William David McDearman

William David (Bud) McDearman, Jr. was born April 8, 1920, in Hamby, Texas to William D. McDearman, Sr. and Maria Elizabeth Axe McDearman. Bud was a man who loved God, his family and his country. At a very early age he joined the Navy and served four years coming home to find a job. Instead, within days Pearl Harbor was bombed. Bud immediately reenlisted. After serving through World War II, he and his wife agreed for him to change to the Air Force so that he could spend more time at home with his family. He was stationed to Amarillo, Texas, where he served as a missiles instructor and retired in 1959.

Throughout his time in Amarillo, Bud served for many years in many ways in his church home loving very much his Christian family. It was always his concern that his children be raised knowing right from wrong and that he be an example for how to live. His children remember that they never heard him curse and that if he got too much change during a transaction he would take it back no matter how small the amount. Although he was strong in his integrity, he was a gentle, loving man with a sense of humor.

William married Mildred Lois Franklin on October 2, 1943. They had over 70 years of marriage and thanked God every day for his safety during the war. Mildred preceded Bud in death in 2015 and he missed her every day remembering her great cooking and how God had probably given her a job taking care of and teaching children in heaven. Through the years of marriage they had son William Richard (wife Helen), grandchildren Brian and Carrie Sullivan (husband Jeremy) and great-grandchildren Oliver and Calvin McDearman; daughter Carolyn Tigart (husband Mike) with grandchildren Jason (wife Terry), and Damon, great-grandchildren Jaycee and Tucker; daughter Marilyn Kelley (husband Don) with grandchildren Christoper Kelley (wife Kathy), Amanda Kelley, Emily Brown (husband Ben) and great-grandchildren Kirsten and Jacob Kelley, Madeline Brown, and Adam Dehdashti.

William McDearman left a legacy of a man always striving to be better in all ways good. He was a quiet man and very rarely complained and never boasted. Many who cared for Bud while he was in Ussery-Roan Texas State Veterans Home often told his family how much they loved him. This family will always be thankful for the love and care shown to him while there.