Obituary of Valentina C. Gearin

Loving mother, wife, archeologist, and friend to many, she died peacefully in Seattle on August 23, 2009 surrounded by her family after a 2-year struggle with cancer. Valentina was born in Lemoore, California on April 10, 1957 to Fortino and Ramona Cavazos and is survived by her parents and six siblings including Guadalupe, Margarita, Ramona, Selso, Adelina, and Amalia. She is also survived by her husband, Patrick Gearin of Edmonds, WA and three sons, including Timothy Barber, and Liam and Neil Gearin. Valentina, the daughter of Mexican immigrant parents received a bachelors degree in Anthropology from the University of Washington in 1984, becoming the first in her family to receive a college degree. She worked professionally in the field on archeology projects after graduation. Later after starting a family she began working for the Northwest Archeology Associates in Ballard as an office manager, and occasionally in the field of her beloved interest of archeology. Valentina had a loving and warm personality and was an inspiration to her many friends and family. She loved her sons, family and friends, children, the ocean, mountains, forest, dogs, and the natural world and always maintained a childlike fascination with the simple yet beautiful and profound aspects of life. She died too young, and will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her. Her spirit however will live with us forever. In her last days, when she knew that her time on this earth was drawing close to an end she expressed her thoughts in a simple yet profound way and her message was love and treasure each other. Memorial Mass with a luncheon and reception to follow will be Friday, 8-28-09 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Edmonds. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Valentinas name to the Makah Cultural and Research Center of Neah Bay or the Mountlake Terrace Youth Athletic Association. Gone but not forgotten, Valentina (Cavazos) Gearin, 52 years on this earth.