John Ervin Bearden

Seminole resident John Ervin Bearden, 87, passed away Sunday, March 8, 2026, at his home.

John, the son of Anderson and Dorothy (Bodine) Bearden, was born October 1, 1938, in Buckeye, Arizona. His family later settled in California’s Central Valley, where John attended and graduated from McFarland High School in McFarland, California, with the Class of 1957. Shortly after graduating, John joined the United States Marine Corps.

On October 24, 1958, John married Sadie Mae Presley in Delano, California.

After their marriage, John and Sadie lived in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California, before eventually settling in Springville, California, near Sequoia National Monument. After his service in the Marine Corps, John began working in carpentry. What started as a trade became a lifelong career, eventually leading him to work as a construction project manager overseeing large building projects. One of John’s proudest moments of his career was overseeing the completion of the event center at the LA Coliseum for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, along with the track and field events. In 2015, John and Sadie moved to Seminole, Oklahoma.

John was always working on a project, whether planning the next one or in the middle of completing it. Over the years, he expanded two single-wide homes into a wonderful family residence that included a two-story wing, a garage built into the mountainside, and a beautiful main home with a spacious kitchen. Later came the barn, animal pens, and even lining the pond. Their home became a gathering place for family, especially during Thanksgiving, when everyone would come together to share stories and talk about the weather—something John loved. He enjoyed telling funny stories, joking with family and friends, and helping anyone who needed it.

In his spare time, John enjoyed farming and raising goats, chickens, dogs, and cats. He also loved fishing—especially with friends—and continuing his many home improvement projects. John was never one to sit still.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

John is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sadie Bearden, of Seminole; his son and daughter-in-law, Delbert “Del” and Cindy Bearden of Chandler, Texas; his daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia “Cindy” and Nick Amicone of Ormond Beach, Florida; grandchildren, Lindsay Bearden Deshane, Bailey Zinggeler, and Nicholas S. Amicone; great-grandchildren, Tayler, Lillian, and Emily; sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Jim Sutton of Hagerstown, Arkansas; former daughter-in-law and caretaker, Lawana Wright; sister-in-law, Ann Bearden of Conway, Arkansas; along with many other family members and friends.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 16, 2026, at the Church of Christ at Little, with Bill Whaley officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Wanette Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole.