William D. Beard

William D. “Bill” Beard, 61, of Chandlerville passed away on Friday, January 24, 2014 at Memorial Medical Center. Bill was born December 11, 1952 in Jacksonville, IL the son of Irving and Patricia (Howard) Beard. Bill married Lynne Garrison on August 14, 2010 in Chandlerville. He is survived by his wife Lynne of Chandlerville, stepdaughter Emily Rust of Chandlerville, mother Patricia Beard of Quincy, brother Scott Beard of Macomb, sister Cheryl (Alphonse) McMahon of Mt. Vernon, IN, nephew John McMahon, nieces Christine Collins and Sarah McMahon, Aunt Shirley (John) Davidson of Springfield and cousins Anne Davidson, Jane Seibert, John Davidson, Carey Tice and Stacey Van Sossen, Tom Ewers and Barb Solodky. He is predeceased by his father, a cousin Linda Tice and Aunt Kathryn Ewers. Bill obtained his Bachelors degree from Western Illinois University in History; Masters in American History from University of Wisconsin; and was pursuing a doctoral degree from Louisiana State University. He left LSU to work as assistant editor for the Abraham Lincoln Legal Papers Project in 1985. He designed the program for collecting Lincoln documents from all over the state of Illinois and he traveled the country in search of Lincoln collectibles and making speeches for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. After 15 years, Bill resigned to take care of his ailing mother, Pat, and became the editor of the Cass County Star-Gazette. He currently worked as a freelance writer and substitute teacher in Morgan and Cass Counties. Bill loved roaming the hills around Chandlerville in search of mushrooms. He loved wildlife, hiking and canoeing, travelling, reading and spending time with his family and friends. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Rams and LSU Tigers football. Bill was a gifted athlete playing basketball, baseball and participating in track. Bill was a kind, generous, unselfish, and loving man. He lived by the golden rule and touched the lives of everyone who knew him. Funeral Service will be Friday, January 31, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Hurley Funeral Home in Chandlerville with the Rev. Jay Cook officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Chandlerville Cemetery. Hurley Funeral Home in Chandlerville assisted the family with arrangements.

William D. Beard

December 11, 1952 - January 24, 2014

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