1926
Wilma
2017
Wilma Irene "Nanny" Bearden
June 22, 1926 — February 13, 2017
Wilma Irene “Nanny” Bearden died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on February 13, 2017 at the age of 90 in Combes, Texas.
Wilma was born to James Ply and Mary (Wilson) Ply on June 22, 1926 in Crockett, Texas. She was married to Estel Troy “E.T.” Bearden on October 6, 1945 and raised her family in Combes, Texas.
Wilma retired as a switchboard operator with Southwestern Bell after 26 years. She retained her real estate license and took several college classes after her retirement. She volunteered many hours with the Telephone Pioneers, Harlingen Proud, and Harlingen Police Alumni.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary Ply, her brothers John, Vernon and Les Ply and sisters Margaret Wardlow and Ruby Wardlow, her husband E.T. Bearden who passed in 1976; and her great granddaughter Lillian Cox.
She is survived by her eight children Lonnie (Janice), Barbara (Mike) Howland, Linda (Phil) Jones, Tom, Brenda, Troy (Beckie) Dennis (Cindy), and David (Connie); her fifteen grandchildren, Stephanie Bearden, Ray (Emilee) Jones, Samantha (Shawn) Cox, Joseph (Jacque) Stevens, Scott (Stacy) Howland, Mike (Becky) Howland, Jr., Ben (Denise) Bearden, Nicholas (Crystal) Cortez, Tracy (Daniel) Nixon, Shauna Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Sarah Bearden, Debbie Bearden, Kelly (Rachel) Bearden, Christopher Bearden, Justin (Jennifer) Bearden and Haley Bearden; seven great grandchildren, Maleigha and Mathis Cox, Hollie and Jeremy Bearden, Lleyton and Liam Stevens, Megan Bearden, Sydney Howland, Gavin Howland, Faith Howland, Kaleb Howland, and Luke Howland. Also surviving are her brothers Milton “Doc” (Tamera) Ply and Homer “Cash” Ply, sister-in-law, Evelyn Snodgrass and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Chapel service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 1017 at 2:00 pm at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home with graveside service following at Harlingen-Combes Memorial Cemetery, 20969 Sid Jones Road in Combes, Texas with Rolando Perez officiating.
Wilma was born to James Ply and Mary (Wilson) Ply on June 22, 1926 in Crockett, Texas. She was married to Estel Troy “E.T.” Bearden on October 6, 1945 and raised her family in Combes, Texas.
Wilma retired as a switchboard operator with Southwestern Bell after 26 years. She retained her real estate license and took several college classes after her retirement. She volunteered many hours with the Telephone Pioneers, Harlingen Proud, and Harlingen Police Alumni.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary Ply, her brothers John, Vernon and Les Ply and sisters Margaret Wardlow and Ruby Wardlow, her husband E.T. Bearden who passed in 1976; and her great granddaughter Lillian Cox.
She is survived by her eight children Lonnie (Janice), Barbara (Mike) Howland, Linda (Phil) Jones, Tom, Brenda, Troy (Beckie) Dennis (Cindy), and David (Connie); her fifteen grandchildren, Stephanie Bearden, Ray (Emilee) Jones, Samantha (Shawn) Cox, Joseph (Jacque) Stevens, Scott (Stacy) Howland, Mike (Becky) Howland, Jr., Ben (Denise) Bearden, Nicholas (Crystal) Cortez, Tracy (Daniel) Nixon, Shauna Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Sarah Bearden, Debbie Bearden, Kelly (Rachel) Bearden, Christopher Bearden, Justin (Jennifer) Bearden and Haley Bearden; seven great grandchildren, Maleigha and Mathis Cox, Hollie and Jeremy Bearden, Lleyton and Liam Stevens, Megan Bearden, Sydney Howland, Gavin Howland, Faith Howland, Kaleb Howland, and Luke Howland. Also surviving are her brothers Milton “Doc” (Tamera) Ply and Homer “Cash” Ply, sister-in-law, Evelyn Snodgrass and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Chapel service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 1017 at 2:00 pm at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home with graveside service following at Harlingen-Combes Memorial Cemetery, 20969 Sid Jones Road in Combes, Texas with Rolando Perez officiating.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilma Irene "Nanny" Bearden, please visit our flower store.