Gary Pearman, age 76, of Mullen died July 28, 2021, at his home. Funeral services were held
Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, at the Hooker County Community Center. Burial with military honors was at the Cedarview Cemetery in Mullen. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Mullen was in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.
Gary James Pearman was born on May 2, 1945, to Elmer (Neak was one of the last true horse traders) and Helen Mae Ingrum Pearman. His siblings include sister Rosalie, brothers Leland Dean (deceased in 1981), Clarence Lynn (Spook) and Terry Joe (Chub).
His children include Shannon, John and daughter-in-law Lourdes Nocera. Grandchildren Kelley and husband Sage Haythorn, Jensen and Jordan Nocera and great-grandson Steel Haythorn.
He attended high school in Thedford and participated in football, basketball, and track, but his main interest was horses. He competed in high school rodeos in rough stock, adding bull dogging his junior and senior years. In 1963 he qualified for nationals in Tarkio, Missouri.
In 1966, Gary was drafted into the Army. He headed to Louisiana for basic training, then to El Paso, Texas, to learn how to drive a truck and on to Germany to work in Transportation, then a short time in Spain, where he went to some bullfights. He was discharged in 1968.
Gary got back into the rodeo circuit. He won the bull riding twice in Mullen. In 1981 and 1982 he won 2nd in the NSRA bulldogging event. It was normal for a bunch of guys to load up in front and back of his ol’ green pickup and head for the rodeo.
Growing up Gary always had a job usually on a ranch working at Big Creek, Jim Miller’s place and Sonny Hanna’s. He hauled drywall, drove a cement truck, worked for Cherry County, and worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad as a laborer on an Anchor Gang and a Grinder Operator until he retired in 2005.
Gary wore many hats in his life but his most favorite one of course was his cowboy hat. Gary was around horses all his life. He was always darn good at training horses. The Carver Ranch at Whitman, Nebraska, hired Gary for 30 years to basically train their horses for their yearly horse sale.
When asked which horses were some of his favorites he mentioned Bill, Gray Bull and Zeke, but his most favorite one was Dusty, which was chosen as Bull Dogging Horse of the year in 1982.
Gary married Betty Karen in 1990. She was doing some barrel racing and decided Dusty was her new barrel horse after Gary and Dusty beat all the girls at an All Girls Barrel Race at A.B. Cox’s. Betty went on to do very well on Dusty.
Gary was a true cowboy and excellent horseman. He along with Betty Karen did everything they could to promote rodeo. They spent countless hours in the arena teaching kids the right way to do whatever they were wanting to do and then had them and their horses or went to watch them compete all over the state. If a kid needed a horse, Gary would mount them on one of his own or found one that worked. Gary also had a large selection of tack just in case someone needed something. Gary was known for telling it like he saw it, which might have hurt some kids’ feelings a time or two, but it only made them cowboy or cowgirl up and improve in their talents.
You have to look long and hard to find a true cowboy that is so willing to share his knowledge and talent with our young kids. There are many young and old that looked up to Pearman for his knowledge and guidance. Thank you Gramps!