Coralie Beard

Coralie Beard, age 93, of Mt. Sterling, went home to be with her Lord at 12:28

a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Heritage Health, Therapy and Senior Care in

Mt. Sterling, in which she had felt at-home and contented.

She was born May 1, 1927 in Williamsville, Illinois the daughter of Ira and Leora

Wilson Stone. She married Lawrence Beard on November 3, 1944 in Williamsville,

Illinois and he preceded her in death on January 9, 1990. She later married Willis

Lovae Beard on September 17, 1994 in Chambersburg, Illinois and he preceded

her in death on January 2, 2012.

Coralie and Lawrence were on staff at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri

from 1973 until 1989, serving as dormitory supervisors, known lovingly as “Mom

and Dad Beard”. Prior to that, they worked side by side on the family farm in

Brown County, Illinois.

Mrs. Beard graduated from Williamsville High School with the class of 1945.

Writing was a lifelong joy and she was an avid reader; she enjoyed sewing for

many years. Spending time with family and friends gave her the most pleasure.

She received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as a teenager and was a member of

Williamsville Christian Church. Later she was a member of the Chambersburg

Christian Church, Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin, and more recently

attended the First Baptist Church in Mt. Sterling.

Coralie was involved in the local Retired Senior Volunteer Program for many

years.

Survivors include four children: Kathleen Ebbing (Richard) of Mt. Sterling, Illinois,

Gloria McDowell of Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda Sands of Waynesville, Missouri, and

Robert Beard of Jacksonville, Illinois. Four surviving stepchildren are Melvin Beard

(Judy) of Allen, Texas, Myra Allison (Barry) of Austin, Texas, Marsha Baer (Steve)

of Champaign, Illinois and Marilyn Kerr (Ken) of Mt. Sterling, Illinois. Twelve

grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren also

survive, along with several step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, step

great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as two sistersin-

law, Loraine Rhodes of Williamsville, Illinois and Virginia Stone of Edinburg,

Illinois.

Coralie was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Velma Calvert and three

brothers, Gordon Stone in infancy, Alton Stone and James “Jake” Stone.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 in the

Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling with Rev. Matt Haberman officiating.

Friends are also able to watch Coralie’s services streaming live on the funeral

home website at hendrickerfuneralhome.com. Burial will follow in the Mounds

Cemetery near Timewell, Illinois. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time

of services at the funeral home.

Social distancing guidelines will be observed and there will be a limit of 50 visitors

at any one time. With the current health concerns, non-physical expressions of

condolence are suggested. Please consider refraining from hugs and handshakes,

but know that your presence is greatly appreciated.

Memorials are suggested to the Heritage Health, Therapy and Senior Care Activity

Fund. Condolences for the family my be left on line at

www.hendrickerfuneralhome.com. The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling

is assisting the family with the arrangements

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Coralie Beard, please visit our floral store.