Beatrice Marie Gebhart, 91, of Hart, passed away on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at her winter home in Bradenton Beach, Florida, with her husband by her side. She was born January 19, 1921, in what was called Dorranceville, south of Shelby, to Alfred and Mary (Kerr) Dorrance. She attended Carpenter School and, later, Shelby High School. After high school, she worked at the tannery in Whitehall. She met her future husband, John W. Gebhart, on a double date that kept on going until they wed on December 20, 1939. They were married at his parents' home and took their first trip to Bradenton Beach, Florida, for their honeymoon. They continued their trips for the next 72 years.

Beatrice worked alongside her husband, John, for 72 years, helping build Golden-Hart Fruit Farms into a legend at the Muskegon Farmer's Market and beyond. She worked the farm, peddled fruit to the U.P., made maple syrup and fresh apple cider, and educated the customers at the market about quality. For the past few years, even as her health declined, she would sit in the front of the truck and continue to share her knowledge with the many people who stopped by to visit. Beatrice, along with her husband, was a founding member of the Melody Mates square dance club.

Beatrice is survived by her husband of 72 years; her daughter, Shirley (Robert) Oles; her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Gebhart; nine grandchildren, Stacie (Frank) Clark of Hart, Tonjia (Sonny) StJohn of Manistique, John (Kelly) Kinstner of North Muskegon, Amy "Stevie" Kinstner of Shelby, Shawn Dayharsh of Arizona, Christy (Jeff) Forner of Grand Rapids, Jeff (Tammy) Gebhart of Hart, Danielle (Gary) Barnes of Troy, and Darci (Bryan) Acrich of Novi; 13 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Beverly Dayharsh; her son, Robert J. Gebhart; and her sister, Katie LaGuire.

The funeral service for Mrs. Gebhart will be Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hart United Methodist Church with Rev. Rebecca Wieringa officiating. Visitation will be Friday, from 6-8 p.m. at the King Funeral Home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at the Hart Cemetery following the service. Memorials may be given to the Robert J. Gebhart Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Oceana County, PO Box367, Shelby, MI 49455.