Services for Theodore Dear Sr. of Hazlehurst are 11 a.m.,Saturday, Aug. 14, at the First Baptist Church Chapel in Hazlehurstwith burial in Harmony Cemetery in Crystal Springs. Dr. RobertHanvey will officiate. Community Funeral Services is in charge ofarrangements.

Visitation is Saturday from 10-11 a.m. at the church.

Mr. Dear, 78, died Aug. 12, 2004, at his residence, following alengthy battle with lung cancer. He was born in Braxton on Nov. 3,1925, to Robert Lee Dear and Virgie Marie Barlow.

He was a member of the Marine Corps and a veteran of World WarII, where he served in the the Magnolia Battalion. He was a founderof Westside Baptist Church and a faithful member of First BaptistChurch in Hazlehurst. As an avid sports fan, he loved to hunt andespecially enjoyed fishing at Lake Copiah. Following his tour ofduty, he made his home in Copiah County and married Bobbie Ree Burtand raised five children.

Preceding him in death were his wife; one sister, Reba DearHigdon; his brothers, Bryan Ray Dear, Robert Lee Dear Jr., andPatrick Dear.

Survivors are his daughters, Robin Burton and her husband,Hardy, of Brandon, Jerri Wallace and her husband, Sherrill, ofBrookhaven, Bobbye Lynn Dear of Dallas, Texas, and Marie Dear ofPearl; his son, Theodore Dear Jr. of Hazlehurst; his fivegrandchildren, Tommy Burton, Michael Dear, Lindsay Burton, ZacharyDear and Rachel Dear; one great granddaughter, Abi; and one sister,Marie Kinnard of Dallas.

The family wishes to extend a special word of thanks andappreciation to Horizon Hospice, family members and friends fortheir support and comfort.

Memorials may be made to Horizon Hospice Memorial Fund, 140North 5th, Suite B, McComb, MS 39648.