MARY ETTA LAUGHRIN BEARD

1925 - 2016

Mary Etta Laughrin Beard, was born in Bellflower, CA on July 13, 1925 and passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in Rancho San Diego, CA on February 13, 2016. Mary Etta was the daughter of pioneer cattleman Thomas Owen Laughrin and Mary Etta Wilson Laughrin and was raised eight miles west of Brawley, CA., where her father bought forty acres and made a living growing alfalfa and raising cattle. Having learned to ride horses at an early age, Mary Etta won ribbons for horse racing at various county fairs. When she was sixteen she was chosen Miss Imperial County and competed in the Miss California contest in Salinas. She graduated in 1943 from Brawley Union High School. Mary Etta married Marshall T. McGuineas in 1944 and in 1950 they welcomed son, Lee McGuineas. Always a go-getter, Mary Etta became an accomplished bookkeeper working for a produce company, farm equipment company, and later California Livestock Company where she met the love of her life, Ed Beard. They were married on July 30, 1966. Ed was a cattle broker and feeder as well as President of Stockmen's Club of Imperial Valley, 1967-1968, and President of the California Livestock Commission for 38 years. Together Mary Etta and Ed enjoyed riding horses, living on San Diego Bay and the cooler mountain air of Pine Valley. They also enjoyed traveling and were blessed with 25 years of marriage before Ed's passing in 1991. While living in Pine Valley, Mary Etta was active in "Gold Diggers" and "Angels of Aseltine Auxilary". A vivacious woman, Mary Etta loved life and shared that love with her family and many friends through her hospitality and generosity. She was predeceased by her parents, her beloved son, Lee; her husband Ed, and brother, Wilbur Laughrin. Surviving Mary Etta are; sister Helen Wallis; step-daughter, Joyce Ponso and husband, Denny; step-son, Tim Beard and wife Cathy; 3 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Also left to cherish her memory are nephew, Bob Laughrin (Barbara), and niece Sharon Kay Seitz (Mike). Viewing will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 from 10-11:45 a.m. at Glenn Abbey Memorial Park in Chapel of Roses. Graveside service will immediately follow at noon at Sleepy Hollow Garden. In lieu of flowers, any donations in her memory may be sent to Shriners Hospitals for Crippled and Burned Children c/o Al Bahr Temple, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd., San Diego, CA 92111.