Obituary for Ray E. Bearden

Services for Ray E. Bearden, 90, of Plains will be at 2pm, Monday, May 7, 2012, at Plains First Baptist Church with Patrick Hamilton and Tracy Bearden officiating. Burial will be in Terry County Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Brownfield Funeral Home. There will be a family visitation from 3-5pm Sunday at Plains First Baptist Church.

Ray went "forever aloft" to be with his Lord on May 3, 2012. He was born October 10, 1921, to Reuben and Oma (Robason) Bearden in Weinert, Texas. He served in the 401st Bomb Group, 613 Squadron in Deenethorpe, England. There he translated Morse code for the bombers. After the war he returned to Tokio and married the love of his life, Joyce Clanahan on June 26, 1949 at Plains Baptist Church. He farmed in Yoakum County from 1950 until 1989, where he was very successful. He served on the Plains School Board, was a charter member of Sandy Land Underground Water District from 1989 until 2007, Yoakum County Farm Bureau, Yoakum County A.S.C.S. and was Outstanding Conservation Farmer.

He was a member of Plains First Baptist Church and was a deacon at Tokio and Plains, taught Sunday school at Tokio Baptist Church as well as playing the piano and organ. Ray enjoyed spending time with family, playing with grandchildren and great grandchildren and playing his French Harp for them. He loved playing 42 and Pennies from Heaven.

Ray is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce; a son, Rickey Bearden and wife Karen of Plains; a daughter, Rhonda Dion and husband Jerry of Lubbock; 6 grandchildren, Tracy Bearden of Bedford, Bruce Bearden of McKinney, Kyley Martin of Tokio, Lisa Dion of Lubbock, Mindy Matthews of Lubbock and Cliften Bearden of Wolfforth; six great grandchildren, Aubrie, Keagan and Stella Bearden, Riley and Kynlee Martin and Ellie Matthews; a sister, Kathyleen Walser of Brownfield; a brother, Daine Bearden of Brownfield.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, James, R.S. Jr., Morris and Homer; a sister, Naomi Smith.

The family would like to thank his caregivers, Steve and Gena Hamilton and staff at Hamilton House, Hospice of Lubbock and Delia Alaniz for their devoted care.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or Hamilton House of Lubbock, 3612 59th Street, Lubbock, TX 79413.