Edwin O.

Pearson

Obituary

Edwin O. Pearson, 91, of Tifton, formerly of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Zephyrhills, Florida, went home to his Lord on Friday, January 5, 2007, at Tift Health Care. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2007, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Danny Jones will officiate will burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 7, 2006, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.

Born March 26, 1915 in West Golden Township in Western Michigan, he was one of 11 children born to the late Ole and Alma Pearson. He will always be remembered for his great smile, the twinkle in his eye, and his love for family and friends. He completed high school in Hart, Michigan and business school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He served as a yeoman in the United States Navy during World War II on a minesweeper that cleared the way for Allied ships at D-Day. Following the war, he married the love of his life, Marie E. Belknap, in Traverse City, Michigan. They settled in Grand Rapids, where he worked over 30 years for Old Kent Bank. Mr. Pearson was active in his church, community, Boy Scouts of America and Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed accounting and served as treasurer for many local organizations as well as the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. He loved to rise early to work in his garden and he was an avid golfer and traveler. Summer weekends were joyously spent with a stream of visitors to the family cottage at Silver Lake, Michigan.

Following retirement, Ed and Marie enjoyed summers in Michigan and winters in Zephyrhills, Florida. They were active in the Methodist Church and the Betmar community. They moved to Maple Court in Tifton in 2003. Even as his health declined, Mr. Pearson warmly welcomed visitors and was grateful for the wonderful care that he received.

Mr. Pearson is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marie Belknap Pearson of Tifton; his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Charles Bennett of Fremont, Michigan; his three children and their spouses, Elaine and James Taylor of Tifton, Dr. Robert and Elisabeth Pearson of Durham, North Carolina, and Dr. Richard and Janet Pearson of Charlottesville, Virginia; and eight grandchildren and their spouses, James "Shine" Taylor of Gainesville, Florida, Amy Taylor of Tifton, Sophie Pearson of Washington, D.C., Jonathan Pearson of Durham, North Carolina, Emily Pearson of Durham, North Carolina, Scott and Cynthia Pearson of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Andrew Pearson of Miami, Florida and Karen Pearson of Atlanta.

The family wishes to extend sincere appreciation for the kindness and care provided by the staff of Maple Court, Tift Health Care and sitters, Brenda Williams, Cathy Scott and Shaw Shearer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ty Ty Baptist Church, 157 North Church Street, Ty Ty, Georgia 31795; or Maple Court Memorial Garden Fund, 2408 North Tift Avenue, Tifton, Georgia 31794.