Gaines Bearden

Gaines Wright Bearden, age 80, died on January 14, 2022.  He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joanna Harvey Bearden, his son Brian Gaines Bearden, and daughter Kelly Margaret Bearden.  He is also survived by his siblings Jeff Bearden, Willy Bearden, and Debby Walker.

He was born in Standing Pine, Mississippi, on December 5, 1941, to Virginia Wright Bearden Trigleth and Matthew Gaines Bearden.  He grew up in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and joined the Army National Guard right after graduating high school in 1959, from which he was honorably discharged in 1968.  During his service he earned a bachelor of science degree in Biology from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.  After earning his degree in 1964, he continued with graduate courses and taught school before starting a long career with the U.S. Forest Service in 1966, which took him west. He retired in 1995 as the Personnel Director of the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service.  After retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife both domestically and internationally.

Throughout his life he held a great love of the outdoors, spending as much of his free time as possible hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.  He was also an accomplished musician who played trumpet and guitar, finding friends to play music with wherever he lived.  He met his wife Joanna while playing in a folk band together in college, and they were married in 1964.  In his later years, he created folk art crosses which were displayed in galleries in Denver and New Mexico.

A memorial is planned for summer of 2022.  In lieu of gifts or flowers, his family requests that donations be given in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org .