Pearney Joy Beard Gates

Pearney Joy Beard Gates, 55, of Cleveland, passed away Sunday, March 21, 2010 at her home. She owned and operated “Pearney’s Place” on Dalton Pike for 16 years. She was a motorcycle enthusiast. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Gates; parents, French and Gladys Wilcoxson Beard; brothers, Homer Beard and Andrew Beard; and sister, Beatrice Messer. She is survived by her children, Dawn Ownby of Cleveland, Athena “Sis” Dixon of Charleston and Sirena “Mis” Williams and husband, Aaron of Old Fort; three grandchildren, Tiffani Dale, Aubrey Anderson and Garrett Williams; sisters, Monita Chastain, Wanda Cross, Alma Beard, Chessie Norman and Vickie Prince, all of Cleveland and Veta Greene of Old Fort; brothers, I. M. Beard and Charles Beard, both of Cleveland and Doyle Beard of Old Fort; special friend, Randall Curtis of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor John Bivens officiating. Interment will follow in Boanerges Cemetery with Stonie Cross, Heath Greene, Ricky Greene, Aaron Williams, Chris Naranjo and Buck Beard serving as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. Her family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Gates family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.