Dorothy Earle Bearden

Dorothy Earle Bearden, 86, of Weatherford, passed into the presence of her Lord Thursday evening at home, surrounded by her family.
  Dorothy is survived by her husband of 65 years, a World War II veteran, and long-time Baptist minister, George, a son and daughter-in-law, Lin and Martha Bearden of Weatherford, a son-and  daughter-in-law, Tony and Cindy Bearden of Poolville, and a daughter and son-in-law, Kim and David Cherry of Gordon.  She is survived by 16 grandchildren: Catherine, Jessica, Victoria, Lauren, Savannah, Noah, Joshua, Landry, Jakob, Zachary, Katie, Gideon, Emily, John, Michael, and Brittany.  Also surviving is her sister, Isabel Farrar, and her husband Warren of Dallas and her brother Ray Hollabaugh, and his wife Glenda of San Angelo.  Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends also survive.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia, and father, Earl, as well as her sister, Betty.
 Dorothy was born in Midlothian, Texas April 19, 1926.  After being graduated from Waxahachie High School with very high marks, she married George June 9, 1947 in Waxahachie after he returned from serving his country in the war.  Dorothy would later attend Jacksonville Baptist College in Jacksonville, Texas, with George, after he accepted the call to preach.  She would be at this side as they moved across Texas, pastoring Baptist churches-the last three of which were in Farmers Branch, Paris, and Mineral Wells.  Dorothy served as a legal secretary, and secretary to bank presidents in two banks and was reputed to be the best executive secretary in town, although she would never have thought that of herself.  Strikingly beautiful and slender during her career and before children late in life, Dorothy loved to dress impeccably.
 As Dorothy would eagerly tell everyone, the true light of her life was her children, and later, her grandchildren.  No mother was ever more proud of her two sons and daughter than Dorothy.  Never was there a woman who loved being with her family more than “Dot baby”.  She was the queen of the kitchen, and her cooking at the holidays and family gatherings was unrivaled.  She would do anything at any time for any of her grandkids.  An intellectual in her private moments, Dorothy loved to read, and excelled in teaching classes at the many churches her husband pastored.  She loved the Lord and spend her later years in intercessory prayer for her family and friends.  She influenced many concerning the gospel of Christ by the way she loved and genuinely cared for others, never having met a stranger.
 Although her journey here is complete, she will be greatly missed by many.

 Visitation will be from 2 pm to 4pm Sunday, September 30th at Galbreath-Pickard Funeral Chapel in Weatherford. 

Services will be Monday, October 1st
at 10 am at Galbreath-Pickard Chapel.  Burial will be in the
Homewood-on-the-Brazos Cemetery in Santo, Texas on the Comanche Bend
Ranch of Bill and Anita Gardner.