Drewyer Brock “Drew” Pearson was born on July 4, 1983, in Billings, Mont. He departed this life on Sept. 20, 2013, high up in the White Mountains of Arizona. Drew was struck by lightning while fishing in his canoe with his loyal dog Chuck, leaving holes in the hearts of all who loved him.
Drew attended Rose Park Elementary, Lewis and Clark Junior and Senior High School in Billings, and Montana State University in Bozeman, where he graduated with a degree in wildlife biology. During his career he worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Leavenworth, Wash., Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Glendive, Mont., Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Winthrop, and finally as a fisheries biologist for Arizona Game and Fish in Phoenix, Ariz.
Drew is survived by his parents Ray and Karen Pearson, brother Colter Pearson, and niece Summer Kennedy Pearson of Billings; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins here and across the country; and the love of his life, Ms. Leanne Murphy of Peoria, Ariz. He will also be sorely missed by others too numerous to count.
Drew lived a vibrant life. Whether he was fooling wary trout and salmon with his well-worn tackle, skiing black diamond runs, snorkeling icy rivers surveying spawning steelhead and bull trout, trekking the jungles and highlands of Guatemala, gathering morels and asparagus, rock climbing and rappelling, building organic gardens, charging down whitewater rivers and up snow covered mountains, going eyeball-to-eyeball with black bear, moose and griz, entertaining children, arguing politics, collecting and preparing fossils, hunting wild game, mastering a wicked curveball, concocting new recipes, working to save endangered species, exploring new country, sharing his skills with others or just kicking back playing music, Drew brought an intense enthusiasm and a sense of grand adventure to the table.
You always got his best game, his cup was always full and he did not waste a precious second.
Drew perished much too young, but we take some solace that he was in a beautiful place and was doing what he loved when he was touched by the finger of God. The world is a lesser place in his absence.
A celebration of Drew’s life is planned for Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 5 office at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings, beginning at 11 a.m.
The family wants to extend our sincerest thanks to the people with the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, the Apache County Sheriff’s Office, the Apache County Sheriff’s Posse, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Gila City Lake Patrol Division, Joe City Dive Team, the Pinetop Lakeside Fire Department, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the folks at the Big Lake General Store and Boat Rental – Rick, Ray, Joni and Michael – who were all tireless in their efforts to bring us closure and were so compassionate and kind to us in our grief. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Apache County Sheriff’s Posse, c/o Chief Deputy Brannon Eagar, P.O. Box 518, St. Johns, AZ 85936.
