Rose Marie (Gates) Beard

Rose Marie Beard, 77, of Hillsboro, IL, passed away on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 10:34 a.m. at Hillsboro Rehab and Health Care, Hillsboro, IL.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 18, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL.  Burial will take place in Irving Cemetery, Irving, IL.  Rev. Matt Ferguson, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL, will officiate.

Mrs. Beard was born on March 29, 1941 in Hillsboro, IL to the late Willis Gilbert and Judith Ann (Rebman) Gates.  She was a 1959 graduate of Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, IL; earned a Bachelor's Degree in Child and Family and Community Service from Sangamon State University, Springfield, IL; and attended one year at University of Illinios towards a Master's Degree in Social Work and worked as a corrections counselor at Graham Correctional Center, Hillsboro, IL, retiring in 2002.  Mrs. Beard lived in Irving, IL; Hillsboro, IL; and Coffeen, IL since December, 1965.  She married Howard Beard, and they later divorced.  Mrs. Beard wrote "Rose Remembers" for the Journal-News, Hillsboro, IL; coordinator of Community Thanksgiving Dinner; coordinator of blood drive for 10 years; member of First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL and ordained as a Deacon in 1998; past member of Sangamon Area Learning Disabilities Association; past member of Illinois Association for Citizens with Learning Disabilities; a hotline volunteer for two years; and initiated Quad Counties Learning Disabilities.

Mrs. Beard is survived by her sons, William Beard of Coffeen, IL, Larry Beard of Coffeen, IL, and John (wife Sandra) Beard of Gillespie, IL; three grandchildren, Casandra (Beard) Sherwin, Courtney Beard, and Haley Beard; and two great-grandchildren, David Lee and Drake Beach.

Mrs. Beard was also preceded in death by a brother, Paul Gates; sister, Donna West and great grandchild, Remington Beach.

Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church, Hillsboro, IL.

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