Robert Cody Pearson

Robert Cody Pearson, 97, died August 19, witty as ever to the end.  Known as Cody, he was the 5th and last child of Clarence and Ada Pearson.  He was born March 10, 1921 in Hugo, two blocks from where he lived most of his life.  He attended Hugo High School, graduating as Salutatorian in 1939.  His hero growing up was his brother Ken “K” Pearson, 10 years older.  After high school Cody attended Western State College and Barnes Business School before being drafted into the Army.  He underwent basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.  He rose to the rank of Master Sergeant in the 623rd Engineers, in the XX Corps in General George Patton’s Third Army.  He recalled speeding out of Czechoslovakia without headlights in the dead of night after Eisenhower ordered Patton to let the Russians take it.  He recalled speeding toward Bastogne to relieve that city after it was surrounded by the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, he moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona.  His brother K had been teaching high school in Wilcox before the war and was now teaching high school in Tucson.  K introduced him to one of his former high school students from Wilcox, Helen Teresa Hailey.  Cody and Helen were married August 9, 1947.  Helen taught school at a Pima Indian Reservation while Cody finished school with a journalism degree.

They then moved back to Hugo.  He initially worked at the local laundry and a gas station, then got a job at the First National Bank as a teller.  He moved up over the years, eventually becoming President, CEO and Chairman of the Board.  He was elected to a term as President of the Colorado Bankers Association.  He recently was acknowledged for being in the Masons for 70 years.

He was a much sought-after M.C. for events in Lincoln County, known for his sense of humor and wit.  He was an avid traveler, touring the world on many trips with Helen and their friends, Alice and Beverly Bledsoe.  He was Chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party for decades.  We have been told by many people that he helped them with his kindness, sage advice and making loans available for college.

He and Helen had 6 children, Phil Cody, Rob Lynn, Kelly Kay, twins Norma Loree and Nancy Marie, and Richard Carlos.  They had six grandchildren; Kari Loree Hotchkiss (Justin), Debra Michelle Kesner (Evan), Cordy Franklin Pearson (Alexa), Quinn Carlos Pearson (Ashley), Vaughn Pearson Ritter (Anna) and Hailey Marie Ritter as well as 6 great grandchildren; Colin Robert Hotchkiss, Alia Cody Hotchkiss, Milena Dylan Kesner, Colton Rex Pearson, Curtis Weston Kesner and Josephine Pamela Pearson.  Nancy, Hailey, Kelly and daughter-in-law Pamela Pearson preceded him in death, as did his brothers Frank, Emmet and K and his sister Arley Wurdinger.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Helen, sons Phil (Michel), Rob (Jacque) and Richard, daughter Norma Anderson (Tony), 5 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, son-in-law Steve Ritter, former son-in-law Ken Kramer (Louise) and former daughter-in-law Karen Boetger Keller (Butch).