Joe Bill Dearing

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Visitation Schedule
Roller-Christeson Funeral Home
519 N. Spring Street
Harrison, AR  72601
Thursday, February 2, 2017
6:00 to 8:00 PM
Service Schedule
Union Baptist Church
3021 Hwy. 206 E
Harrison, AR  72601
Friday, February 3, 2017
11:00 AM
Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery
Highway 206
Harrison, AR  72601
Memorial Contributions
Gideon's International
PO Box 997
Harrison, AR  72602


Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, c/o Union Baptist Church
3021 Hwy. 206 E
Harrison, AR  72601
Joe Bill Dearing

of Harrison, AR

December 19, 1928 - January 30, 2017

Internationally recognized Hereford cattle breeder, Joe Bill Dearing, age 88, of Bellefonte, passed away Monday, January 30, 2017. He was born December 19, 1928, in Harrison, the son of Noah Lonzo and Myrtle (Eoff) Dearing. He was preceded in death in 2006 by his beloved wife of 58 years, Dennie (Clark) Dearing; a sister, Jane Bryan, in 2001; and J.W. Bryan, III and Joey Bryan.

Joe grew up in the Union community, south of Harrison. He was salutatorian (Dennie was valedictorian) of the 1946 graduating class of Valley Springs High School. He married his classmate sweetheart Dennie December 21, 1947, and for many years developed a nationally recognized herd of Polled Hereford cattle at their Red Robin Farm. Their hard work on the farm garnered them the honor as the 1973 Boone County ''Farm Family of the Year''.

In 1978, Joe and Dennie made a move to Columbus, Montana where Joe worked at Beartooth Ranch as the assistant manager using the latest techniques to develop the very best beef cattle in the U.S. After they returned to Boone County Joe continued to be a fixture on the national circuit of cattle shows and had the National Champion bull in Denver in 1994 and 1995.

Though Joe was always at the top of every category of the cattle business, he always took time to support his church, Union Baptist Church, where he was a member for nearly 70 years, and served as a deacon, church secretary, and treasurer for many years, all the time enjoying Dennie's wonderful piano talent at the church.

Joe Bill is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and many dear friends throughout the community. It seems everybody in Boone County knew Joe and the wonderful influence he had on people's lives.



Visitation will be 6-8 PM, Thursday, February 2, 2016, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, February 3, 2017, at Union Baptist Church, with Pastor Bill Melton officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Dr. John Bryan, Spencer Bryan, Stuart Bryan, Dr. J.W. Bryan, IV, Chris Bryan and Russ Curtner.

Honorary pallbearers are Senator John Bozeman, Dr. William McKnight. Joe Whisenhunt, E.C. Rowlett, Wingfield Martin, Hugh McClain, Ben Eddings, Tom Ruff, Monty Soules, Bill Lovell, Wes Hudson, Dwight Martin, Joe Honeycutt, Mike Fountain, Jim Brisco, Union Baptist Church's Adult Men's Sunday School Class, special friend Norma Chance and special caregivers Rod and Debbie Branch.



Memorials may be made to Gideons International, PO Box 997, Harrison, AR 72602 or Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, c/o Union Baptist Church, 3021 Hwy. 206 E, Harrison, AR 72601.

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8 Condolence(s)
rick dearing & kelly dearing
plainview, AR
Liked
Wednesday, November 18, 2020

With deepest regrets of the passing of my cousin Joe Bill. He and I were not only cousins, we were the last of the Dearing's. Between he and I the long line of Dearing's are gone forever. Many are the days that he and I would sit down together and tell the tales of the Dearing side of the family.

Jay River
Liberty, KY
Liked
Wednesday, February 8, 2017

We are sorry to hear about your loss we pray that in the days ahead you will be fortified. May these words provide you hope and comfort during this your time of sadness. 1 Corinthians 15:21,22, "For since death came through a man, resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive." Jesus said of himself that he was the resurrection and the life at John 11:25. May God sustain you all during this time as well.

JR

Billie & Nolan Brisco
Harrison, AR
Liked
Thursday, February 2, 2017

We are going to miss Joe so much. We sure did enjoy his visits.
I wish he had written a book about his experiences. Such a good Christian man and mentor to so many people. He will be missed by many but we know he is happy and pain free now. Prayers.

Dennis Bubniak
Springdale,
Liked
Thursday, February 2, 2017

Peggy and I truly enjoyed our friendship with Joe and Dennie, as we were neighbors on Prairie Drive. Our thoughts and prayers with all of family and friends, as Joe will be greatly missed.

Montie & Rhonda Soules
Skiatook, OK
Liked
Wednesday, February 1, 2017

With our deepest sympathy.

Steve Henderson
Tulsa, OK
Liked
Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Reading Joe Bill's obituary brought back a lot of childhood memories for me. When I was six years old, my parents purchased a small farm within a mile of Joe Bill and Dennie's residence at that time. I remember how they, and Joe Bill's parent's (Noah and Myrtle) welcomed us and had us in their home for visits. I remember listening to Dennie play gospel songs on her piano when we were in their home. They quickly became good friends of my parents.

It was very obvious at an early age that they were people of high character, kind hearted to others , loved God, and lived their life based on Christian values and integrity. Joe Bill gave me the first job that I ever had. I was about ten years old, and he hired me to tie off the bales of hay from his old round baler (the small round bales)......the baler function that tied the bales had quit working, so being the great businessman that Joe Bill was, he figured it was cheaper to hire someone like me to manually tie the bales than to fix his old baler. He paid me 1/2 cent per bale, but I quickly learned that if I really worked hard that I could make $10 for a full day's work, which for a ten year old boy was really big money! Looking back on that experience, Joe Bill taught me a lot about the importance of hard work. His success as a farmer was well known, and he was an inspiration to me and a lot of young men growing up in Boone County at that time. The last couple of times I saw Joe Bill was when he attended by Dad's 80th birthday party, and my Mom's 75th birthday party......he never changed. He loved to visit and talk, and his love for Dennie was very obvious....in fact, the last time I saw him at my Mom's birthday party, he insisted that we listen to some of Dennie's piano music, so he pulls out a big boom box from his truck and proceeded to play some piano recordings of Dennie's for us. It was a true expression of his love for her, and it was obvious he missed her. I know he will be greatly missed by his many friends, family, and the entire community. He leaves a great legacy and used his time on this earth well. My prayers and condolences to all his family.

Steve Henderson

steve nelson
sulphur springs, TX
Liked
Tuesday, January 31, 2017

truly a legend in the hereford business and always a gentleman,eager to visit and give advise to young people my prayers and condolances

Chuck and Bonnie Miller
Hermiston, OR
Liked
Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Our prayers are with the family during this time. I hadn't known Joe for very long but during that time we had a great time talking about Genealogy, Montana, The FFA and his livestock judging during high school, Cattle, and some of his friends in the cattle industry that I know here in Oregon.

My late wife Karla, was Clay Eoffs niece: She enjoyed visiting Joe and Denny any time we were in Arkansas visiting Clay and Mildred.

I will truly miss my visits to Harrison with Joe!