Earl Leone Bearden

April 30,1929-Jan. 27, 2010

Earl Leone Bearden, age 80, died peacefully Jan. 27, 2010, at Alaska Regional Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

He was born April 30, 1929, in Farmerville, La., one of 11 children. He joined the army in 1948, during the Korean War and was later stationed at Fort Richardson Army Base in 1949 where he served until his discharge in 1954. Soon after his discharge from the Army he went to work for Civil Service on Fort Richardson working in the motor pool until he retired as head motor pool instructor 34 years later.

While in the Army he met and married his pen pal and love of his life, Marie Hawkins, and they had three children. They moved to Anchorage in 1952 and then to Chugiak on South Birchwood Loop Road in 1955, where he opened an automotive shop shortly before his retirement from civil service.

He loved Alaska and was an avid hunter, pilot and fisherman. He made many friends and will be missed by all the people who loved him. He was the solid rock in a storm to our family, and may his nobleness precede him to heaven.

He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Marie Bearden, his children, Debra Bearden and her husband, Christopher Willhoite; Richard Bearden and his wife, Christine, and his ex-wife Vanessa Berg; 11 grandchildren; Brian Sexton, Jennifer Holsclaw, Shawn Sexton, Casey Sexton, Sarah Paulus and husband, Craig, Christy Belsky and husband, Joshua, Pamela Bearden, David Bearden, Nichole Bearden, Blake Bearden and Matt; six great-grandchildren, Corey Holsclaw, Ashley Paulus, Wyatt Paulus, Josephine Belsky, Tucker Belsky, and Lukas Belsky.

He also leaves behind his sisters Doris, Dorothy and Linda, brothers James and David of Farmerville, La., and a longtime friend Charlie Baker.

He was preceded in death by his son Stephen, his maternal parents Arthur Bearden and Grace and paternal parents John E. Hawkins and Ethel, and many dear friends.

Burial will be at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with full military honors, and all friends are urged to contact Marie Bearden for further details on the ceremony.