Funeral services for Mr. Claude "Sonny" Pearson, 73 of Panola will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday February 02, 2011 in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Bro. David Rice officiating. Interment will follow in Colonial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday February 01, 2011 at the funeral home. Mr. Pearson passed away Sunday January 30, 2011 in Tyler. Claude "Sonny" Pearson was born September 23, 1937 in Zwolle, Louisiana to Claude Pearson, Sr. and Nettie Lee Richardson Pearson. On February 22, 1964 he married Linda Sue Carroll in Many, Louisiana. Mr. Pearson served in the U.S. Navy for 9 years as an Aircraft Engine Mechanic. After the Navy, he served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years as Aircraft Tech. Mr. Pearson retired as a supervisor in the 917th Fighter Wing of the Air Force Reserve. He was a member of the American Legion where he served as an officer of Lowe McFarland Post 14 in Shreveport. He also was the director of American Legion Riders Post 14, member of the 40 & 8 and a member of Patriot Guard. Sonny was a Baptist and loved gardening, yard work and building. He also loved his grandkids and riding his motorcycle. Surviving Sonny are his wife of 46 years, Linda Sue Pearson; sons, Timothy Claude Pearson, Christopher Scott Pearson and Patrick Grady Pearson and wife Jennifer; five grandchildren, Nicholas Pearson, Kinsey Pearson, Nina Pearson, Shiloh Pearson and Payton Pearson and special family friend, Karen Pollard all of Panola. He was preceded in death by his parents. Serving as pallbearers will be Don Williams, Bob Holiday, David Killeen, and Jim Canada.