Faye Arlene Pearson

Faye Arlene Pearson, Simpson, Kansas, passed away Monday, August 20, 2012, at the age of 84 in the Nicol Home in Glasco, Kansas, from complications related to Alzheimer's.

Faye was born February 10, 1928, in Simpson, Kansas, to Raymond Foster and Eva Fern (Clark) Bell, their only child. She attended the Simpson Schools and graduated from Simpson High School with the class of 1945. After dating for two years in his 1934 Model A, and sometimes on the back of a Harley- Davidson motorcycle, she eloped to Goodland, Kansas, on August 26, 1946, with Wilbur Pearson who became her devoted husband of 66 years. Three children were born to this union: Sheldon Wayne, Monty Lane, and Shirley Elaine.

Faye lived all of her life in the Simpson area with music being a big part of that life. She learned to play the piano at the age of 5 or 6, playing once a month in church at her father's request. She continued to play for church and Sunday School over the years and was pianist for Eastern Star for many years, including being asked to be the Grand Organist for the State of Kansas for the year 1972-1973. She taught herself how to play the organ and was organist for the Simpson Church for 40 years. She belonged to the Beloit Music Club where she not only played piano and organ, but also sang in a number of ensembles and duets with her lovely alto voice. She also played or sang for numerous funerals and weddings. At the last, when she couldn't remember a lot of things, she still occasionally would sit and play "Deep Purple" or an Eastern Star March….or both. We treasure those times.

Faye had numerous places of employment over the years, but farming with her husband was her first love. Wilbur had seven different tractors over the years and she learned to drive them all….loving the big diesel best with its power steering, etc. She plowed, disked, spring-toothed, baled hay…..she just drew the line at listing and drilling. However, she ran the combine in harvest, as well as drove a truck to the elevator. When they got into the sheep business several years ago, she was right out there with Wilbur in lambing time all hours of the day and night, usually in frigid temperatures, stripping out of her coveralls to help a ewe that was having trouble birthing her lamb. Granted, it wasn't her favorite thing to do, but Wilbur's hands were just too big, so the task fell to her…..and she was glad to help. They were partners in everything.

Faye was a waitress for several cafes over the years, as well as secretary for the probate judge. She worked at the Girls Industrial School and was a hot lunch cook at the Asherville Grade School…a feat in itself, as Wilbur taught her how to cook (as well as how to drive) after they were married! She worked at the Simpson Post Office for a few years and then transferred to the Beloit Post Office for a total of 16 years. Technology advanced and computers were introduced into her workplace, and as she had no interest in learning more about them, she retired! She also spent some time working at the Beloit Airport for the Aerial Sprayers….fueling the planes, cleaning the bugs off the windshields, and taking orders from the farmers.

She loved to travel and go camping with the family, first with a tent, then a tent-topped trailer, and in later years with just the two of them with a pull-type camper. She and Wilbur traveled in 38 states together, coast to coast, and border to border. She only added to that number when she rode with her son, Monty, in his semi, making it a total of 43 states.

Faye loved to sew and made clothes not only for herself, but for her children. She spent considerable time one Christmas sewing dozens of outfits for her granddaughter's dolls. Later on, she decided to help the underprivileged families and made children's clothes, donating them to charities. She crocheted, embroidered, and quilted…making baby quilts for most of the great-grandchildren until her Alzheimer's disease wouldn't let her make sense of how things went together anymore.

Their yard and gardens were another important part of her life. She helped plant and tend their large gardens over the years, canning and freezing food for the family's use. Her roses in the front yard were such a joy to her. She had such a green thumb….she could make anything grow.

Preceding her in death were her parents, and her oldest son. Sheldon, in December 2010.

She leaves to mourn her husband Wilbur; daughter-in-law Hazel Pearson, Atoka, OK; Monty and wife Jackie, Simpson; Shirley Beisel and husband Jim, Peabody; Grandchildren/great-grandchildren Boyd Pearson and Hannah, Oklahoma; Dale and Missy Pearson, Isaac and Cooper, Oklahoma; Shane and Kayla Pearson and Cheyenne, Simpson; Jaime Pearson, Phoenix, AZ; Darin and Beth Schlesener, Sumner and Pierce and Rachel Gooldy, Hope; Dena and Justin Hall, Clara, Alexandra, and Naomi, Colwich; Curtiss and Lisa Schlesener, Zoe, Wyatt, and Tyson, Herington; Janet Lipscomb and Sophie, Frontenac; Brian Manderscheid and Jasmine, Glasco; Jason and Jessica Manderscheid and Elowen, Frontenac; Tonya and Ray Coppock and families, Denton, TX; Jim Beisel, Jr. and family, Edmond, OK; and Rynie and Kati Beisel and Ryli Cook, Edmond, OK; and a host of other family members and friends.

Faye requested cremation, and a memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday at the Simpson Community Church with Pastor Dennis Finch officiating. Her family will privately bury the ashes in the Simpson Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Simpson Community Church. McDonald Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.