Verla Sue Beard

Verla Sue Beard, of Groesbeck, passed away at Windsor Healthcare Residence on Sunday, November 16, 2014, at age 84. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 18, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Tracy Sims of the Central Baptist Church of Thornton officiating. Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery (at the Pavilion.) Pallbearers will be grandsons, James Beard, Blake Curry, Larry Rogers, Jeremy Mayo, Jarrod Beard, and Clayton Beard. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Varley, Dean Curry, and the Bi-Stone Travel Club friends. Sue was born October 6, 1930 to Jim Leslie Hamilton and Willie Ola (Bynum) Hamilton. She was born, raised and attended school in Hamilton, graduating from Hamilton High School in 1949. After graduation she went to work for the Texas Highway Department. While having a Dr. Pepper in Fred’s Café, she met Jeff Lee (J.L.) Beard, who had moved from Concho to Hamilton to work for Lone Star Gas, and they began dating. Sue and J. L. were united in marriage on September 1, 1950 at the Hamilton First Baptist Church parsonage. Upon receiving his call to military service in 1952, J. L. took his training and then Sue followed him to his transfers in Idaho (9 weeks), California (9 weeks), and Newfoundland for 3 years (where their son Tommy was born.) After his discharge, he returned to his job which Lone Star Gas had held for him, and the family moved to Gatesville (where 3 more children were born), then to Hamilton, Waxahachie and finally to Groesbeck in 1969. Sue and J.L. have been residents of Groesbeck where their children all graduated from school. They celebrated their 50th. Anniversary on September 1, 2000, and twin great granddaughters were born on that anniversary day. Sue was an active part of her children’s school activities, and was also an active member of the First Baptist Church of Groesbeck for 45 years. She accompanied the youth on out of town trips while J. L. drove the church bus, and she played the piano for Sunday School classes. Sue worked part-time at Princess Fashions and then full-time at Pharmacy Plus until retiring after twenty-five years. Sue was a past member of the Groesbeck Study Club. She was a quilter, making quilts for the all children and grandchildren, with an especially memorable quilt she made for J. L. with many of the family and his life’s activities shown on the quilt blocks. She also made stuffed animals for all the family. She met on Tuesdays with a quilting club who gathered at Judy Ross’s home and she helped in putting on quilt shows in Groesbeck. She also liked to knit and to read, and was a member of the “Friends of Maffett Memorial Library” and “The Genies” genealogy group. Sue and J. L. were one of the originators of the BiStone Travelers, making RV camping trips every third weekend, year-round. They made many friends on the trips around Texas, and she enjoyed card games with the ladies during those weekends. Sue was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Bill Hamilton; a sister, Betty Horner; and a daughter-in-law, Lori Beard. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, J. L. Beard; son, Tommy Beard of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Thomas Curry of Groesbeck; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Liz Beard of Old Union; son and daughter-in-law, David and LaVonza Beard of Mexia; grandchildren, Alison and Larry Rogers of Seabrook, Kelly and Jeremy Mayo of Georgetown, Blake and Kati Curry of Sinton, Jarrod and Megan Beard of Melissa, James Beard of Groesbeck, Sarah Beard of Waco, Clayton Beard of Old Union, and Mike and Stacy Barkouskie of Mexia; great grandchildren, Mackenzie and Emily Mayo of Georgetown, Gavin and Kasen Rogers of Seabrook, Jackson Curry of Sinton, Justin and Dorothy Barkouskie of Forest Glade, and Kevin Barkouskie of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; great-great grandchildren, Katy and Riley Jo Barkouskie; and two “adopted” granddaughters, Angela Varley Crane and Robin Varley King of Groesbeck; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and George Warlick of Hamilton; brother-in-law, Glen Horner of Hamilton; sister-in-law, Sarah Beard Craig of Winters; sister-in-law, Louise and Bob Kinsley of San Angelo; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.