Thomas Leslie Beard

Thomas Leslie Beard of Groesbeck passed away Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at Skilled Care of Mexia Nursing Home, at age 64.  Visitation will be held Friday, September 21, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 P.M., with Rosary from 7:00-7:20 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mexia, with Father Justin Nguyen and Deacon Dwight Mahoney.  Burial will follow in Thornton Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jarrod Beard, Clayton Beard, Blake Curry, Keith Tilley, Dale Singleton, Dr. Reed Singleton, Nicholas Leslie, and Matthew Leslie.    Honorary pallbearers will be Dwight Mahoney, Dennis Dornack, Joe Rosas, Ricky Sims, and Travis Collier.  Tommy was born November 10, 1953 to J.L. and Sue (Hamilton) Beard in  Newfoundland, Canada, where J.L. was stationed in the military.   Tommy grew up in Groesbeck and graduated from Groesbeck High School in the Class of 1972.  He attended Texas A&M at Commerce where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Applied Sciences degree. Tommy was united in marriage with Lori Ann Lewis on June 18, 1977 at First United Methodist Church in Groesbeck.   The greatest joy and blessing of their lives was when son James (Jamie) came along in 1993, and then many years later, Tommy got to share his love again with his grandson, Killian.    Tommy worked many years for NRG in Jewett, until his disabling health problems a few years ago.   Tommy was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lori in 2008 and by his mother, Sue Beard in 2014. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law,  Jamie and LeAnn Beard of Groesbeck and his grandson, Killian Beard; father, J.L. Beard of Groesbeck; sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Thomas Curry of Groesbeck; brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Liz Beard of Old Union; brother and sister-in-law, David and LaVonza Beard of Mexia;  sisters-in-law, Martha Stanton and husband Jim of Lake Limestone, Connie Thompson of Oletha and Evelyn Beard of Hillsboro; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.