Louise Neal Dearing, 77, of Tifton passed away Friday, October 29, 2004, at her residence. Her funeral service was held at 3: p.m. Sunday, October 31, 2004, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Dan Eidson officiating. Mrs. Dearing was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mrs. Dearing's grandsons, Ben Mathis, Chad Mathis, Eric Schwalls, Gabriel Mathis, Marshall Cone and Matthew Hickman served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Mrs. Dearing's nephews, Tommy Mullis, Wayne Mullis, Ronnie Dunn, C. B. Wood Jr., William Doles and Joel Doles, Johnny Copeland, Bill Justine, Wayne Richards, Jimmy Neal, Johnny Johnson, Gary Bishop and Max Stephens.
Born July 27, 1927, in Emanuel County, Mrs. Dearing was the daughter of the late Ben H. Neal Sr. and Lena Brantley Neal. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, henry F. Mullis Sr.; one step-son, Donald W. Mullis; five brothers; and two sisters. A graduate of Georgia Teachers College, now known as Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, she served the school system as a teacher at Enigma High School. She later entered the business field, serving as a bookkeeper at the local Ford dealership from 1957 until 1965. She was a member of Chula Baptist Church and had previously served as a devoted member and teacher at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Kelltown. Louise enjoyed swimming, her gardens, reading and, most importantly, her grandchildren.
Mrs. Dearing is survived by her husband of nine years, Lawton Dearing of Tifton; five sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Pat Schwalls, Melvin and Marlene Mathis, Neal and Becky Mathis, Henry F. Jr. and Carolyn Mullis and David and Robyn Mullis, all of Tifton; nineteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; one brother, James Albert Neal of Twin City; and two sisters, Dorothy Lanier of Twin City and Lenez McLendan of Statesboro. Mrs. Dearing was influential in the lives of many nieces and nephews and their spouses and will be missed immensely by all of them, especially, Wayne and Gail Richards and Carol and Bill Justine, all of Tifton and Gail and Johnny Copeland of Florence, Alabama.