June 18, 1929 – October 11, 2022
Esther Fay Beard, 93, rural Atlanta, passed away on October 11, 2022, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Tipton.
She was born on June 18, 1929, near Arcadia to Avery and Mary (Belzer) Bowman. She attended Walnut Grove School Elementary and Junior High School and graduated in 1947 from Walnut Grove High School.
Esther Fay, as she was fondly known, married Ralph Eugene Beard on January 13, 1951, and they began their lives together in a farm home north of Arcadia. She enjoyed her new role as homemaker and also worked in the cafeteria at Walnut Grove School.
She was an active member of the Arcadia Church of the Brethren. When the new Brethren Church was built, the old church was torn down. She gathered wood from the demolition, and being a gifted wood carver, she made Christmas ornaments from the wood and gave them to family, friends and church members. She was an excellent seamstress and made clothing for her family. She also made a quilt for each grandchild (seven of them) and gave a handmade quilt to each one when they graduated from high school. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, crocheting, taking care of her pets and just being outdoors.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and a sister, Leona Zetterberg.
Surviving her is a daughter, Karen Fay Chase of Windfall, Ind.; sons, Charles Avery Beard of Arcadia, and Steven Eugene Beard of Atlanta; grandchildren, Cristy, Sara, Amber, Stephanie, Candace, Amanda, and Anna; plus eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, October 17, 2022, at Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel, 209 W. Jackson St., Cicero, with Pastor Mark Knapp officiating. Burial will follow at the Cicero Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to your local Humane Society. You may send condolences at hartleyfuneralhomes.com.