Dena Marie Beard

October 22, 1945 – May 2, 2025

Dena Marie Beard, 79, passed away peacefully at her home in Sheridan on Friday evening, May 2, 2025. Born October 22, 1945, in Kokomo, she was the daughter of the late James Brooks and Opal (McAhren) Beard.

She was a 1963 graduate of Sheridan High School and a member of the Sheridan First Christian Church.

A devoted caregiver, creative spirit, and tenacious worker, Dena Marie Beard lived her life with passion, purpose, and an unstoppable spirit. Known for her fierce honesty and even fiercer love, she touched the lives of many with her hard work, compassion, and creativity.

Dena earned her cosmetology license at Michael’s Beauty School in Indianapolis and brought beauty directly to the homes of others through her work in hair and nails. She also served as a Certified Nursing Assistant, offering compassionate care to the elderly and individuals with mental and physical challenges. Her career spanned multiple healthcare institutions, including Sheridan Healthcare, Harbor Manor, and ResCare Residential Home Healthcare.

Her work history was as dynamic as her personality. She delivered pizzas for Village Pizza, served as a receptionist at Sheridan Healthcare, rang up groceries as a cashier at IGA, and managed the Millwood Trailer Park in the 1980s.

Dena often held three to five jobs at once – once working for three straight months without a single day off. Her tireless dedication opened the door to many adventures, traveling to the American Southwest and Northwest, Florida, Jamaica, and the Bahamas.

She also had an entrepreneurial flair, selling products for companies like NuSkin, Longaberger Baskets, Tupperware, and Pampered Chef.

Dena’s love of music was expansive, with her playlists including R&B, country western, soul, disco, classical orchestras, folk, movie soundtracks, and even a touch of hip-hop. She especially adored classic Christmas tunes by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Nat King Cole. Her favorite actor was Clint Eastwood, and Western films were a staple in her home.

A lover of the arts, Dena enjoyed the theater, movies, and reading. She kept a stack of monthly magazines including Country Living, Early American Life, and A Taste of Home. She expressed herself through crochet, knitting, needlepoint, and pastel drawing, and took art lessons with Estelle Seymore. Gardening and floral arranging also brought her joy.

Her sense of style was unmistakable – she never went without lipstick, enjoyed pampering herself at the salon, and had a well-known love for purses and shoes. She was a thoughtful and generous gift giver, known for browsing antique stores (especially in Kirklin, Ind.) and always finding just the right treasure.

Dena was the family’s news anchor and weather correspondent, always checking in, passing along information, and staying deeply connected. She never knew a stranger – her warmth made everyone feel welcome. If she liked you, you felt it. If she didn’t, you knew that too. Her honesty was legendary. She could laugh so hard that she’d cry … that laugh!!

More than anything, Dena loved her family. She visited often, stayed in touch, and always made her presence known. She gave generously of herself until her final breath – Dena worked until the day she died.

After retiring, she took on the roles of bus driver and bus aide for the Westfield Washington School System.

“She lived life on her own terms – doing what she wanted to do and going where she wanted to go.”

Dena is survived by her daughter, Jama Ladean Barker (Steven) of Sheridan; nine grandchildren, Lydia Price (Joe Shields) of Ekin, James Elliot Barker (Kelly) of Westfield, Emma Kinkead (Zach) of Sheridan, Gideon Barker (Baylee) of Sheridan, Lillian Barker of Indianapolis, Ethan Brooks Blackstone (Logan Elizabeth) of Sheridan, Lauren Marie Frank of Kokomo, Natalie Elizabeth Frank of Sheridan, and Megan Michelle Frank (Allen) of Sheridan; 11 great-grandchildren, Tristan Shields, Avenly Kinkead, Lucas Kinkead, Emmett Barker, Everyn Kinkead, Charlotte Barker, River Kinkead, Isabelle Marie Frank, Brookston Lee Blackstone, Amelia Grace Cole, and Benjamin Mackenzie Smith-Frank; brother, James Brooks Beard, Jr. of Nashville, Ind.; and two sisters, Linda L. Sutton of Carmel and Opal Lynn Napoli of Sheridan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Brooks and Opal (McAhren) Beard; infant son, Troy Anthony Blackstone; daughter, Ronna “Marie” Grace; and former husband, Ronald Dean “Ronnie” Blackstone.

A celebration of Dena’s life will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan, with visitation from 2 p.m. until the time of service. Dr. Brooks Barrick will be officiating.

Dena will be laid to rest at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to the Sheridan First Christian Church, P.O. Box 111, Sheridan, IN 46069.

Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com