Michael “Mike” Gene Gearheart, 80, of Bayfield, Colorado, passed away at 1 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 at Aztec Healthcare in Aztec, New Mexico. He was born June 9, 1944 in Wells County. He married Natalie (Morrison) Gearheart on May 12, 1984.
Michael was a 1962 graduate of Chester Center High School. He achieved a bachelor’s in English degree in 1967 and master’s in education in 1987 from Ball State University. During his professional career he was an English teacher at Southern Wells High School, assistant principal and principal at Western Boone High School in Thorntown from 1987 to 2005, and Principal at Bayfield High School in Bayfield, Colorado from 2005 to 2014. Mike was devoted and passionate about providing the best opportunities for the students in his care during his educational career. He was a committed mentor to his faculty. He was an avid reader, loved playing card games — especially Rook — and always enjoyed being around family.
Survivors include his wife, Natalie (Morrison) Gearheart of Bayfield, Colorado; sons, Shawn (Michelle) Gearheart of Montpelier and Shane (Jodie) Gearheart of Hartford City; daughters, Sabra (Kevin) Bell of Durango, Colorado, Alexandria (Corey) Gibbs of Detroit, Michigan and Adrienne (Travis) Valencia of Bayfield, Colorado; brothers, Jerry (Sharyl) Gearheart of Thackery, Ohio, John Gearheart of Warren, Dale (Joan) Gearheart of Montpelier, Joe (Liz) Gearheart of Montpelier, Lee (Penny) Gearheart of Henderson, Texas and Steve (Carolyn) Gearheart of Eaton; sister, Carolyn (Larry) Bayless of Evansville; sister-in-laws, Joyce Gearheart of Hartford City and Juanita Gearheart of Bullock, Texas; brother-in-laws, Gary Rhodes of Bluffton and Larry Hunt of Petroleum; grandchildren, Dr. Mac (Molly) Gearheart, Branagan (Kimmy) Gearheart, Madison (Drake) Hall, Jasmine Gearheart, Hunter Tobey, Jacob Tobey, Maleah Marker, Nathaniel Bell, Karis (Daniel) Westbrook, Josiah Bell, Alea Bell, Isaac Bell, Audrey Gearheart, Millian Nelson, Maleek Nelson, Crue Gibbs, Kaden Valencia, Logan Valencia, Mason Valencia, Ruby Stewart and Jonathan Stewart; and great-grandchildren, Noah Gearheart, Nate Gearheart, Lila Gearheart and Kendall Hall.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jim Gearheart; mother, Elsie (Moss) Gearheart; brothers Jim Gearheart and Tom Gearheart; sisters, Linda Geisman, Sara Hunt and Kathy Rhodes; brother-in-law, Steve Geisman; and sister-in-law, Carol Gearheart,
We will have an Indiana Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 15 with a lunch and graveside service to follow.
The service will be held at Nazarene Church, 440 N Standard Blvd, Montpelier, IN 47359 with burial at Brookside Cemetery (down Standard Blvd).