Pearson, John and Billie

Lea County Families and Histories, Then and Now" Vol II, 1984

Pearson, John and Billie

Submitted by: Billie E. Pearson

     Claiborne John and his twin brother Thomas Jefferson (John and Tom) were born to Eula Merchant and Dr. Thomas J. Pearson, August 10, 1920 at Carlsbad. They have a younger brother Russell. Dr. Pearson practiced dentistry at Roswell where the twins attended school until 1937 when he moved his family to Carlsbad and open an office. They played football on the Caveman squad and graduated from Carlsbad High in 1939. They attended New Mexico State for one year, then moved to the family owned San Simon Ranch, in Lea County.

     John's maternal grandparents were Mattie Miller and John Douthitt Merchant, rancher, Carlsbad. John's paternal grandparents were Nancy Cecil and Thomas Jefferson Pearson of Pearisburg, Virginia. He was a Pharmacist.

     John joined the Army in 1942 and served three and one half years overseas with the 8th Air Force. He was discharged in December 1945, returning to the ranch.

     Dr. Pearson died in 1967.

     I, Billie Jean English, daughter of Alice Henderson and Ernest B. Henderson, was born July 12, 1926, at Lamesa, Texas. I was reared in Stanton, Texas where my father worked for the railroad. I have an older brother Laroy, and a younger sister Ernestine. I was on the tennis team and graduated from Stanton High in 1944. My parents moved to San Angelo in 1946 and I moved to Carlsbad. My father died in 1976.

     My maternal grandparents were Elen Holly and Carol K. Henderson of Lamesa and Post, Texas. He was a farmer and rancher. My paternal grandparents were Mattie Taner and Emory D. English of Polk County, Texas. He was a sugarcane farmer.

     I worked for the city of Carlsbad from 1946 until 1950. I met John in 1948. We dated a year and were married December 10, 1949 at Grace Episcopal Church. I commuted on weekends until November 1950 when I moved to the ranch.

     In 1951 John and Tom leased the Merchant's Reagan County Ranch, north of Big Lake, Texas. John and I moved there to operate it. While there we had two sons born in Midland: Claiborne John Jr. (Clabe), March 7, 1956; Thomas Stephen (Tommy) August 22, 1961. Clabe started school at Big Lake.  John sold out in 1964. We moved to Carlsbad, then back to the San Simon in 1966. Clabe entered fith grade at Eunice.

     Tragedy struck January 19, 1967. Our house burned with only a few things saved. Friends and neighbors had a "Fire Shower". About 150 called and brought gifts. Many more sent gifts. Only in our part of the country are people so aware of their neighbors.

     Tommy started first grade in Eunice. He and Clabe graduated from Eunice High and were both listed in "Who's Who". They won many awards in AJRA. Both attended New Mexico Junior College and Sul Ross State University.

     Clabe married Luann Hubbard.

     We have a house in Ruidoso where we enjoy horse racing in the summer. Tommy, Clabe and Luann enjoy skiing trips there in the winter. We travel some and go watch Clabe and Tommy rope occasionally. Were still at home on the San Simon Ranch, where John is Vice-President and co-manager.