Barney Beard, Jr.

Barney Beard, Jr. MARION- Barney Beard, Jr., 78, of Marion passed away at 12:30 AM, Friday, May 30, 2008 at the V.A. Medical Center in Marion. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Jerry Gleason officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by VFW Post 1301, American Legion Post 147 and the National Guard. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Leukemia Foundation; envelopes are available at the church or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Mr. Beard was born on September 21, 1929 in Cairo, Illinois to Barney L. and Oma Lee (Brimey) Beard. He married Lois Jean Brown on October 22, 1953 in Herrin; together they shared 54 years of marriage. Survivors include his wife, Lois of Marion; daughter and son-in-law, LaDonna S. and Doug McNulty of Las Vegas, Nevada; son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth L. and Carole Beard of Sparks, Nevada; daughter and son-in-law, Melanie A. and Jim Rambeaux of St. Petersburg, Flordia; grandchild, Megan Kathleen Beard; brother and sister-in-law, Jay D. and Marilyn Beard of Rochester, New York; sisters, Sandra Williams of Anna and Helen Imhoff of Carbondale; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters. Mr. Beard served his country with the United States Army, retiring after 20 years. He formerly taught ROTC at Morgan Park High School in Chicago for 23 years. He was a member of Marion Elks and Marion Eagles.