Argle Pearson

Funeral services for Argle Lee Pearson, 85, of Florence, will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at HarperTalasek Funeral Home in Killeen. Burial will follow at 1 p.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Mr. Pearson died Dec. 8, 2010, after losing a battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 21, 1925, in Hardin County, Tenn., to George and Bertha May Pearson.

Known affectionately to family and friends as Pop, Mr. Pearson was a husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, uncle, brother, veteran, retired auto worker and yellow dog Democrat. He lived life to the fullest, never meeting a stranger and was always the life of the party.

Mr. Pearson was the grandson of James Willy and Mary Mageline Pearson. He grew up in west Tennessee during the Depression. He was a selfeducated individual and attended Fellowship, Hurricane and Saltillo schools during his youth while helping raise his younger sister, Rachel, and younger brother, Gene.

As a teenager, he enlisted in the Army and served his country by fighting the Germans during World War II. Upon his release from the Army after the war, Mr. Pearson went to work for Ford Motor Company in Hazelwood, Mo., where he worked for more than 30 years.

As a veteran, Mr. Pearson served as post commander and district commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of Post 3892 in Killeen.

He was also a lieutenant in the marching shrine unit and later became president, as well as being a life member of the Shriners Hospital for crippled children.

Mr. Pearson was involved in whatever community he lived in, serving as Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts and also as treasurer of a citizens committee for better government. He was always active and involved in politics and was elected for five terms as precinct committeeman and two fouryear terms on the township board of auditors.

After retiring from Ford Motor Company, he lived in Morris Chapel, Tenn., where he coached his sons Babe Ruth baseball team and supported the Hardin County High School Quarterback Club.

Mr. Pearson enjoyed fishing, gardening, smoking cigars, drinking Keystone and barbecue.

He was preceded in death by his best friend and wife of 43 years, Grace Pearson of Killeen.

Survivors include his son, Bob Whitehead and his wife, Debbie Doak, of St. Louis, Mo. son, Steve Whitehead of Cahokia, Ill. daughter, Sue Whitehead of Harker Heights daughter, Sheri Procter of Burnet son, Argle Lee Buddy Pearson Jr. and his wife, Misty, of Cookeville, Tenn. granddaughter, Jasmine Crowell and her husband, Josh, along with their children Haley, Jade and Tatum, all of Gatesville grandson, Adam Mayo of Florence granddaughter, Crystal Whitehead and her children, Steven, Abby and Joshua, all of Killeen grandson, Jacob Pearson and granddaughter, Savannah Pearson, of Cookeville, Tenn. brother, Gene Pearson of Alton, Ill. and sisters, Rachel Donohoo of Marine, Ill., and Donna Snyder of Fenton, Mo.

HarperTalasek Funeral Home in Killeen is in charge of arrangements.

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