Harold E. Bearss, 87, dies of cancer
The Tampa Tribune - August 17, 1996
Author: KARLA JACKSON, of The Tampa Tribune
SUMMARY: The patriarch of one of northwest Hillsborough's founding families died Thursday of cancer. A busy road north of the city limits was named after him.

TAMPA -- Family and friends will remember Harold E. Bearss for his successful poultry business, his work with the church, and the beautiful roses and orchids he raised in his back yard.

But for those who didn't know him, his legacy is a busy, four-lane road with a name no one seems to be able to pronounce properly, particularly radio traffic reporters.

"It's like Pierce, but with a B," granddaughter Fawn Grout said. "I call the radio stations all the time and tell them to get it right."

Bearss, 87, died of cancer Thursday at his home with his three daughters by his side. His wife, Nellie, died in 1985.

"Their wedding anniversary is tomorrow," Grout said Friday. "I'm convinced he wanted to be with grandmother."

Bearss' grandfather came to northwest Hillsborough from Missouri with a wagon train of missionaries in the early 1890s to start a church that eventually became Lake Magdalene United Methodist on Fletcher Avenue.

Bearss left the Lake Magdalene area as a young man but returned in the 1940s with Nellie, whom he met and married in Detroit. He farmed, sold produce and worked as a grocer until he opened his poultry business in the early 1960s. He retired in 1974 but moved only about a mile from the old egg farm.

Bearss was a church trustee, served as head usher, taught Sunday school and could always be counted on to bring one of his home-grown floral arrangements for special events at the church.

Bearss was in good health until about a month ago, when relatives at a family wedding in Virginia noticed he wasn't getting around as he used to.

Bearss spent a few weeks in the hospital until Aug. 10, when doctors diagnosed his illness as lymphoma.

"He decided he didn't want to go through treatment," Grout said.

After he came home, his daughters, Jane E. Smith of Lutz, Arlene E. Grout of Odessa, and Ruth Ann Anderson of Tampa, sat with him and talked about what was to come, Fawn Grout said.

"We asked him if he was scared, and he said, "Nope. I'm not afraid,' " she said. "Everyone was there when he died. He'll be buried next to grandma at Lake Carroll Cemetery ."

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday after church at Glass Funeral Home on Armenia Avenue. A funeral service will be 3 p.m. Monday at Lake Magdalene United Methodist.