Sensational Seniors – September 2020

When I first met Gene and Glenda Cossette twelve years ago, I commented to my wife, “They look like they just stepped out of a fashion magazine,” as they were both stylishly dressed and walked with confidence and poise. Not much has changed in the past twelve years for this well-known Jacksonville couple who are the subject of this September “Sensational Seniors” article.

To put the subject(s) in perspective, I always like to start with their beginnings and in Gene’s case, this came on February 3, 1929 in Antler, North Dakota. Gene’s father was a farmer and, if the depression was not enough turmoil, he’d endured repeated crop failures, forcing him to give up farming in 1939 and move to town where he’d secured a job operating a road grader for the county. When World War II broke out, his father moved to Oregon to take a job in the busy Vanport shipyards. The rest of the family, which now included Gene, four sisters, a brother and his mother, joined his father at Vanport, a wartime public housing town built by Kaiser Aluminum, which at the time was the second largest city in Oregon. Prior to moving to Oregon, Gene attended a one-room school in North Dakota with his three sisters, walking the one and one-half miles to school and back. Most of his high school years were spent at Roosevelt High School in Portland. Upon graduation in 1946, Gene worked for one year to earn enough money to enroll in Oregon State College from which he graduated in 1951 with a degree in Business and Technology. In 1950, while attending a fraternity/sorority social event, he met Glenda Fields.

Glenda was born on December 6, 1931 in Medford, but her family had early ties to Jacksonville. Her grandmother left Germany when she was seventeen and made it to Washington D.C. where she secured work as a domestic. Here, she met Glenda’s grandfather who, while in the Army, got caught in a severe snow and ice storm and, when found, was presumed dead. However, after being placed temporarily in a storage shed so a proper burial could take place, a friend coming to say his goodbyes noticed that his eyes were open, and he was revived. Unfortunately, both of his feet were partially frozen, and his toes had to be amputated. With limited employment opportunities, the Army ironically trained him to be a shoemaker. After Glenda’s grandparents married, they eventually moved to Pasadena, CA, but in 1906 they took the train to Jacksonville in search of a new life. Once they arrived, they could not locate a house to live in so resorted to living in a tent city which became known as “The Grove” off 3rd street. Today a plaque can be found on “The Grove” spot, celebrating this special piece of Jacksonville history. Glenda’s mother was born in “The Grove.”

Glenda’s father left home when he was fourteen and worked on several ranches and later traveled to Los Angeles. Even though he was a small man, he got a job with an LA ice company and eventually had his own route in the Hollywood district. When toting 90lb blocks of ice became too much for him, her father moved to Medford where he met and married Marguerite Sparks. To this union were born Glenda, a sister and a brother. Her father ran a small grocery store and gas station and eventually became a logger. Glenda graduated from Medford High School in 1949 and then started school at Oregon State, majoring in Home Economics but did not finish her degree for she and Gene were married on September 2, 1951. Rather than be drafted, Gene enlisted in the Air Force, intent on going to flight training school. Gene did not get called for that school so, instead, he applied for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was accepted. Upon graduation from OCS as a second lieutenant, the young couple settled in at Edwards Air Force base in California—but not for long. The college ROTC programs were turning out too many second lieutenants at the time, and Gene was counseled to either make a career of the Air Force or take the rare opportunity to get out. He opted for the latter. Armed now with the G.I Bill, Gene decided to go back to school with the intent of becoming a dentist. The Cossettes moved to Portland where Gene had to pick up several science courses at Portland State until he could be admitted to OHSU. In 1959, he graduated from dental school. Gene and Glenda wanted to establish a practice in a smaller area, and that opportunity came soon after graduation when Glenda’s Medford dentist, Dr. Burba, was getting ready to retire and wanted a partner. The Cossette family now included three children—Robin, Stanley and David. Dr. Cossette was to work in this dentist office for seven years before moving on to establish his own practice in Medford. A third son, Brian, was born in 1961 and, now with four children, Glenda and Gene decided they needed a larger house so purchased a home on five acres of property on Walker Creek Road where they were to stay for 35 years before building a home on Livingston Road outside Jacksonville. Gene fondly remembers, “I was the general contractor for the Livingston Road home and because I was retired, I had the time to do it. I even did the electrical work after reading a few books on house wiring. When we had the electrical inspection done, the inspector said it was one of the neatest wiring jobs he had seen.” During their Walker Creek Road time, Glenda fulfilled a long-time goal of getting her college degree, graduating in 1975 from Southern Oregon State. “Originally, I was just going to take a class or two to see how I liked it, but that led to a Bachelor’s in Education. After graduating, I taught for two years at Jewett Elementary School in Central Point. I loved teaching but, unfortunately, my health caused me to resign.”

Gene and Glenda stayed in their Livingston Road home for fourteen years before selling it and moving to their current home in Nunan Square in 2012. Glenda’s report on their current home could not be more glowing. “What a delightful spot to live. Our neighbors are warm and friendly and always ready to help, and we can walk everywhere in our quaint town. If it were not for doctors’ appointments and grocery shopping, we wouldn’t even need a car.”

The Cossettes are a couple of strong faith. They started attending Jacksonville Presbyterian Church (JPC) in 1963 but, seeking more opportunities for Christian adult education, they transferred to Eastwood Baptist in Medford where they were to remain for 25 years before returning to JPC. Central to their faith is many years of Bible study. She and Gene went on to share what their faith has done for them. Glenda relates, “We have had some rough times during our married life and that included two separations and the tragic death of our son, Brian, but our faith sustained us, kept us together these many years and has allowed us to enjoy our lives.”

Outside of work and helping raise a family, Gene loved to fish, often taking family members on his boat on a fishing outing. “I was the happiest when we had six in the boat, all with their lines out,” he remembers. Glenda transitioned into a watercolor artist, and many of her works adorn their home. The Cossette family were avid skiers, and many of their vacations centered around skiing. In retirement they have found time to give back to their community. Until COVID-19 hit, Glenda led a weekly Bible study class at Pioneer Village. For three years they helped at Food and Friends, and Gene was one of the volunteer workers helping with the building of the new JPC church on Middle Street. He also helped with church-sponsored Habitat for Humanity projects. Much of their lives are centered around their children and especially their seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Five of their grandchildren live locally so they can see them often. Their mutual desire to keep active in their senior years has them out walking our fair city on most days, usually holding hands. If you see them out, say hello!