Robert Dearing

Mr. Robert "Bob" Dearing, age 74, of the Toledo Bend Lake area near Hemphill, Texas, passed from this life peacefully on Thursday evening, December 31, 2020, in Shreveport, Louisiana, after a short illness.

Bob was born to Thelma (Davis) Dearing and Derrell Dearing on September 20, 1946, in Gilbert, Louisiana. He graduated from Gilbert High School and joined the U.S. Army obtaining the rank of Sgt. and served in combat during Vietnam, where he earned the prestigious purple heart award,  good conduct medal and clasp bronze 2 loops, valorous unit ward, the national defense service medal, the Vietnam service medal, and bronze star, combat infantryman badge 1st award and the expert bade and rifle bar. He loved serving his country and was a proud Vietnam Veteran.

He married the love of his life, Marsha Kay Oliver, on May 28, 1967. Bob went on to serve as a peace officer for the Dallas Police Department for some 10 years where he obtained the "Rookie of the Year Award" in 1969-1970.  He was a graduate of Sam Houston State University obtaining his Bachelor of Science on December 21, 1974.  Thereafter, he was employed as Deputy Director and State Jail Inspector for the State of Texas where he was instrumental as a consultant informing and writing the rules and regulations for the Texas Commission of Jail Standards.

Bob retired in 1998 at the young age of 52 years, with a blessed life. He was an avid outdoorsman. He dearly loved to hunt and fish, having just recently moved back to the piney woods of East Texas to the Harborlight area of Toledo Bend Lake to his beloved lake home which he dearly loved. He loved to go to "the camp," and enjoyed his friends and family so very much. He dearly loved his wife of 53 years, Marsha, and enjoyed many vacations with her and her family. A wonderful son, a proud husband, a loving dad, and a grandfather, and a great-grandfather, he always had a sense of humor and was loved by all his extended family and made each one feel special. He was of the Baptist faith.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 53 years, Marsha Dearing of Hemphill, Texas; sons, Robert Dearing Jr. and his wife Nora of Bay City, Texas, and Derrel Dearing and his fiancee Summer Wathley of Farmerville, Louisiana; granddaughter, Melissa Mahoney of Baskin, Louisiana;  grandson, Robert (Robby) Dearing III of Winnsboro, Louisiana; great-grandchildren, Madalyn Mahoney, Kelsey Mahoney, and Roger Dale Mahoney; brother, Jimmy Derrel Dearing and his wife Shirley of Montgomery; sisters, Rose Marie English of the Woodlands, Texas, and JoAnn Holder of Gilbert, Louisiana; and a beloved little sister, Marilyn Jagneaux of Fort Worth, Texas; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members that dearly loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thelma and Derrell Dearing.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 7, 2021, in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, 316 West Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, with Bro. Bobby Emfinger and Bro. T.A.  Lane officiating, and Bro. Luke Birdwell reading a poem.   Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2021, at the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel.  Graveside and committal services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, January 8, 2020, in the Oakley Cemetery in Gilbert, Louisiana, 733-763 Oakley Road, Gilbert, Louisiana 71336.

"The family has requested to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing and to please wear a mask."

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