Cleo Beard, 69, of Beaumont, died Monday, February 27, 2017. She was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1947, to Jesse Mae Foreman Saunders and Raymond Wilbur Saunders, and had been a longtime resident of Beaumont. She was a retired Licensed Vocational Nurse.
In 1985, she married Charles William Beard and began a wonderful twenty-seven year relationship that combined two families. They met singing in the choir at Trinity United Methodist Church. A church they loved and served together. She was a member of Inner-Faith Choral Society, Symphony Choir and also enjoyed attending HAMACO Sunday school. Cleo loved making flower arrangements for friends and special events. She was a woman of faith and who truly lived a life of service.
Cleo is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Leonard Smith and her husband, Kirk and Angela Leonard Davis and her husband, Wylie; stepdaughters, Charolotte Beard Bush and her husband, John and Donna Beard Knowles and her husband, Chip. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ashley Warren, Nathan Knowles, Jordan Knowles, Jesse Warren, Kaleb Smith, Colton Davis, Karson Smith, and Brandt Davis. Known to her grandchildren as “Ganny”, she loved and adored them very much; and sister, Jacqualyn Saunders.
Cleo is preceded in death by her husband, Charles William “Charlie” Beard; and her parents.
A gathering of Mrs. Beard’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 3, 2017, Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Avenue, Beaumont, with her interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726 or to Three Rivers Council Boy Scouts of America, 4650 Cardinal Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77705.
