William G. (Pat/Pappy) Stearns, 86, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012.
Pat was born Jan. 7, 1926, in Trickham, Texas. He lived in and around Trickham during his entire childhood. Pat was married to Edna Mae Goldman in July 26, 1946. Pat served in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the Pacific campaign. He fought valiantly during this time and received a Purple Heart for injuries received. After living several years in Brady, they moved to Fort Worth in the early 1950’s. Throughout most of his working life, Pat was involved in the concrete business. In the early 1980s he started his own company and ran it successfully until his retirement in 1991. Pat’s true passion was spending time at his second home located near Trickham, where he spent hours tending to cattle and enjoying the outdoors.
Pat was a member of the Haltom Riverside Masonic Lodge No. 1331, Moslah Shrine Temple, Brown County Farm Bureau and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Edna; daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Larry Sammons; son, Ronnie Stearns; grandson and spouse, Travis and Holly Shelton; grandson and fiancé, Tracy Sammons and Jessica Kennedy; grandson and spouse, Alan and Melissa Sammons; great-grandchildren, Aiden Sammons and Jillian Shelton; sisters; Estelle Griffin, Geneva Lykins, Dorothy Dupree, Cloda Grove and Oda Key; brother and spouse, Harley and Dickie Stearns; numerous niece, nephews, cousins and friends. Pat was predeceased by his parents; and daughter, Charlott Shelton.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 2012, at Heartland Funeral Home Chapel, 303 Early Blvd., Early, Texas. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, at Heartland Funeral Home. Burial will be in Trickham Cemetery following services. A gathering of friends and family will be at the Trickham Community Center following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Trickham Cemetery Association, Attention: Roberta McShan, 2406 South 13th St., Brownwood, TX, 76801. Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.