Obituary of Raymond E. Stearns

Bedford CSM Ret. Raymond E. Stearns, 77, of 1734 Parkview Dr., Bedford, died at 2:44 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at his residence. Born August 13, 1933 in Lawrence Co., he was the son of Jaison and Georgia (Skaggs) Stearns. He married Alice Jenkins on July 2, 1953 in Bedford and she survives. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 26, 1951and retired on August 31, 1979 as a Command Sergeant Major after serving twenty-eight years during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He later retired from the Colorado Dept. of Corrections in 1997. He attended Mitchell Schools and attended the Salvation Army Church. He was a member of the D.A.V., American Legion and V.F.W. Survivors include his wife, Alice, of Bedford; three daughters, Terri Lea Stearns of Mitchell, Tammy Lynn Stearns of Pringle, SD and Tracy Louise Page of Bedford; three grandsons, Jason Martin and wife, Jessica of Anderson, Curtis Scott of Mitchell and William Cox of Colorado Springs, CO; three granddaughters, Jennifer Hsu and husband, James of Bedford, Heather Cox of Cedar Rapids, IA and Katherine Cox of Colorado Springs, CO; great grandchildren, Andrew and Courtney of Bedford, Christian and Leighton of Anderson, Addison, Marie, Bailey, Connor and Cian all of Cedar Rapids, IA; one brother, Robert Stearns of Mitchell; four sisters, Shirley Cole of California, Norma Jean Foster of Tipton, TN, Delores Hopper and husband, Wendell of Mitchell and Helen Shope of Mooresville. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Della Lifford; four brothers, Cecil Stearns, Roger Davis, Ronald Stearns and Frank Stearns. Funeral Information Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Sunday, February 13th in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary with Ray Briggs officiating. Burial will follow in the Mitchell Cemetery with military rites accorded at the graveside by members of the Cecil Martin Post #250 American Legion. Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday, February 12th at the Day & Carter Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to United Children of Veterans. The family of Sergeant Major Stearns would like to extend an open invitation to all military personnel who wish to honor him. The family will host a reception in his honor at the Mitchell American Legion following the graveside services.