Wayne W Pearson

Wayne Warren Pearson was born February 26, 1924 to Maurice and Blanche Pearson, at Emporia, Kansas. He was the third of four children. He had an older sister, Elsie, an older brother, Forrest, and a younger sister, Ramona. When he was five years old, his father, an employee of Santa Fe Railroad, moved his family to Wichita, Kansas. They became members of University Friends Church.

Wayne attended McCormick and Franklin Elementary Schools and Allison Intermediate. He graduated from Wichita North High School in 1942. Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, changed his plans for enrolling in a university. Instead, he worked for a time at Beech Aircraft until his deferment expired, and then, rather than be drafted into the army, he enlisted in the U. S. Maritime Service. He took his training at Sheepshead Bay, New York and graduated with certificates in Oiler and Fireman and Water Tender. He served in the engine room on seven different ships in the Maritime Service most of which were Liberty Ships. They operated in the Atlantic Ocean area hauling supplies for the U. S. Troops. His trips took him to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, the Mediterranean area, Athens, Greece, England, Persian Gulf (twice), France, Italy, ports around Africa, the Suez Canal, Red Sea, the southern tip of Africa, and many other ports, not necessarily in that order.

On January 29, 1945 (Kansas Day), on a trip home, he married Mary Belle Mardock, at University Friends Church, where they were both members. He served another year in the U. S. Maritime Service, and then, in 1946, he received an honorable discharge.

Wayne and Mary Belle had four children in Wichita; Maris Ann, Carol Lynn, Dana Sue, and David Wayne. Wayne built a house, almost single handedly, on North Sheridan St. Jobs were scarce at the end of World War II. Wayne worked six years at Steffen Dairy, and then worked for a time in the aircraft industry. Then, when work became scarce in that industry, Wayne moved his family in 1957 to Denver, Colorado, where he found work in several different machine shops.

In 1960, Wayne went to work for Dow Chemical Company at Rocky Flats for thirteen years, while again building a house, by himself, near Eldorado Springs, south of Boulder. The family was members of First Denver Friends Church. Wayne was instrumental in starting a preschool at the church. He served for a time as treasurer, usher and numerous other jobs.

Through his life, Wayne had many capabilities and interests. Among these were beekeeping, fishing, camping, construction, inventing, gardening, automotive repair and others. Wayne worked 13 years at Dow Chemical, owned Western Auto Store in Burlington, CO for two years (1973 and 1974) and worked at B. K. Sweeney Co. in Denver, where he retired in 1987 when the Sweeney Co. moved to Wisconsin. From 1975 to the present, Wayne and Mary have had their home in Broomfield, Co.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Mary, 4 children, 4 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 1 sister and a host of other family members and friends. Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Wed. at Crown Hill Mortuary (W. 29th Ave and Wadsworth). Services will be at 11:00 am on Thurs. at First Denver Friends Church (4595 Eliot St, Denver, 80211). Burial at Crown Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church.