Pulaski County
ROY BEARD JUNIOR, born the son of Roy Beard, Senior, and Lilac Gaston
Beard, April 2,
1923, died on December 16,
2017. He will be reunited with his wife of over
54 years, Bonnie, who died
18 years ago.
Dad was predeceased by his brother Bill, his sister-in-law Nancy, and his two dogs, Pat One and Pat Two.
He is survived by his sons, Rick (Joellen) and Doug (Bobbie), five grandchildren, Sean, Christie Fortenberry, Jordan, Lauren Vandiver and Anna Coon, as well as 10 great-grandchildren and his nieces, Jana Shafer and Melanee Yielding.
Dad was a graduate of Little Rock (Central) High School, served in the military in World War II, and while stationed in D.C. met the love of his life, Bonnie Marie Lare. The first night he met Mother, he told his friend, “I am going to marry that girl.” On December 28, 1946, they were married.
Soon after their marriage they returned to Little Rock where Dad began a lifelong career in selling electrical supplies. In 1957, Mother and Dad opened, with two other partners, All Electric Supply in the old Lee Theater at 13th and Pine where he had ushered as a teenager.
After a few years Mother and Dad bought out their partners and ultimately relocated the business to its current location on Westpark Drive. The business is in its 60th year and is owned and managed by third generation, Jordan Beard, Doug’s son.
Dad’s vocation was his business, his passion was his family, and his avocations were duck hunting, swimming, music, and movies. An avid duck hunter since his high school days, Dad’s greatest joy outside of his family was his time at Bull Sprig Duck Club. As a member since 1974, he spent many happy days there surrounded by his family and his two best friends, Hal Black and Jim Mecham.
When not duck hunting Dad was, for over 50 years, religiously swimming at the Racquet Club and the YMCA. He once swam the equivalent distance of the English Channel. On his 80th birthday he swam over a mile from his lake house to an island in Lake Hamilton. In the 1960’s, Mother and Dad rented their first cottage on Lake Hamilton, where the family learned to water ski. In later years they bought a house on Lake Hamilton where they enjoyed their retirement years.
Dad’s lifelong love of music began in his early days when he played the clarinet in the high school band. Dad could name the song, the singer, and the composer of any popular song from the Big Band Era. He would not just listen to the music, but would stand in front of the stereo and conduct the orchestra or the car radio as he drove his Cadillac. His license plate was “DUCKS,” and many tattletales called his sons with tales of his speeding down Mississippi.
Movies were another area of Dad’s personal expertise. He could tell you all of the details of any popular movie from the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s, or 1960’s! But no one, including Dad, could accurately recall how many times he had seen his favorite movie, Inherit the Wind. Estimates range from five to in excess of a dozen.
The consummate salesman, Dad taught every male member of the family to always look people in the eye, offer a firm handshake, and call them by name! As one of Dad’s friends remarked, “Roy Beard was the only man enthusiastic about taking out the trash.”
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at 2 p.m. in Oakland Cemetery, 2101 Barber Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72206. Visitation following the service will be at the home of Joellen and Rick Beard.
The family asks that memorials be made to: CARE for Animals, 5516 Kavanaugh Blvd. LR, Ark. 72207, or Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, LR, Ark. 72210. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– JERALDENE “JERI” SIMPSON FIELDS, age 91, of North Little Rock died Friday, December 16. She was born October 10, 1926, in North Little Rock, Ark. She was the daughter of Robert and Bessie Simpson, formerly of Beebe, Ark.
She is survived by three daughters, Alice Faye Brown (Tom) of NLR, Anna Lee Phillips of Avon, Ohio, and Becky Mann (Matt) of Napa, Calif. Also a sister, Betty Winbarg (Stan) of Riverdale, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Michelle, Donna Kay and Shannon. She was predeceased by her husband (Clint Fields, a retired North Little Rock Police Officer) and one granddaughter, Christine Marie.
Mrs. Fields worked for 19 years for Safeway, Inc. and worked for a brief time for the North Little Rock Police Department as a switchboard operator and traffic desk clerk. She became a court clerk for the North Little Rock Municipal Traffic Court and retired as Chief Clerk in 1992. Jeri was a devoted Mother and will greatly missed by her family. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20th at Rest Hills Memorial Park, 7724 Landers Rd., NLR. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, December 19th at Rest Hills Funeral Home. Online guestbook at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.
–––––❖––––– MARIE HARRELL, 78, of Little Rock, passed away December 15, 2017. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Markham Street Baptist Church. Services will be Thursday, December 21 at 10 a.m. at the church, followed by interment at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 2242200. Marie’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– SALLIE SUE KEELING JOHNSTON, age 91 passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Roland, Arkansas on Friday, December 15, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Earnest “Ernie” and Nell Terrell Keeling; her son, John H. (Mary) Johnston; brothers, Leonard (Mildred) Keeling, Johnny Keeling and one sister, Suzanne Keeling.
Survivors include her husband of 71 years, Harold “Bud” Johnston; daughter, Judy (Bruce) Thompson; one brother, Eugene “Boog” Keeling (Ann); three granddaughters, Nikki (Patrick) McDonald, Kristen (Zach) Meador, Laura (Zac) Murtha and nine great-grandchildren; Olivia, Cameron, Natalie, Wyatt, Jayden, Owen,
Marley, Hallie and Hannah.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m., Monday, December 18, 2017, at Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle. The family wishes to express a special thanks to the Bonner Family and Arkansas Hospice and their staff, Dr. Robin DeVan, Tina, Carly, Ashley, David, Debra, Luther and Amanda.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be sent to Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116.
Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com.
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MAE FRANCES NIX of Little Rock, passed away December 17, 2017. She was born in Midway, Arkansas (Hot
Spring County) on February 10,
1925. Miss Nix was the only child of the late John Wiley and Carrie Octava (Hughes)
Nix. She was a Baptist. At the time of death, she was a member of Parkway Place Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.
She graduated from Friendship High School in 1940 and received her BA degree from Henderson State University in 1948. In 1954, she graduated from Vanderbilt University Peabody College with an MA degree in library science.
Her career as a practicing librarian included the following: Magnet Cove High School; Smackover High School; The Public Library of Camden and Ouachita County; Hall High School (Little Rock); and Hendrix College (Conway). She retired in 1986 after ten years at the Arkansas State Library, five years as the Arkansas State Librarian.
She is survived by several cousins, including Evelyn (Orr) Phelan and a host of friends.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 21, 2017, at Pinecrest Memorial Park with Pastor Allan Greer officiating. Miss Nix requested that you make a contribution to your local library in lieu of flowers. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.