Bob Beard

Lawrence Robert “Bob” Beard, age 67, of Versailles, Illinois passed away at 4:50 a.m. Thursday, October 6, 2022 at White Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in White Hall, Illinois. 

He was born July 1, 1955 in Springfield, Illinois the son of Lawrence and Coralie Stone Beard and they preceded him in death.  

He married Debra Hall on December 23, 1973.  They later divorced but remained lifelong friends. 

Bob loved the open road, whether he was driving a semi (fellow truck drivers, if you’re reading this - pull the horn down one last time for ole “Sugar Bear”) or hauling motorcycles and parts to and from the shop in Florida.  He loved riding and working on his motorcycles and he was rarely seen without a tool of some kind in hand. 

A hobby passed down from his mother, Bob was an avid reader, favoring mostly classics by authors such as Louis L’amour, among others.  He was also fond of and talked a lot about his memories of growing up in the old family farmhouse in Mt. Sterling.  He would reminisce about his youthful shenanigans, the chickens they raised and his beloved pets.  He loved animals of all kinds, but was especially fond of dogs and rescued several over the years. 

It seemed no matter where he went, whether down the road or states away, someone knew him and had a story to tell about their time together. 

Bob is survived by his daughters; Brandi (Marc) Mueller of Bluffs, Illinois, Elisha (Heather) Beard of Jacksonville, Illinois and Jessica Byrum of Virginia.  3 cherished grandchildren; Zachery and Jordan Mueller and Jewel McEvers and 5 great grandchildren.  3 sisters Kathy (Richard) Ebbing of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, Gloria McDowell of Atlanta, Georgia and Brenda Sands of Waynesville, Missouri also survive as well as several nieces and nephews.  

Cremation will be accorded and a celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, 2022 at the Ridge View Winery in rural Mt. Sterling, Illinois. 

Memorials are suggested to the family and may be mailed to or left at the Hendricker Funeral Home, 406 South Capitol Avenue, Mt. Sterling, Illinois 62353.

Condolences for the family may be left on line at hendrickerfuneralhome.com. 

The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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