Elliott Pearson
Alton |
Elliott Shelton Pearson, on his 90th birthday, passed away and entered into heaven at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 10, 2013, in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was surrounded by his family.
Elliott was born on November 10, 1923, in Fayette, Missouri, the son of the Rev. J.W. Pearson and Mary (Ransdell) Pearson. He married the former Betty Faye Danner on July 29, 1950, in Moberly, Missouri, and she survives.
Other survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, John and Julie Pearson of Wood River; one daughter, Cindee Hunter of Alton, five grandchildren, Sara (Hunter) Sutton of Alton, Tom Hunter and his wife Amanda of Alton, Samantha Estrada and her husband Jose of Cottage Hills, Elliott Andrew Pearson of St. Louis, and Ross Pearson of Wood River; plus Great Grandchildren Taylor and Andrew Hunter; Jose Jr., Jake, and Josh Estrada; and Anna Sutton.
A graduate of Princeton (Mo.) High School in 1941, he played multiple sports but excelled in basketball. He attended Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville during which he played on the basketball team, played trumpet in dance bands, and worked his way through college, prior to his enlistment in 1943. He proudly served his nation in World War II, serving in the US Army in the jungles of New Guinea and the Philippines. He was discharged after the war in February 1946. He returned to Northeast Missouri under the GI Bill after the war and graduated in 1948, with his B.S. in secondary education. After graduation, he served as a social studies teacher and coach for two years in Iowa, three years at Rennick High School – while attaining his MS in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri - one year at Eminence High School, and, in August 1954, arrived in the Alton School District as a junior high social studies teacher and coach. For the next 14 years, he taught social studies at East Junior High and coached several sports. In the fall of 1968, Elliott was appointed to be Athletic Director and Asst. Principal at Alton Sr. High. During his leadership of the Athletic Department at Alton High School, AHS experienced an undefeated football team, a state track championship, state finalists in baseball, and numerous Southwestern Conference and regional championships.
Elliott – or Shelton, as he was known by many of his family – was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who loved spending countless hours with his family, especially holding his great-grandchildren in his later years. He also loved to watch his beloved St Louis Cardinals, Rams, and the Fighting Illini and Mizzou games. Betty and he were season ticket holders to the St. Louis Football Cardinal games from 1973–1987 and attended nearly every game. He also loved to play golf and travel. Betty and he played dozens of golf courses all over the nation, touring the country, playing the links and seeing the sights, with their RV in tow. He was also a huge jazz fan, who would love to attend concerts and listen to big band jazz.
Elliott was a lifelong member of the Christian Church, with most of those years at the First Christian Church in Alton, where he served as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Choir member. He was known as the “Gum Man” for all of the countless sticks of gum he gave away to children after every worship service. He was a proud member of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association and, as a teacher, in the National Education Association.
He was truly proud to be included in the numbers of Greatest Generation and a Veteran. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Martin and Mary Watts, and by his brother, Dr. John Pearson. He is survived by two sisters, Eva Keuhn of Dallas, Texas and Amy Petty of Moberly, Missouri; and a brother, Harold of Kansas City.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the Gent Funeral Home in Alton, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the Funeral Service to follow at 1:30 p.m. along with full military honors by the VFW Post 1308. Jim Johnston will officiate. Memorials are suggested to the 1st Christian Church in Alton. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
Gent Funeral Home
