Douglas Heare

FROM THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PRIMITIVE OR OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MINISTERS BY DAVID MONTGOMERY AND MARK GREEN: ELDER DOUGLAS WILSON HEARE Elder Heare of Romney, West Virginia was born August 19, 1912 ELDER HEARE WRITES: I was the son of Robert Newton and Ella May (Shanks) Heare. Brother Robert was already a church member and then mother joined later at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, Kirby, West Virginia. Of the nine children, two sons were baptized the same day. I was fifteen years and my brother seventeen; Elder J.W. Smoot, pastor of Bethel Church performed the baptism in 1925. I remember the day, as it was one of the happiest days of my life. These joys I remember seventy-five years later. It was not until the summer of 1955 that Elder Charles W. Alderton called upon to speak the first time. To the union of Douglas and Virginia (Pepper) Heare in December 28, 1935, four children were born. We as a family have been blessed beyond measure. A NOTE FROM HIS SON-IN-LAW, ELDER ELVA LOWERY: This family has many remarkable traits. This family is a God-fearing family. I married one of the daughters and I truthfully admire the love for one another. The years have come and gone and each year has taken its toll. They aren’t physically able to entertain company in their home, provide food for all day meetings, travel as they once did and remember names and places as before, but on a country hillside near Romney, West Virginia, resides two soldiers and faithful servants of God. Sister Virginia had a serious stroke and has almost completely recovered and Elder Douglas has difficulty with short memory. There is no complaining of hurts and afflictions, but praise to God for the many blessings of life in past years and trusting in for every need of future life.