of Coos Bay; 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Bud and Betty Gearhart celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2019, in Coos Bay, Ore., with a family dinner.

Clarence "Bud" Gearhart and Betty Hilligoss grew up in the cascade mountains, near Willamina, Ore., in the little mountain community of Gilbert Creek. Their fathers were both loggers, and their families knew each other. Bud and Betty attended the little country school there, then Laurelwood Academy where they both graduated. Following their graduations, they began to date and were married on July 7, 1949, in the Gilbert Creek Church.

In 1951–52 they moved to Bandon, Ore., where they lived for the next 50 years. It was there that they raised their three children: Rick, Randy and Sandi. They both worked in the timber industry for Rogge Lumber Company for many years — Bud as the head millwright and Betty as the bookkeeper for the company.

Following their retirements, they moved to Coos Bay in 2002, where they now live in a beautiful and serene country setting in the coastal range. They are active in the Coos Bay Church and stay busy with family, working on their many and various home projects, caring for their yard and garden, and walking. Until very recently, both still worked part-time. They consider themselves to be very blessed, and they celebrated their 70th anniversary morning by going for a 5K walk. 

The Gearhart family includes G. Richard "Rick" Gearhart of Coos Bay; Randall and Janell (Speak) Gearhart of Burlington, Iowa; Sandi M. Merrit of Coos Bay; 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.