Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A Salt Lake City couple who makes a big difference in their neighborhood won this week's High 5. Neighbors say Bob and Loretta Stearley show kind acts of friendship to everyone.
Neighbor Chris Lillie nominated them for the honor.
She has lived by the Stearleys for 30 years. Chris says they've changed vacation plans to help her care for a daughter with spina bifida, and kept her parents company playing games. They've even pitched in with the chores.
"I come home and they've cleaned my yard up. I come home and Loretta's cleaned my house," Chris explains. "I'll come home and the lights are on because Loretta and Bob come over and turn the lights on for me. That makes a big difference for each one of these people."
Another neighbor, Pete Burt, says, "They're good neighbors, friendly people. They like to play games."
The Stearley's friend Marilyn Holomquist says, "I would think that this is just a small piece of their character, because every time I'm just amazed at the things they do for people."
"It's not just our family," she continued. "They do a lot for our family, but it's for everybody. That's just the kind of people they are. I want them to move by me, but they're still here."
Bob Stearley says, "We feel like we are part of the family. They kind of adopted us when we moved here 31 years ago. They invite us to everything they have. It's just been perfect. It isn't like we're the ones being nice. They're the ones being nice. We're just the ones going along with it."
Loretta added, "I just love to give, and so if I could give to anybody it would be to all of them. So I guess I just like to help people. But they're just so special. Pete's just like my own dad."
E-mail: bwalker@ksl.com
