CL Beard

CL Beard, 97, of Wickenburg, Arizona, left us peacefully on October 24,

2024 with his beloved wife, Carol Ann, by his side. CL will always be

remembered for his kindness, gentle soul and strong belief in God.

Born on December 16, 1926 in Linden, Texas to Thelma and L.L.

Beard, CL was the first born of five children. In 1945, after high school,

he was drafted into the U.S. Army. At the end of WWII, he re-enlisted

to serve in the Army as a Sergeant at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as a

prison guard patrolman, supervising the work of twelve guards for 200

prisoners of war. Using the GI Bill, CL attended Wayland Baptist

College in Plainview, Texas. He was a member of their prestigious

International Choir and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA)

degree. Since graduating from Wayland, his career was in sales.

Seventeen years were spent selling life insurance, then twelve years

selling real estate. The next fifteen years, wife Carol Ann and he

owned and operated The Chaparral, an ice cream parlor and bake

shop. After selling that business, he returned to real estate sales until

retirement in 2019 with Century 21, at the age of 93.

He enjoyed working, being active in church and serving as a deacon,

singing, dancing, playing aggravation and especially golfing, making a

hole-in-one at 93 years old at Wickenburg Country Club Golf Course.

Thoughts of CL are kind spoken, very well dressed, kind smiles, gentle

nature, great voice and most of all, a friend to all and loved. He is a

welcome addition into Heaven!

CL is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Carol Ann Beard, and

his children, Leon and Beverly Beard (son and wife) Joy Beard and Eddie

Ponce (daughter and husband) Lynn Beard (son) Darla Moran

(stepdaughter) Kelly and Claudia Barker (stepson and wife) as well as his

grandchildren Matthew Beard, Ryan Beard, step-grandchildren Jozie

Greenmyer, Aaron Barker, Joel Barker, Angel Marley and great-

grandchild Kayla Beard. Also survived by two in-laws, Raymond L.

Duck and LaVern Beard and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both parents, L.L. and Thelma, two

brothers, Jeral Beard and Winford Beard, two sisters, Nell Duck and

Dean Lefler.

Inurnment will be at The National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix,

Arizona on November 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM. A public memorial will be

held Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM at First Southern

Baptist Church of Wickenburg, 360 W. Yavapai St., Wickenburg, AZ

85390. There will be a meal and fellowship to follow.