Arbutis F. Pearson

Pearson, Arbutis Hamblin (age 92) of Tempe, Arizona. Passed away on May 10, 2025. Arbutis (“Beauty” or “Artie”) was born in the small coal mining town of Gatliff, Kentucky, and was literally a “coal miner’s daughter”, a fact that she was proud of. 

Throughout her life, she often spoke of her ten sisters and one brother and the tough times they all faced and the love and hard work her parents dealt with as her family grew up. Since she was one of the older kids, she became like a “second mother” to her younger sisters. Money was tight, so she put herself through nursing school then worked as a nurse in her younger years. When her father came to Ohio, she came with him and they obtained employment in the Dayton/Fairborn area. They were then able to move the rest of the family to Fairborn, Ohio. She met her dear husband, Bill, while they were both working at the Dayton airport. They had three children Tyra, Michael and Linda. Since Bill worked for the FAA as an air traffic controller, his work led them through a nomadic life in numerous jobs throughout Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Washington DC and finally Arizona. As her children grew older, Beauty returned to her nursing career, this time working for the Veterans Administration. She also was the primary caretaker for her granddaughter, Jillian, who she loved dearly. Beauty loved people and “never met a stranger.” Hours long conversations with complete strangers were not unusual for her. She was loved by family and friends alike. She will be buried alongside her husband Bill who passed away in 2004. 

She is preceded in death by her sisters Nona, Flora, Dottie, Dena and Dora and her brother, Earl, and by her granddaughter Jillian, and brothers-in-law Charlie, Norb, Arnold, Bob, Fred, Dick and Ted. Beauty leaves behind her children Tyra, Michael and Linda and grandchildren Andrew, Parker, Ben, Kimi Jo and Mathew, and her sisters Elsie, Shirley, Kathy, Donna and Jenny as well as numerous nieces, nephews and brothers-in-law. Beauty will be greatly missed.

Arrangements in care of Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, Fairborn, OH.