Carrie Marie Beard, 90, of Beaumont, Texas passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on Monday, March 18, 2013.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Friday, March 22 at Calder Baptist Church, officiated by Doctor James Fuller. A gathering of friends and family will be 5:00 - 7:00 PM Thursday at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home.
Carrie was born December 11, 1922 in San Antonio, Texas to William and Ruby Yater. She was a resident of Beaumont for 68 years. After attending Abilene Christian College she enlisted in the Navy WAVES during WWII. While serving her country she met and soon married the love of her life Ensign Navy Officer, Louis Henry Beard. After the war they returned to Beaumont and started their family.
Carrie, "Grammy", embraced life with one goal in mind, to please others. She was a devoted wife, grandmother and friend. As the wife of a young attorney she was an active member of the Jefferson County Bar Association Auxiliary. Carries many talents and interests included gardening, cross-stitch, cooking, sewing and counseling her family. As an avid sports fan she felt confident that she could influence the success of her favorite teams in Texas. As a young mother she was active in PTA and taught Sunday School at Calder Baptist Church. Her interests in politics led her to volunteer her time for various campaign committees
Carrie was blessed with having the physical and mental strength to participate in the rewarding phases of life. She was interested in education in particular and encouraged her children and grandchildren to remain in school and achieve their highest goals. The family farm in Hardin County and Crystal Beach were locations where she taught her children, their friends and grandchildren an appreciation for nature and God's creations. She had the opportunity to travel to London, Paris, and the Shakespeare country. Being of Scottish decent, her happiest moment was arriving in Edinburgh where she walked the path of her family clan, McPherson. The ultimate joy in her life came with the arrival of her three children, ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Having been raised in a Christian home she thought it imperative to spend whatever time and energies were necessary to set a good example and share her faith with her family.
Carrie is survived by her husband of 68 years, Louis H. Beard; her children, Becky Louise Bryan and husband, Richard of Houston, Robert William Beard and wife, Kay of Beaumont and Bonnie Marie Brown and husband, Dan of Houston; grandchildren, Meredith Lemon of Spring, Texas, Scott Bryan of Forth Worth, Texas, Leigh Ann Bryan of Houston, Casey Bird of Alvin, Texas, Katy Puckett of New Orleans, Carrie Wright of Pearland, Texas, Kallie Dreher of Benoit, Mississippi, Buck Beard of Beaumont, Matthew Brown of Beaumont and Lucas Brown of Houston; 9 great grandchildren and sister, Billie Prior of New Braunfels. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Cora Fay Yater Huff.
The family wishes to extend their special thanks to Jennifer Fountain for her compassion and care of our Mother.
Donations may be made to Calder Baptist Church's Building Fund, 1005 N 11th St, Beaumont, TX 77702 and Nutrition & Services for Seniors seniormeals.org, 4590 Concord Rd, Beaumont, TX 77703.