Obituary Notice for Evelyn Beard

EVELYN FRANCIS SMITH BEARD

September 13, 1921 – June 15, 2009

After a sixteen year bout with Alzheimer’s, Evelyn Francis Smith Beard, passed away in Tullahoma TN on Sunday, June 14, in the home of her daughter, Francis Johnson (Winfred). Evelyn was born on September 13, 1921, and raised in Jackson TN. In 1939 she married her husband of 64 years, Earl Heywood Beard who preceded her in death. She leaves behind another daughter Joy Anne Eshleman (John) of Worden MT, and a son David George Beard (Helen) of Ridgecrest CA.

Evelyn was the daughter of the late Andrew Jefferson Smith and the late Willie Beatrice Bingham Smith. She was preceded in death by two brothers: Andrew Marion Smith & Jerry Neal Smith. She still has one brother, John William Smith (Wynell) and one sister, Mildred Pauline Smith who reside in Jackson TN.

Evelyn leaves behind eight grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, forty-one great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She was loved and adored by all and will be very much missed.

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Tullahoma, 108 East Grundy Street Tullahoma. The services will be conducted by her grandson the Rev. Jason Douglas Sargent of Newbern TN.

After her oldest child was born, the family moved to Las Vegas NV, where she and her husband ran a shoe repair business until 1955. Evelyn was also very active in community activities and did a lot of volunteer work. She found it a privilege to help those who in need and to work with children that were handicapped or had Downs Syndrome. She was well respected by many in the community.

In 2000, Earl suffered a heart attack and several strokes causing the family to move them to Worden MT. After Earl died in 2003, Evelyn came to Tullahoma to live with her daughter, Fran, and husband Winfred Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the First Baptist Tullahoma building fund.