Funeral service for former Snyder resident Dorothea Louise (Beason) Stearns will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 31, 2016 in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder Chapel with the Rev. Les Bussell, Pastor of the Snyder First United Methodist Church officiating.

Burial will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder, Oklahoma under the director of Becker Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder.

Dorothea Louise (Beason) Stearns, 87, of Hurst, Texas, departed with the angels at 6:00 am on August 26th, 2016.  She left this earth peacefully after living at home with her husband of 66 years, Neil Stearns.

Dorothea was born May 16, 1929 in Snyder, Oklahoma to Dahlia and Ralph Beason.  She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Snyder High School in 1947.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma College for Women at Chickasha, Oklahoma in 1959.

Dorothea married Neil (of Manitou, Oklahoma) on January 28, 1950 at the home of her parents.  They started their lives together on a farm outside of Snyder and then moved to Chickasha before settling in Hurst, Texas in 1962. Dorothea was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  As a young mother she was active as a Brownie and Campfire Girl leader, in the PTA, and youth activities at church.  She and Neil were loyal members of St. Paul Methodist Church in Hurst, where Dorothea was active in The United Methodist Women, helping organize church bazaars as well as many other things.  She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, organizer and crafter.

Two of Dorothea's greatest passions were traveling and being with family and friends. Together they traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. She especially loved traveling in their motor home. Like her life itself, traveling was not always about the destination but sharing the adventure along the way. She had many friends, but especially stayed in touch with her lifelong friends Joy (Richardson) McElroy and twins Ellen Fae (Green) Greenwood, and Martha Mae (Green) Shelton, spending time and travels with them and their families.

Dorothea leaves behind her husband, Neil Stearns, daughter Cheri Irwin and husband Bill of Hurst, Texas, daughter Laurie Self and husband David of Murphy, Texas.  She is also survived by grandchildren Jennifer Self Duke, Courtney Irwin Winegar and husband Reed, Corey and Ryan Self; great-grandchildren Will Duke, Taylor Smith, Penelope and Phoebe Winegar and Aunt Raenelle Nunn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Dahlia Beason, Uncle Blake Beason and Uncle Elbert Nunn.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Fairlawn Cemetery Association, PO Box 365, Snyder, OK 73566 or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 500 N Broadway Ave # 250, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.