Mary E. Beard | 88 | Barry

By Editor | January 17, 2023 |

Mary E. Beard, age 88, of Barry, IL passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 at Barry Community Care Center. She was born on December 15, 1934 in St. Louis, MO to Homer and Bertha Padgett Fox. She married Johnnie Beard on April 11, 1952 in Harrison, AR and he preceded her in death on March 6, 1997.
Mary graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1952 and she later took some classes at John Wood Community College. She also received her Real Estate License and worked for Wade Real Estate for a time. Mary was a hard worker and worked various jobs including Brown Shoe Factory, a clerk for Ben Franklin, Ideal Hardware and an office manager for Paving Materials. She also worked as a manager at Lorraine Cheese Retail Store, a clerical aid for Pike County Public Aid, and a circuit board prepper at Micro Energy in Quincy. Mary served as the Clerk for the Village of El Dara and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Pittsfield where she taught Sunday school and served as Treasurer. She was also a member of Home Extension and the Barry Flower Garden Club. She enjoyed gardening and her flowers, and in younger years, she had a vegetable garden from which she canned her produce. She also liked to read and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Mary loved attending her grandchildren’s activities and events and she loved her family dearly.
She is survived by her three daughters, Vicki (Willis) Chin of Mexico, MO, Janis (Jim) Hild of Illiopolis, IL, and Lisa (Mark) Welch of Barry, IL; seven grandchildren, Dinisha (Doug) Batchelder, Christopher Ruppel, Shonn (Christy) Hild, Jay (Nicole) Hild, Adam (Madeline) Hild, Phillip (Heidi) Welch, and Emily (Jonathan) Barnett; sixteen great grandchildren; brother, Doug (Sharon) Fox of Pittsfield, IL; sister, Peggy Rumple of Ivesdale, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Beard; parents, Homer and Bertha Fox; grandson, Nate Peters; granddaughters, Christina and Dinisha Peters; sister, Bertha Mae Miller; brother, Taylor Fox; in-laws, Ed and Florine Beard; and brother-in-law, Ronald Rumple.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry. Interment followed at Bethel Cemetery near Detroit. Visitation was held prior to the service on Monday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home in Barry. Memorials are suggested to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Barry Community Care Center Activity Fund. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.