Astoria High School Class 1970 returned home recently for its 40th anniversary.

Over four days of Regatta weekend there was a golf tournament, dinner, a trolley ride and a picnic and a tour of the high school. But for most, it was a time to gossip about high school flames and to catch up on careers and family.

“We had a fabulous turn-out,” said Cheryl Lockett. “We were afraid we were going to have to turn people away. We had a wonderful weekend.”

The classmates all shared memories of what it was like to live in Astoria in the 70s. St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School had just transferred its high school students to Astoria High in 1969, and dress codes were loosening.

“It was a real time of change,” Don Roessler, senior class president, said. “Girls couldn’t wear pants until our senior year. Even then, it was dress pants.”

From finding work on fishing boats, in restaurants or in the canneries, Susan Aho Dowty said it seemed like everyone had a job. And just like the class that came 10 years prior to them, the class of 1970 dealt with the Vietnam War.

“You got used to the body count that was mentioned at the start of each news broadcast,” Dowty said.

However, the tight-knit community made them feel safe, and from the North Coast the Class of 1970 traveled far and wide.

Cheryl LockettCheryl Lockett, born Cheryl Johnson Burke, loves living in Astoria. The mother of two moved back to Astoria after 30 years away, and said she loves the scenery.

“My favorite thing might just be the view from my house,” she said of her river view.

Lockett followed her boyfriend, current Astoria High School principal Larry Lockett, to Monmouth after graduation, and the former cheerleader and football star were married in 1971. While Larry earned his degree and played football at Western Oregon University, Cheryl took care of the kids and eventually completed an interpreting for the deaf program in 1978.

Five years later, Larry earned a job in Stayton, where he taught for 17 years, and Cheryl worked for the state Legislature and the Department of Education. Then the Astoria principal job opened up in 2000 and the couple leaped at the chance to move back home.

Since then Cheryl has worked in insurance.

The couple has two sons and three grandchildren.

Susan Aho DowtySusan Aho Dowty wanted to be a journalist. In high school she was the front-page editor of the school paper, and wrote an advice column. She also got involved with The Daily Astorian, writing a monthly high school update.

Then Dowty went to the University of Oregon where she started to study journalism. But after a teacher said her grades weren’t good enough and said she would never be a good journalist (upon hearing the teacher still works at the UO, Dowty vowed to write him a note to let him know she turned out just fine).

After that, Dowty went into education and she said its the best decision she’s ever made.

“I love teaching,” Dowty said, who is in her 37th year as a middle school teacher. “I like watching kids grow up and discover stuff.”

Dowty and her husband live in Beaverton, where she works for Conestoga Middle School. The couple have a son and a daughter, and during the summer Dowty works at summer camps. She said she can’t get enough of helping kids.

“I wasn’t the best of students growing up,” she said with a laugh. “I feel like I’m paying back the debt.”

Don RoesslerIt took Don Roessler two and a half years to realize he didn’t like college.

One day, some of his high school buddies who he lived with in Portland managed to get him to a local hiring agency. While looking through jobs, he came across a job in company security. He had always wanted to be a policeman so it intrigued him enough to apply.

Not long after, he was hired by the firm, Action Alarm and Signal Company, and he’s been there ever since.

“I fell in love with it,” Roessler said of his job, which entailed working on security systems for businesses. “I could be a cop and be shot at or be inside and still catch burglars.”

Roessler now resides in Astoria, but for 30 years he was elsewhere. At first he was stationed in Portland, then after 13 years he moved to Southern California to run a branch down there. From there he moved to Minneapolis to help start up the national headquarters, and in 2006 he moved back to Oregon.

“I live in my family home,” Roessler said. “Astoria has always been home.”

His family goes way back in the area. His grandfather, Franklin C. Green installed the lights in the Astoria Column and brought the first power lines to Knappa. He founded Wadsworth Electric in the early 1900s.

Now, Roessler enjoys “anything Astoria sport,” and he plans on finishing his career in the area.

“It’s a great place to grow up and a great place to retire to,” he said.