Craig Sears, Old timer

Wahkiakum County is an exceptional community and its long-standing history is cherished by those who call it home. From the expansive timber forests to the Columbia River, stories of times past course through the community's veins like the flowing river it sits on. Buried within the history of the long-standing families of Wahkiakum are not only captivating tales but also an expanse of knowledge, demonstrating how growing up in this community can shape some pretty remarkable people. As the stories of Wahkiakum’s past are told, knowledge and wisdom breathe life into the coming generations. In the latest edition of Wahkiakum County family history, Craig Sears recounts how his family first set roots in the area, giving a glimpse at some of the individuals who helped shape this place, and what kind of people can blossom when planted on Wahkiakum soil.

Sears’ grandparents moved here from Eatonville, WA. right after his grandfather, Robert Lee “R.L.” Goodfellow, finished pharmacy school. Craig’s grandmother, Jane Goodfellow, was a school teacher and after they were married, they made the move to Cathlamet, bringing their friend Dr. Fritz with them. Much like Goodfellow, Dr. Fritz was also fresh out of school and they were both a welcome addition to Cathlamet as the area had no doctor or pharmacist at the time. When the Goodfellows made their move, Ocean Beach Highway didn’t exist yet. “When they came, they had to come by river boat, there was no highway then,” says Sears, describing the mode of travel his grandparents used, one that may have once been so common but has since been replaced with faster, modern modes of travel. While their house was being built, the Goodfellows lived in the Julia Butler Hansen house for the better part of a year. “My grandfather opened the drug store and Dr. Fritz opened his medical practice and my grandmother taught in the grade school.”

Both of Sears’s grandparents had an extensive impact on the community. Along with running the pharmacy, which was located in the now Hotel Cathlamet, R.L. Goodfellow also served as a county judge for many years. Jane Goodfellow’s role in Wahkiakum County centered around her impact on the children who passed through the school. “She taught in the grade school up here for 30 years, I still run into people who have had her as a teacher.”

Sears lights up as he begins talking about his mother, Elizabeth Sears. A Cathlamet native, she grew up in Wahkiakum County and went to Wahkiakum High School. Elizabeth would follow in her mother’s footsteps and become an educator, but her college education didn’t begin until after marrying and having children. After divorcing in the ‘50s, something almost unheard of at the time, she, a newly divorced, single mother, found her calling. “My mother went back and got her two Masters degrees,” says Sears proudly, “one in marine biology and the other in education.” His mother went on to win Washington State Teacher of the Year in 1974 and received congratulatory letters from both Julia Butler Hansen and John Thomas, after whom the middle school where she taught was named. Another interesting fact about Elizabeth is that in 1943, as a senior project, she and her best friend designed the kicking mule logo still used at Wahkiakum High School. Continuing the family business of education, Craig’s sister, Kathy Sears, also went on to become a teacher, getting her degree from the same school as her mom and going on to spend 10 years in Kenya and 3 years in Malaysia teaching with her husband.

Growing up on the Columbia River came with unique opportunities and Sears remembers when his childhood best friend was given a boat and the adventures that came with it. “For his 12th birthday, [his dad] gave him the exact same boat.” Says Sears, pointing to a photo of a 1960 speed boat “He and I terrorized the river, from Skamokawa to Rainier.” Growing up in this area had other perks too, “I was out in the Elochoman picking Cascara bark,” says Sears, explaining that the pharmaceutical companies would use the bark to make laxatives. “You’d peel it with a linoleum knife and twice a month they would come to the Chevron station and buy the bark… as a kid it was very easy to make money doing that.” Remembering times past, Sears describes a vibrant Cathlamet, “I have very, very fond memories of going to the Elco movie theater.” The Elco Movie Theater opened in 1936 and closed down in 1957.

Sears left Wahkiakum County as a young man in 1960; he was self-employed as a land use consultant. When he wasn’t working he set off to travel the world. “I got to go to Kenya twice, Malaysia, Bali, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Europe, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Italy. I did a lot of travel as a younger person.” After seeing the world Sears always knew where his home was and he came back to retire. “It was so nice to [come back to] the area, Wahkiakum doesn’t even have a stop light. It’s just a very refreshing change.”

This is just the story of one family, from the grandparents that first set roots and helped shape the community, to entrepreneur Craig Sears, his strong and determined mother and his altruistic sister are examples of the people Wahkiakum County is responsible for shaping.