Courtesy of Guy Mason, Okemah News Leader.
Okemah News Leader, Thursday, April 25, 1996 reprint from Jan. 3, 1956


Four States Represented at Bearden Homecoming

Fine weather added to the enjoyment of the annual Bearden school and community homecoming which attracted about 300 persons on Sunday.

Four different states were represented at the annual event.  Former residents from all over Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Texas returned for the event.

Long tables of food prepared by the ladies attending was the first attraction for the large crowd attending.  The basket lunch was served in the school lunch building.

Supt. O. L. Hamilton welcomed the group prior to the lunch and the prayer was given by Glenn Ott.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Brown of Dustin, former teachers at Bearden, were present.

Supt. And Mrs. Oscar V. Rose, Midwest City, were also present for the homecoming.  Mr. and Mrs. Rose have missed only one of the events since they went to Midwest City.  Mr. Rose was superintendent at Bearden for 15 years.  He now heads one of the largest school systems in the state, having built the plant from a grade school to its present state.

Former teachers present included Golden Swan Roberts, Laverna Lewis Bellis, Ruth Jenkins Goerge (George), Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Glimp. Shawnee.

Henry Bennings and family of Sand Springs were present.  Bennings left Bearden in 1907.  He was a close friend of John Swan and this was the first time they had seen each other for 50 years.  Eula Lewis, m Wichita, Kansas, attended school with them.

The oldest lady present was ms. Hattie Roden.  She had not been at Bearden since 1930.  Mrs. Roden enjoyed visiting with friends she had not seen for 30 years.

Other residents who had been longtime Beardenites were Opal Taylor Weir and Mr. and Mrs. Will Shults.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill (Shorty) Jones and family were present.  Jones is now an Oklahoma City contractor and has build many homes there.

A tragic note was the fact that Mrs. Joe Deatherage found out during the event that her brother had been involved in an accident in Hughes county.  She and her husband and family left before the reunion ended.

Another long-time Bearden resident present was Mrs. M. D. Deatherage who now lives in Midwest City.  Her children all attended Bearden school and are remembered for their many activities.

Pictures of past homecomings were shown and new pictures were taken by Mrs. O. L. Hamilton.

An alumni game and informal visiting ended the very enjoyable affair.

Mrs. Leo Roberts, alumni secretary, said she received a number of letters and cards expressing regret that the writers could not attend due to illness.

"We want to thank the Leader for the find publicity on the event this and for the past," Mrs. Roberts said.

Updated: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

 

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