Brett Dion Bear

Mr. Brett Dion Bear, 40, Upper School Headmaster at Columbia Academy and resident of Hopewell Road in Culleoka, died Tuesday, October 26, 2004 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, at Graymere Church of Christ with Gregg Elrod officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Friday from 12 noon - 2 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be made to Columbia Academy, 1101 W. Seventh St., Columbia, TN 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Hopewell, Virginia native was the son of Howell Taylor Bear of Ligonier, Pennsylvania and the late Patricia Driskell Bear. He was a 1982 graduate of Hopewell High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology education and master's degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Administration at Freed-Hardeman University. Before coming to Columbia Academy in 2003 Mr. Bear served as principal at the Tennessee Children's Home Cornerstone School. He was in the United States Army from 1984-1987 serving in Tacoma, Washington, and MFO South Camp, Sinai, Egypt then served in the Army Reserves for six years. He was a member of Northview Church of Christ. Survivors in addition to his father include his wife, Rozsika "Rose" Marie Yuhas Bear of Culleoka; two daughters, Lydia Joy Bear and Chloe Rose Bear both of Culleoka; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia (Michael) Hughes of Columbia, Mrs. Glenda (Donnie) Williams of Petersburg, Virginia; two brothers, Howell Taylor (Tammy) Bear, III, of Chester, Virginia and Brion (Kim) Bear of Petersburg, Virginia; and step-mother, Thelma Bear of Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Pallbearers will be Mike Yuhas, Matt Yuhas, Robert Johnson, Marty DeJarnett, Brion Bear, H.T. Bear, Jeremiah Rogers and Lucas Rogers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Joyce, Jason Abbott, Jay Osborne, Cody Roberts, Kerry Harris, Chris Hight, Jeff Pruitt, John Kodatt, Brandon Hughes, Chris Hughes and Darrell Lockhart.