Margaret "Betty" Bearden

Margaret Elizabeth “Betty” Thomas Bearden, age 86, of Knoxville, went to be with the Lord and her husband, Jim, on August 23, 2015, just in time to celebrate their 69th anniversary. She was a member of Stock Creek Baptist Church. She worked for McDonald Air Craft in St. Louis, MO in the early 1960s in the space program on project Gemini and Mercury, then for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, WA, she returned to Knoxville where she retired from Robert Shaw Controls. She is preceded in death by mother and father, Martha Sue and Larken Thomas; husband, Hugh E “Jim” Bearden; sister, Mary Lou “Judy” Miller. She is survived by son, Hugh E “Ed” Bearden, III (Donna); daughter, Martha R “Marty” Taylor (Merril); grandchildren, Jackie Barineau (David), Rocky Holloway (Mandy), Hugh Edward Bearden, IV (Ashley), Mandy Mann (Trey); great grandchildren, Macey and Emmy Bearden, Aubrey Mann; brothers, C L Thomas (Sandi), James A Thomas (Peg), William B Thomas (Marilyn), John L Thomas (Brenda); sisters, Rebecca Childs (Jerry), Carol Michaels (Jim); brother-in-law, Bob Miller; several nieces, nephews, and extended family. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Stock Creek Baptist Church, 8106 Martin Mill Pike, with a funeral service to follow at 7:00pm, Rev. Buddy Johnson officiating. Family and friends will meet on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at Stock Creek Cemetery for an 11:00am graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Betty’s honor to Alzheimer’s Pat Summit Foundation http://www.patsummitt.org/, East Tennessee Foundation, 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com, 3704 Chapman Highway.