PEARSALL, Keith Andrew (Bud)

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona ~ October 2003 Keith Andrew "Bud" Pearsall Keith "Bud" Andrew Pearsall was born to Leona and Frank Pearsall in Nowata, Oklahoma on December 10, 1918. In the early 1930s, after the passing of his mother, Bud and his large family of three brothers and three sisters moved to Dalhart, Texas and then southern Colorado, before eventually settling with their cousins, the Edmundsons, in Prescott, Arizona. He graduated from Prescott High School in 1936. While a young man, Bud met Ila Huddleson and they eventually married on July 12, 1941. Bud served in the U.S. Army's 27th Infantry Regiment as a Technician-5th Grade from 1944-1946, assisting in the occupation and rebuilding of Japan. In the post-war years, Bud worked for North American Aviation's aircraft and aerospace divisions, a precursor to today's Boeing. Bud's expertise was utilized in the Apollo and Gemini spacecraft projects. While he and Ila raised their two sons, Bud worked for 20 years with North American until retiring in 1968. In June 1970, the family decided that Los Angeles was getting too hectic and moved back to their mountain hometown of Prescott. Bud and Ila built their retirement home while he owned a local service station in town. Sadly, not long after arriving, Ila became ill and later succumbed after a long and brave battle with cancer on December 12, 1972. Bud pressed on and managed a Chevron/Standard Oil distributorship until his retirement in 1983. For the next two decades, Bud, or "Gampy" as his grandchildren and family knew him, was a well- known fixture about town. From his brilliant sense of humor, vibrant interest in the local music scene, and his generous nature, to his role as an all-around Mr. Fix-it, everyone who knew Bud was touched by his bright personality. In 2000, he moved to Phoenix to reside with his son, Wayne, and daughter-in-law, Peri. Bud was the epitome of a Prescottonian… a genuine soul who will be missed by all. He is survived by his sons Roger Keith and Wayne Robert; daughters-in-law Vicki King, Peri Pearsall and Judi Schmidt Pearsall; sisters Betty Lou Loving and Jean Livingston; brothers Bobby and Ronnie Pearsall; grandchildren Marc Pearsall, Ellen (Pearsall) Jensen and Memory Harkins, as well as many more beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members. A graveside service in celebration of his life will commence at the Pearsall family plot at Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott on Saturday, October 11, 2003, at 10:00 a.m.