Doris Searcy: ‘retiring again’ at 86
Bus driver Doris Searcy is retiring from Russellville City Schools.
By Sam Warf for the FCT
Bus driver Doris Searcy is retiring again – after driving 18-wheelers, flying airplanes and then driving a Russellville City Schools school bus.
She started driving around age 15, like most teenagers.
When her husband-to-be, Olen, came back from World War II, he won the Purple Heart, Compassion, Bronze Star and EAME Metals. He was wounded in battle, and when the Americans came in and drove them back, a German medic told them where he was, and they rescued him. After his return to the United States, they married and joined his father’s logging company.
Searcy started with a box truck and then the 18-wheelers, hauling for Flower Craft, traveling in the Northwest and the South.
She had two airplanes – a 1970 Cherokee and 172 Celica. She said they would not go more than 800 miles from home.
A lady of many talents, Searcy loves her yard but for health reasons can’t work in the yard much. After driving the bus for 10 years, at 86, she said with her husband getting older, she needs to be home with him more.
She said he wanted to fly a 747 plane – that was her calling, but she never did take the time. When asked what made her a good bus driver, she said good nerves, getting up early and love of children.
When asked what she was going to do now she said, “Well, I will not be taking up knitting,” with a chuckle.
