Dr. Bill Pearish

Before he was "Doc," he was "The Kid." Bill Pearish was an amazing man. No one can deny that. He started boxing at the age of 12. Working his way up to ranking 11th in the world by Ring Magazine. Most notably, Bill claimed 20 Golden Gloves - 6 of these were from Joplin, which is a record yet to be contested. That man always had a fighting spirit. Although laid back & low key, he could stop anyone in their tracks with any one of the various quotes he carried around in his cowboy hat & black boots - "brevity is the brother of brilliance" when he thought maybe you shouldn't speak so much..., "Step into my office..." when you were doing something maybe not exactly on the up & up... Bill/Dad/Gramps' most important accomplishment came in the form of many red-heads - Ginger, Kody, Cade, Finn. His children, Billy & Tadd, were his pride & joy. The grandchildren were the light of his world. He always held Ginger on a pedestal & showed us all how a woman should be treated. We all love you so much, so much, Doc! God summoned a mighty angel this time! Dr. Bill Joe Pearish, 59, of Grove and a long time Fairland Public Schools and Northeastern A&M Instructor passed away surrounded by his family Friday, February 13, 2015. He was born on February 26, 1955 in Joplin, Missouri to Forrest Eugene and Elizabeth Marie (Hall) Pearish. May 27, 1978 in Webb City, Missouri he married his wife of thirty-six years Ginger Gail Rogers. Bill worked for Wal- Mart as a store manager in several states while attending Missouri Southern State College where he received his bachelor’s degree. He later attended Northeastern State University to attain his Master’s Degree, then Oklahoma State University for his Doctorate. He and Ginger moved to Grove in 1992, that is when he started his teaching career at Fairland Public Schools. He had also been an adjunct professor at Rogers State University for a short period of time and had taught at Northeast Oklahoma A&M College for many years also. In Dr. Pearish’s early years he started as a Golden Glove Boxer and worked his way into being a professional. He still hit the heavy bag every day at the house. Everyone that knew Doc Pearish or Heavy P knew he was a Duke Basketball Fanatic; he also enjoyed reading, fishing and spending time with his family. Dr. Pearish was preceded in passing by his father Forrest Eugene Pearish, an infant sister Betty Jean Pearish, his sister Juanita Pearish and a granddaughter Avery Pearish. Surviving family is his wife Ginger Pearish of the home, his mother Elizabeth Marie Pearish of Galena, Kansas his children Billy Pearish Jr. and his wife Holly of Seneca, Tadd Pearish and his wife Loni of Monkey Island, three brothers Forrest Eugene Pearish Jr.and his wife Chris of Joplin, Missouri, Bob Pearish of Oronogo,Missouri and Jim Pearish of Galena, Kansas. Along with his grandsons Kody Pearish, Colby Pearish,Cade Pearish and Finn Pearish and one great grandson Logan Pearish. Services are 10:30 AM February 19, 2015 at Fairland Public Schools Gymnasium with Mr. Jerry Johnson and Minister Nate Anderson officiating. Services are entrusted to Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairland. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Dr. Bill Pearish Scholarship Fund, through the Fairland Public Schools Enrichment Foundation P.O. Box 695 Fairland, Oklahoma 74343. Friends and family may share notes of encouragement by viewing Dr. Pearish's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com

Dr. Bill Pearish

February 26, 1955 - February 13, 2015