Pearson, Tom and Ruth

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

Pearson Tom and Ruth Yadon

Submitted by: Ruth Y. Pearson

     Ruth and Tom were married August 4, 1955, at the home of her parents, Emory and Pearl Yadon, stock farmers, who lived east of Lovington, New Mexico. Billy Beauchamp performed the ceremony, and then they were at home on the San Simon Ranch east of Eunice. The ranch is owned and operated by descendants of C. W. Merchant.

Ruth, a native Lea Countian, had been one of those that attended the last year of school held at Highlonesome, then went on to Lovington schools. Tom's parents were Eulalia Merchant Pearson, daughter of Mattie and John Merchant and Dr. T. J. Pearson of Roswell. Tom attended school in Roswell, Carlsbad and New Mexico State University. After his Army service, Tom went to work on the San Simon Ranch, established in 1887 by his great grandfather C. W. Merchant. Ruth's daughter, Sherry Beadle, was the first to ride a school bus from the ranch and the first to be married there. Crill was born in July, 1956. Each girl was a good student at Eunice, and each girl developed a love of animals, horses in particular. Sherry became an artist, specializing in portraits of horses. Crill wa a member of the American Junior Rodeo Association and member of the college rodeo team for Sul Ross State University at Alpine, Texas for four years. She went to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Finals each year. She is now married to Guy Allen, world champion steer roper. They make their home on land that was once belonged to Ruth's maternal grandparents, Sallie and Jake Eller.

     From their ranch life the Pearson's remember the droughts, the sandstorms, the good years when it rained, the long stock works, the great cowboys, getting meals to the right of the roundup ground, the rattlesnakes, the ice storms, and when the grass was green. They remember the sadness of when the ranch was split in 1962. They remember the great neighbors. They remember good horses; among them were Buck, Deadline, Bullet, and Tres. The good dogs were Mac, Whistle, Britches, and Concho. The house cats were Soapy, Dash, and the Yellow Cats.  There was a pet Bobcat, El Gato. Major highlights were getting electricity in 1960 and remodeling the ranch house in 1981.

     Tom realized the fulfillment of his efforts and desires to have his twin, John, to rejoin him at the San Simon to help manage the ranch. John, his wife Billie, and their sons Clabe and Tommy, came in December 1966. The pipe corrals they have built should last forever.

     Ruth has a hobby of hunting and collecting Indian artifacts. Tom enjoys roping and working with the horses. Both are past directors of AJRA and Tom is one of the original members of the board of directors for the Lea County Hall of Fame. They like a good roping and rodeo. They admire and appreciate the young people of the county and have received much pleasure from them. Lea County is their home, their roots run deep, and they wouldn't trade places with anyone.