Harold Gene Beard, age 78, of Xenia, IL passed away at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2013 at his residence in Xenia.

Gene was born on April 21, 1934 in Marion County, IL to George and Vera (Warren) Beard. He married Myrtle Wyman on August 17, 1956 in Xenia and they have celebrated 56 years of marriage together. Gene farmed, raised cattle, pumped oil wells, and talked of how he enjoyed driving a school bus for 17 years and watching some of his young riders grow up. He took great pride in his family, and was always outside working in his yard. With his good memory of the past, he retold stories that often included what the weather was like on a given day. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Flora and had served in the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his wife: Myrtle Beard of Xenia; 4 children: Pam (Bob) Goodman of Xenia, Russell (Trudy) Beard of Iuka, Janet (Jerry) Britton of Xenia, Jane (Jim) Williams of Rinard; 2 brothers: Glen Beard of Effingham, Gale (Ann) Beard of Xenia; grandchildren: Jami (Aaron) Anderson, Joe (Larissa) Goodman, Ryan (Jessica) Beard, Tracie Beard, Emily (Jeramia) Blackwell, Jenny (Cody) Gould, Olivia Britton, A.J. Casolari, Adam Casolari, Logan Williams, Colton Williams; 3 step-grandchildren: Ashley Krutsinger, Trevor Britton, Devin Williams; along with 9 great-grandchildren and 5 step great-grandchildren and his much loved dog, Sophie. He was preceded in death by his parents and father and mother in-law (Lowell and Pauline Wyman).

The funeral service for Gene Beard will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2013 at the Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Burial will be in Shadden Cemetery, Xenia, with military honors. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the Frank & Bright Funeral Home. The family has requested that memorial donations be made to Clay County Hospice or to the First Baptist Church of Flora.