Obituary of Hazel Gearheart

Hazel Junia Brown Gearheart (September 17,1927-September 18,2024) Hazel was born September 17, 1927, the youngest child of Clarence Ray Brown and Laura Bertha (Clinkingbeard) Brown in their farmhouse near Chinook, Montana. She was a child of the Depression who learned frugality and hard work in the dairy and gardens, surrounded by love, on the family farm. Her journey in life would soon be accompanied by a town boy in Chinook. Lynn (Len) Gearheart was her high school sweetheart. They married in Pullman, WA, October 20,1950, after his service in WWII and her graduation from college in Havre, MT. Their married life continued over the years in farming in Sunnyside, Othello, Mattawa, and the Tri-Cities. Two daughters and a son were born early on; Susan, Vicki, and Scott. Education was important to Hazel. She graduated Valedictorian from her high school class in Chinook in 1945. She attended Northern Montana College (now MSU- Northern) obtaining a Medical Secretary Certificate two years later. She later established two scholarships at this college to benefit native Montanans and indigenous students. One of her goals in life was that her children became college graduates. Consequently, all three graduated from BYU in Provo. Hazel used her education to work in hospitals wherever she lived, most notably in Othello where she cultivated relationships with the doctors and staff over many years. She had an active brain and a dry wit which was appreciated by those who took the time to get to know her. Music was an important part of Hazel’s life. She had a beautiful singing voice, harmonizing with school, church, and community choirs as often as she could. She was an accomplished pianist and taught her children to love and appreciate music. Hazel loved learning about the world and enjoyed traveling and she passed this love on to her children. She was a woman of faith, serving and contributing to many humanitarian causes as a member of the Methodist Church. Hazel was a staunch Republican all her life and loved her country. Hazel was an independent woman with a private nature who reached beyond herself to be a loving mother to her children and grandchildren and a compassionate neighbor and friend. Hazel is survived by her children, Susan Piercy (Gary) of Royal City, Victoria Paxton (Larry) of Saratoga Springs, Utah; and Scott Gearheart (Cindy) of Kennewick; 14 grandchildren Ryan Piercy, Natalie Van Buren, Elizabeth Bighorse, Spencer Piercy, Jill Larsen, Christopher Gearheart, Hannah Bonham, Madeline , Sadie, Matthew, and Miriam Gearheart, Bethany Paxton, and Laura Perdue, and 25 great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including Vivian Sawyer who wrote to her faithfully. She was preceded in death by Lynn (Len) J Gearheart her husband of 69 years in 2019, her parents and siblings Ray, Doyne, and Eugene. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 11:00 am at the Hansen Park LDS Church, 8120 W. 4 th Avenue, Kennewick, WA with an inurnment at 2:30pm at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Richland.