Billy Gene Beard of Weldon, Arkansas, departed this life on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at the age of 88. He was born June 2, 1931 in Weldon, the son of Eli Edward, Sr., and Christine (Pruitt) Beard.
Beard was a Cotton Ginner for Weldon Gin Company 35 years. He was later Shop Foreman of Jackson County for 20 years.
Beard was a United States Army Veteran, serving in Korea, and a member of the Collier-Massey VFW Post #4683 in Newport. He ran the Weldon Fire Department several years, as well.
He enjoyed woodworking and loved to fish.
Beard was an excellent mechanic, who used his talent to work on Ag Planes, among other things.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Doris (Hogan) Beard; his grandson, Chad Beard; two brothers, Buster Beard and Hubert Beard; and one sister, Jessie Mae Carson, as well as infant twin sisters; and his parents.
Beard is survived by two sons, Jimmy Gene Beard and Rose Pierce of Cabot, and Billy Lynn Beard and wife, Micia of Chaffee, Missouri; two brothers, Marcus Beard of Tyler, Texas, and Danny Beard of Jackson County; two sisters, Edith Grigsby of Newport and Betty Ellis of Newport; four grandchildren, Brad Beard, Erin Logan, Sarah McCalley, and Adam Beard; nine great-grandchildren, Conner, Hannah, Abbie, Chloe, Chase, Elijah, Isiah, Gabriel, and Sammy; many nieces, nephews; and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Thursday, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Graveside services are 1:00 p.m. Friday at Sandhill Cemetery with Master Sgt. Tim Logan officiating.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
