Martin William Beard, 89, of Beaumont died December 29, 2004 at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was born in Jefferson County, graduated from French High School and attended Lamar Junior College. Martin’s career was in rice farming, rice drying, and rice milling for fifty years, and then in real estate and insurance sales with Williamson Insurance and Real Estate Company. He was then sole owner of Martin W. Beard Crop Insurance Co.
He was a member of the American Rice Growers Association, Beaumont Board of Realtors, served on the Board of Directors of the National Crop Insurance Agency, Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, the Rotary Club of Beaumont and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and will be remembered as one who loved his family dearly and who was friendly, loyal, and kind.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rob (Bob) and Annie Beard, and his brothers, John and Joseph. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Jeanne Beard of Beaumont; son, Martin W. Beard, Jr. of Beaumont; daughter, Patricia Beard of Nederland; brother, Louis Henry Beard and wife Carrie of Beaumont; sisters, Ruby Horn of Nome, Ruth Schilling and husband Harvey of Beaumont, Lucille Nichols and husband James of Beaumont and Betty Sue Knight and husband Frank of Madosonville; grandson, Jeremy Smith of Vidor; great grandchildren, Sierra and Hannah Smith of Vidor
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2004 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive,Beaumont followed by burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of his family and friends will be Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the mortuary.