Dr. KeithBearden

DR. KEITH BEARDEN

Dr. Vance Keith Bearden, age 93 passed from this life on January 19, 2015 at BriarCliff Health Center of Greenville where he had been a resident since July 2008.  Many thanks                                                           to the BriarCliff Health Center staff and Hospice Plus for providing the excellent care for our dad.

Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville, TX is in charge of the arrangements.  Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at Coker-Matthews
Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Coker-Mathews Funeral Chapel with Reverend Gene Wisdom officiating.  Burial will follow at the Shady Grove Cemetery.

He was born in Lone Oak, TX on November 13, 1921 to James Marshall and Bessie Alena (Rice) Bearden.  He received his early education in Lone Oak until 1933 when the Bearden family moved to the Shady Grove community, east of Greenville.  This is where he met Genelle (Nell) Drake; and after completing their education they were married on December 24, 1942 and to this union they had one son and three daughters.  They spent 68 years together until her passing on March 31, 2011.

After graduating from Greenville High School in 1940 he started on his journey of being a scholar.  He enrolled in East Texas State Teachers College, Commerce, TX but then WWII interrupted his education from 1942 through 1945.  He spent thirty-three months in the European Theatre until his honorable discharge in 1945.

Upon arrival back in the states he continued his education at East Texas State Teachers College receiving his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1947.  He then attended Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, TX and received his Masters of Arts in Agriculture/ Education in 1948.  In the summer of 1964, he attended Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City, NY.  He finally accomplished his greatest goal of pursing his Doctorate in Education in May 1975 from East Texas State College after being in school for 47 years.

 His first job (while attending school at the Shady Grove Community School) was to sweep the building and light the heaters for $3 a month.  His other employment included farming, cattleman, instructing adult education for the Hunt County Vocational School and in 1953, he joined the Greenville Independent School District.  He taught seventh grade for four years, was a ninth grade science instructor for six years and served as Travis Elementary principal for four years before moving to Director of Instruction and eventually assistant superintendent for instructional work.  He retired from GISD in 1981.

In 1977, he received the first East Texas State University Phi Delta Kappa distinguished service award for flexibility in experimentation and unusual success in writing and implementing faculty developments grants for GISD. 

In 1997, he was elected as President of the Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; he had previously served on the executive committee and was vice-president of TASCD. 

After retirement from GISD his next venture was selling software to public school systems and then opening a computer store in Greenville (Microcomputer Learning Systems) in 1984.  He and his wife operated the store until 2003.

Until his illness in July 2008, he was active in Wesley United Methodist Church, Greenville Lions Club, Texas A&M Commerce Alumni Association, Texas State Teachers Association, The 84^th Rail-Splitters’ Infantry Division, The Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum, Texas Farm Bureau, 32nd degree Mason Grand Lodge of Texas Greenville #335, Member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, and many others through out his lifetime.

Family members surviving are Sandra Sorrells and husband Jimmy of Greenville; David Bearden and wife Romeni of Oakland, OR; Kathy Tharp and husband Richard of Greenville and Carol Edwards and husband Jay of Heath, TX.  Grandchildren include Chris Morrison, Kelly Hyde, Andy Morrison, Ronna Guerra, Kellie Hesseltine, Jay Sorrells, John Bearden, Jillian Eastman, Megan Rosenbalm, Lauren Payne, Matt Vega, Jason Edwards and Lauren Angeletta; seventeen great grandchildren and six great-great grand children and many nieces and nephews.   

 Preceding him in death was his beloved wife Nell, parents, brother James Bearden, sister Hazelle Bearden Smith and grandson Jeff Bearden.

Pallbearers will be Chris Morrison, Andy Morrison, Matt Vega, Kelly Hyde, Megan Rosenbalm, and Lauren Payne.  Honorary pallbearers are The Alpha Sunday School Class of Wesley Methodist Church.  Also the 1961 Greenville High School Graduating Class which established the “Dr. Keith Bearden Award” to be presented to a graduating senior of Greenville High School who excels in the field of science.

 In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Shady Grove Cemetery Association 2597 CR 3104, Greenville, TX 75402 or Wesley United Methodist Church, PO Box 864, Greenville, TX 75403-0864.

Online condolences may be made at www.cokermathews.com or www.heraldbanner.com.