Carol Weisheimer Bearden
December 30, 1963 – May 3, 2011
Devoted mother and beloved wife Carol Weisheimer Bearden, resident of Briones, California, passed away on May 3 after a valiant battle with brain cancer. She remained inspirational and upbeat from her diagnosis in June 2010 through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, always working toward a full recovery. Carol never gave up.
She was born Carol Weisheimer on December 30, 1963 in Palo Alto, CA, to Sidney and Bill Weisheimer, as the fifth of their five daughters. She grew up riding and showing horses, eventually turning to eventing horse trials in the early 1980s. Carol married Gerald C. (“Chris”) Bearden of Pleasanton on August 15, 1992. They remained very happily married, and devoted to their daughter, Logan Emily, born October 5, 1995. Together with Chris and their long-time stable manager Trish MacDonald, Carol operated the successful Poplar Place Stables and Eventing in Briones. The Beardens have resided in Briones for nearly 15 years, where Carol and Chris have trained a generation of eventing riders to national titles and West Coast acclaim.
Carol was best known for setting high standards that she herself always met, and for encouraging others to set and meet their own. As well, she was known for her energetic, positive attitude, and love for family, children, teaching and horses. She served numerous terms as the district commissioner (leader and mentor) of Briones Valley Pony Club, a local branch of the national organization that teaches riding and horse care to young people around the world, and actively assisted in the Middle California Region of the USPC. She never met a young rider she did not like or a horse she could not help.
Carol is survived by Chris, Logan, her mother Sidney Weisheimer, her four sisters, numerous nieces and nephews including Kyle (and wife Andrea), and Trish MacDonald, her good friend and Poplar Place’s stable manager. Her sisters are Sharon (and husband Carl), Lynn (and husband Steve), Debby (and husband Tom), and Marylu (and husband Craig). She was predeceased by her father.
A Gathering and Celebration of Carol’s life will be held at Poplar Place Stables and Eventing on Saturday, July 2nd, at 1:00pm.
Information regarding remembrances in honor of Carol will be posted in the very near future. Three options available will be for the construction of a cross country jump in Carol’s memory at the Horse Park located in Woodside, California, helping Logan to compete in the USPC National Eventing Rally in Lexington, Kentucky this summer, and/or assist Logan going to college in the future.
Godspeed Carol, and kick on. |
