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 The Bearden Family
Born June 9, 1908 in Oklahoma, Raymond Charles Bearden was the oldest son of Roland and Maude, and only a toddler when the family moved to Cordillera. Raymond married Squaw Creek neighbor Ida May Fenno in the spring of 1934, and they raised two children, Raymond Ross and Edith May. Raymond worked closely with his father on the family ranch in the valley until the summer of 1935 when he and Ida bought a general store in Burns, Colorado. Raymond later became the town’s postmaster and managed cabins there until he retired years later. He passed away in 1994.
Born December 12, 1913, Ellis “Bearcat” Bearden was nicknamed, and is best remembered, for his boxing talent. Although Ellis never married, he was always surrounded by loved ones, including his two brothers and their families. Ellis fought in World War II, and upon returning home, his division was presented with the Presidential Unit Citation. He lived in the second Bearden home, now called Bearcat’s Cabin, up until a year before his death in 1993. His red Dodge truck, which Ellis called the Blitzwagon, still resides on the property.
The youngest son, Elton Joshua Bearden was born April 21, 1926 in Colorado. Elton labored with his father and brothers on the family ranch until he went to work for the Colorado State Highway, from which he retired in 1981. He and his first wife Nadeen James raised four children, Maude Viola, Elton, Roland and Merna. In the spring of 1967, he married Jacqueline “Dolly” Ornsby, and they had three children: Ellis Jessie, Amanda Ann and Loretta Mae. Elton and Dolly currently live in Loveland, Colorado, and he had a chance to attend the Cordillera Preservation Foundation kickoff event in 2003.
For a full feature on the Bearden family, read this article written by Colorado residents Shana Muir Thorpe and Jim Lay as it originally appeared in Cordillera Living.
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A Family Story
