WELCOME TO THE CLASS OF 68!!!

Today's Featured Biography

Pat Donnelly

We left Ramey after the finish of my Junior year in July 1967 enroute to Fairchild AFB outside Spokane, Wa. Graduation was somewhat anticlimatic. Not one with a tendency towards academics ( they'd have to wait for later) I was excited as hell to get out and see what the world had to offer. Two weeks after graduation and the day before I turned 18 I was off to Kake, AK as a timber faller (lumberjack). Unfortunately timber conditions were terrible and several months later was laid off due to fire hazard and returned home to a couple of deadend jobs.

My draft number was so low I knew I was "cannon fodder" for Viet Nam and was lucky enough to get accepted into the US Coast Guard in November 1968 where I was assigned to five different ships and saw the coastline from Barrow, AK to San Diego,Ca and had many great experiences.

I met my wife Debby while in the CG while stationed in Astoria. Ore and finally married in 1973 shortly after she'd graduated form nursing school and my departure from the USCG in Nov 1972.

With a full GI Bill awaiting me I decided more education probably wasn't a bad idea having seen and experienced other manual occupations and used up all my GI Biil plus a little in different colleges and Universities.

In 1975 moving to the Seattle area to attend the UW we bought our first of 3 homes. Still not one much for academics (but doing well in it) and liking action and a challenge I landed a full time firefighter position with the City of Kirkland, Wa on May 1, 1977 and retired with full disability in July 1996.

In 1989 we got our Farm Business License and have been farming ever since. Our primary concentration has been in blueberries and now also black currants. We also have a large assortment of produce. Once years past I was asked how I ever got into farming. The answer is several fold. One is that I wanted to be a producer, not a consumer. Not having any background with farming but having the land and that I like to "grab the bull by the balls" and see where I land seemed like a good thing to do. It's thusfar worked out well and a long time, continuing learning experience. Farming overall with it's ups and downs is relaxing with minimal pressure. We're now Certified Naturally Grown utilizing 100% organic methods which our customers sincerely appreciate.

In 2001 I was diagnosed with Stage 3-4 brain cancer. Needless to say - NO FUN! They gave me a year, tops. Sorry, I wasn't ready to go yet as I had too much yet to do and am still around doing it. I did take 3 years off and leased the field out to rebuild my 1966 22' Bartender Boat as a personal form of mental rehab. I'm glad to say the boat is finished and running and I'm back operating the farm full time.

Son Scott and wife Soon Ok gave us Sulgi (17), Roland (9)and Mathew (5). Our daughter Katie and husband Ron have provided us with another 3 great grandkids. Sydnie, age 4, Gabby (the wild one)2 1/2 and RJ (Ron Jr.) 1 1/2. Living in the city the G-kids love visiting the farm with our pond and river and dogs and plain life in the country.

Debby and I have thoroughly enjoyed the many reunions we've had with old classmates in the past. The grandest of course, the 2009
"All Class Blast" in Destin, Fl. We look forward to many more in the future.

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