David Johnie "Chief" Pearson passed away on March 2, 2015 at the age of 88 at Golden Age Nursing Home in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

He was born in Buffalo Valley, Oklahoma on March 16, 1926 to Shelby Virgil Pearson and Daisy May Spring Rowe Pearson.

He was a member of the Choctaw tribe.

Chief served in the United States Navy during World War II.

He attended the Oklahoma Farriers College in Sperry, Oklahoma and learned the horseshoeing trade.

Chief married Blenda Minshall on March 16, 1977 in Miami, Oklahoma. After their marriage, he based his horseshoeing business in Tryon, Oklahoma, where he also built custom bits and spurs. He retired from horseshoeing at the age of 81, but continued to build bits and spurs. Chief was widely known and respected by those in the horse business.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Pocahontas "Pokie" Rowe Cloud, Betty Jane Pearson Cloud, Shelby Jean Pearson Shelton, and brother Wayne Joseph Pearson.

He is survived by his wife Blenda of the home in Tryon, Oklahoma; son, John Edwin Pearson and wife Wanda of Holliday, Texas; grandchildren, Jerry David Pearson of Richardson, Texas; and Randa Lynn Pearson of Holliday, Texas; sisters, Betty Jewell Hendrix and husband Joedy of Checotah, Oklahoma; Mary Ellen Moberly and husband Tom of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and brother Danny Pearson and wife Armenda of Moore, Oklahoma; stepchildren DeAnn Piter of Bixby, Oklahoma; and Gary Minshall and wife Sandy of Tryon, Oklahoma; and a large number of step grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

A memorial service, in loving memory of Chief's life, will be celebrated on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Tryon Christian Union Church in Tryon, Oklahoma.