Obituary for Jerry Winston Bearden
A celebration of the life of Jerry Bearden, 69, of Corsicana, will be held at the Cowboy Church of Ennis on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., with Michael Howard officiating. Mr. Bearden will be laid to rest during a private ceremony in Larue Cemetery on Friday, April 29, 2022, under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.
Mr. Bearden passed away on April 21, 2022, in Tyler.
Jerry Winston Bearden was born December 16, 1952, in Athens, the son of Howell W. Bearden and Gloria (Rutledge) Bearden. He graduated from Athens High School in 1971 and enlisted in the United States Army, where he served from 1971 until 1973. Jerry began his career with Union Pacific and met supervisor John McIntosh who would become his lifelong friend on his first day on the job. He was licensed as a Master Plumber and worked in the Environmental Water Service Department at the Hearne Headquarters for 32 years before retiring. Jerry was a member of the Cowboy Church of Ennis. He enjoyed cooking barbeque, camping, spending time with his family and friends, and keeping them entertained with his no filter humor. Jerry also liked hunting, raising cattle, and teaching necessary life skills to his children, grandchildren, and extensive adopted family. His legacy as a firm, fair, devoted, and strong-willed man will be an example to the generations he leaves behind.
He was preceded in death by his father; his brother, Gene Bearden, and his sister Nelda Knighten.
Survivors include wife, Kathy Bearden of Corsicana; mother, Gloria Bearden of Sanger; children, Julie Stanfield of Hutto, Charles Smith of Hearne, Amy Zeplin and husband J.C. of Victoria, Robbie Bearden and wife Sheryl of Rice, Jeremy Smith and wife Carla of Alma; siblings, Carl Bearden and wife Christine of Oregon, Charlotte Sparks of Sanger, Brenda Jones of Sanger, Larry Bearden of Kaufman; sister-in-law, Dorothy Mayer and husband Steve of Cameron; grandchildren, Tyler Stanfield, Alicia Carroll and husband James, Katie Smith, C.J. Smith, Garrett Smith, Grant Smith, Blane Zeplin, Bailey Zeplin, Bryce Zeplin, Colton Parker and wife Keira, Calvin Parker, Callie Parker and Hunter Green, Winston Bearden and Taylor Coody, Cheyenne Smith, Harley Smith; great-grandchildren, Kenzley Parker, Kason Parker, Kimberlynn Parker, Hunter Houston, Skylyn Parker, Whitton Green; cousin, Lisa Carmack; niece, Traci Fitzgerald, and numerous other nieces, nephews, relatives and a host of friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jeremy Smith, Charles Smith, Ronnie Rowan, Colton Popham, Joe Rocha and Kyle Rasberry.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.
Mr. Bearden passed away on April 21, 2022, in Tyler.
Jerry Winston Bearden was born December 16, 1952, in Athens, the son of Howell W. Bearden and Gloria (Rutledge) Bearden. He graduated from Athens High School in 1971 and enlisted in the United States Army, where he served from 1971 until 1973. Jerry began his career with Union Pacific and met supervisor John McIntosh who would become his lifelong friend on his first day on the job. He was licensed as a Master Plumber and worked in the Environmental Water Service Department at the Hearne Headquarters for 32 years before retiring. Jerry was a member of the Cowboy Church of Ennis. He enjoyed cooking barbeque, camping, spending time with his family and friends, and keeping them entertained with his no filter humor. Jerry also liked hunting, raising cattle, and teaching necessary life skills to his children, grandchildren, and extensive adopted family. His legacy as a firm, fair, devoted, and strong-willed man will be an example to the generations he leaves behind.
He was preceded in death by his father; his brother, Gene Bearden, and his sister Nelda Knighten.
Survivors include wife, Kathy Bearden of Corsicana; mother, Gloria Bearden of Sanger; children, Julie Stanfield of Hutto, Charles Smith of Hearne, Amy Zeplin and husband J.C. of Victoria, Robbie Bearden and wife Sheryl of Rice, Jeremy Smith and wife Carla of Alma; siblings, Carl Bearden and wife Christine of Oregon, Charlotte Sparks of Sanger, Brenda Jones of Sanger, Larry Bearden of Kaufman; sister-in-law, Dorothy Mayer and husband Steve of Cameron; grandchildren, Tyler Stanfield, Alicia Carroll and husband James, Katie Smith, C.J. Smith, Garrett Smith, Grant Smith, Blane Zeplin, Bailey Zeplin, Bryce Zeplin, Colton Parker and wife Keira, Calvin Parker, Callie Parker and Hunter Green, Winston Bearden and Taylor Coody, Cheyenne Smith, Harley Smith; great-grandchildren, Kenzley Parker, Kason Parker, Kimberlynn Parker, Hunter Houston, Skylyn Parker, Whitton Green; cousin, Lisa Carmack; niece, Traci Fitzgerald, and numerous other nieces, nephews, relatives and a host of friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jeremy Smith, Charles Smith, Ronnie Rowan, Colton Popham, Joe Rocha and Kyle Rasberry.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.