LILLIAN BOWEN BEARD

Lillian Bowen Beard, 86, born in Corning, Ark., on July 7, 1914, passed on to her new life on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2000. Her friends all agree that she was a "great lady, always good for a laugh, and always willing to help." She was a devoted mother and teacher who knew no strangers, and she considered herself a "yellow-dog Democrat" to the end. Her son thinks she was wavering during the Clinton administration.

Lillian married Irvin Edgar Beard on June 12, 1942. Known as "Beard," her husband had been the Chief of Police of Cape Girardeau and prior to that, he was a Missouri State Highway Patrolman. Beard preceded her in death on April 23, 1992.

Lillian received her high school diploma, at the high school in Deering, Mo., where she was the running center for the girls' basketball team at a towering 5 feet 1/2 inches in height. She received her undergraduate degree at SEMO when its name was Cape Normal School and was the very first student to ever fly in an airplane back to school from vacation.

Lillian began teaching right after college in various schools, including one of the last one-room schoolhouses in the Cape area, Croker. She taught kindergarten in Jackson, Mo., and then started teaching in Cape. At 45, she received her master's degree in education, at Missouri University, extension Cape Girardeau.

She taught for almost 30 years, fostering a love for learning in over 900 students. She retired from teaching kindergarten for the Cape Girardeau Public School System in 1980.

Lillian lived a full and active life; her spare time was always filled. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Cape, where she taught Sunday School and was committed to helping others. She loved to play cards, loved garage sales, and loved people. She played bridge or pinochle every chance she could as long as her eyesight would allow. She was also an active member in American Association of University Women, past president of the Tuesday Club, General Federated Women's Club, and a volunteer with the Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary.

Lillian also provided leadership and service to the community through membership in the Eastern Star, Calvary Shrine, and the Order of the Amaranth. She was past Worthy Matron for Eastern Star, St. Marks Chapter #167, a past Worthy High Priestess of Calvary Shrine #8, and a past Royal Matron of the Order of the Amaranth, Cape Court #14. She also held state positions for the Amaranth Grand Court and was a member of the past Matron & Patron and past High Priestess clubs.

For the past eight years she lived at Chateau Girardeau and visited her son and daughter often.

She is survived by her son, Irvin E. Beard Jr., who resides with his family in Virginia Beach, Va., and her daughter, Pamela Gustel Beard Rasmussen, who resides with her family in St. Louis, Mo. Both Irvin and Pamela are now in educational careers continuing in their mother's proud profession of teaching. Irvin is an assistant principal in the Virginia Beach City Public School System and Pamela is a seventh-grade math teacher for the Pattonville School District in St. Louis.

Two brothers survive Lillian, Phil Bowen who lives with his wife in Hayti, Mo., and Joe Bowen who lives with his wife in Popular Bluff, Mo. Lillian also has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Friday, Dec. 29, between 5 and 8 p.m. at the Ford & Sons Funeral Home on Mount Auburn. An Order of the Eastern Star Service will be conducted by St. Mark's Chapter #167 at 7 p.m. Her funeral service will be conducted at Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 10 a.m. The Rev. Charles Blaylock will officiate. Her body left on this earth will be placed to rest next to her husband's in the Cape County Memorial Park between Cape and Jackson.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.