Obituaries

Dewey Bearden Nation

Photo of Dewey Bearden Nation
Dewey Bearden Nation, 83 years old, born in Morrilton, Arkansas, passed away to be with the Lord, after a long time with heart disease problems on August 21, 2010. He was graduated at Arkansas School for the Deaf in 1948, a member of outstanding deaf school football and basketball teams during 1946-48, then in 1949 ASD won the Class B state basketball tournament championship held in 1949 which fabulous Clyde Nutt along with J.L. Jackson, Maxwell Mercer, Howard Poe and Jodie Passmore. Dewey played basketball for the Little Rock Silents during the early 1950's with famed Nutt brothers. During the late 1960's and the early 1970's he continued to be active with the Little Rock Silents basketball team as a manager. He was the general chairman of the 1973 SWAAD basketball tournament and SWSAD softball tournament held in Little Rock. Dewey went to Milo Bennett's Linotype Instruction in English, Indiana, first worked in Grenada, MS with Grenada Daily Sentinel for three and one/half years, then went to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he worked as adv operator at Pine Bluff Commercial for eight and one/half years, until October 1969. He moved to work for Arkansas Printing and Lithography Co. (Its name was changed to International Graphics Inc. (IGI)) He worked there for eighteen years. He was IGI chapel chairman with Little Rock Typographical Union #92. He had taught several deaf men to learn the printing trade and helped them to get the union cards. After retiring from full-time employment as a printer in the late 1970's, he devoted more time to serving the community. Because he was always available and willing to help whenever he was needed, he earned a reputation as "Mr. Volunteer". The Little Rock basketball team invited him to return as manager in 1987. He chose the right time to return. After 22 years of not winning a championship, Little Rock won the SWAD basketball tournament two straight years, 1987 and 1988. He was a big part of the team's success. Dedication was given to Dewey in 1989 saying "In many ways, Dewey is an inspiration for all of us. He is truly one of those rare people who, without doubt, is someone "you can depend on." He is a person who has a "big heart" because he always finds time to help others. We love and respect Dewey because he is "unselfish". This dedication is our opportunity to say to Dewey, "Thank you for all you have done for us." He helped Kenneth Van Dyke, (deceased) to work on Teletypewriters and brought 30 models of TTYs being donated by SWBell in Dallas, Texas in 1973. Kenneth had all of them to be reqired to use the deaf communication with other TTY owners. Model 19 TTY donated by him is now at the Deaf ACCESS for display. He was so active among several deaf organizations such as treasurer for Arkansas Association of the Deaf, Inc. for fourteen years, secretary-treasurer for Little Rock Division No. 5 of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf for over thirty five years having received 34th degree as well as Golden Circle Award. He was field representative for NFSD for several years selling insurance coverages to the deaf people. He was mentioned in Southwest Association of the Deaf Hall of Fame in 1987 for leadership. HE helped Little Rock Association of the Deaf basketball team to coach the Southwest Association of the Deaf basketball tournament championship first time in 22 years. He was also well known as a program coordinator for having prepared for some deaf organizations for many years. He was a deaf sign language instructor for Superspeech under Susan Murray and Paula Gober for several years, having taught some plant groups such Levi's and Target as well as Little Rock Fire Station. He also went to University of Arkansas in Little Rock to take Cobal programmer and professional interpreting courses for a semester. He was president of Southwest Deaf Bowling Association in 1977 having updated the SWDBA Constitution and Bylaws which stood strong for many years. He was also a member of Little Rock Anglers of the Deaf, one of the strong organizations in the nation. He liked to go fishing with members of LRBAD sometimes. He liked to play chess. He joined the Yahoo Chess to play all the foreigners over the world, as of present rating is around 1500…enjoyed communicating with them. He was a member of Hot Springs First Church of Nazarene. Memorial services will be held by Rev. Bob Slagley of Little Rock Arkansas at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 5300 Stagecoach Rd. Little Rock, Arkansas at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 28, 2010. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the American Heart Association or Arkansas Hospice. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, one daughter, Sheila Nation of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; two step-daughters, Linda King of McMinnville Tennessee and her children Wesley and Jeanette and Paula Zimmerman and husband John of Little Rock, Arkansas; niece, Cheryl Baer and husband Jim and daughter, Samantha. He was preceded in death by his mother Arkie Nation and father Dewey Hiram Nation; brother, Robert Ed Nation and wife Dottie of Universal City, Texas and his daughter, Karen Sue. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.

Published August 25, 2010

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