Ella Bearden

Funeral services for Ella Wayne Bearden, age 79, of Brashear, are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 7, 2010, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Fred Lewis will officiate. Burial will follow services in Restlawn Memorial Park with grandsons, Michael Bowen, Ryan Caudle, Kody Koon, Kyle Koon, Kory Koon, and Koyt Koon serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews, A.G. Sandifeer, Don Sandifeer, Jerry Sandifeer, Terry Bartley, Glenn Hass, Clint George, Bobby Bearden, and Jim Bearden. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 6, 2010, at the funeral home.
Mrs. Bearden passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. She was born on November 8, 1930, in Dike, Texas, the daughter of the late Arthur and Lizzie Eppars Sandifeer. She was reared and attended school in the Dike and Flora Communities and continued to own land in the Ash Grove Community of Hopkins County, that has been in the family for over 100 years. Ella Wayne Sandifeer married E.L. "Junior" Bearden, on July 17, 1948, in the Divide Community of Hopkins County. He preceded her in death in August 2000. Ella Wayne and her husband, Junior, were pioneer dairy farmers in Hopkins County, and operated a Grade-A Dairy in the Divide Community for over 50 years. She took great pride in milking and all the related chores of operating the farm, with extreme hard work and attention to details. She milked twice a day, every day, except for when she was ill and was extremely proud of her daughter and son-in-law, being named Hopkins County Agriculturalists of the Year. She was of the Baptist faith.
Ella Wayne was an avid gardener and enjoyed her massive yard. She had a passion for sewing, crocheting, and piecing quilts and all family members and friends looked forward to receiving a "treasured heirloom" at birthdays and weddings. The pride of her life was being "Nannie" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she enjoyed cooking for and making her famous fried pies, sausage and biscuits, and cornbread.
Survivors include: her two daughters and sons-in-law, Pat and David Rabun, of the Divide Community, and Sheila and Randy Koon of the Bonanza Community; grandchildren: Amy and Michael Bowen of Greenpond, Ann and Ryan Caudle, of Divide, Kody and Breanna Koon of Bonanza, Kyle Koon and fiancé Misty Saucier of Sulphur Springs, Kory Koon and Katie Mead of Flora, and Koyt Koon of Bonanza; great-grandchildren: Breanna and Baylee Bowen, Hannah and Rhye Caudle, Ayden Koon, and Kase Saucier; a sister, Neva Bartley of Garland; brother-in-law, J.C. Bearden and wife Maxiene of Plano; sister-in-law, Carolyn George and husband Glenn of Brashear; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mrs. Bearden was preceded in death by three brothers, L.T., Buck, and Jay Sandifeer.