Elsie Mae Beard

Elsie Mae (Courtright) Beard, 90, of Alvin, Texas passed away on November 25, 2024. She was born in McDonald, Kansas on August 7, 1934, to Charles Henry " Chuck" Courtright and Mildred Jenny Hanson Courtright.
Elsie was involved in many volunteer activities in her waking life. She was a member of Christmas assistance programs for the Alvin Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army Christmas programs, and Share – A – Toy program that was founded by Elsie and her husband Robert Beard in 1979. This program used Alvin Volunteer Fire Department facilities and storage units when possible and became a huge program utilizing many volunteers with contributions from many organizations, churches, schools and The Salvation Army. The program became a year around asset to the community. Elsie was a member of the Brazoria County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Elsie was a shelter manager during several hurricanes and during the flood of 1979, she was on duty for seven weeks. She was a long-time member of the board of directors of the Hand in Hand Child Development Center. This non-profit daycare provided high quality pre-school and early childhood education to young children. Elsie said she did not plan a career in childcare, it just evolved. The Beard household has always been full of children. Robert and Elsie had three daughters, Lynda, Nancy, and Donna. Once the they were all in school, Elsie informally cared for children for a few years and then decided to formally begin a career in childcare. She became a licensed family home provider and joined the National and Gulf Coast Child Care Association and began going to their workshops and training sessions. Elsie was proud of the fact that she had a perfect inspections record with the Department of Human Resources. After taking several childcare classes at the Alvin Community College, Elsie decided to formally enroll. After seven years of attending classes at night and a few summer classes, Elsie graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Associate of Arts Degree in May 1986. Elsie continued working with children in her family day care home, now informally known as the Beard Bunch until she retired in June 2001. By that time hundreds of children had spent their pre-school years playing and learning with their Beard Bunch family. Elsie's retirement did not last long. In August of 2001, she began substitute teaching in several primary schools in the Alvin Independent School District. She was very active in her community and will be dearly missed by many.
Survivors include her children, Lynda Beard Donnell, Nancy Beard Hailey, Donna Beard Badgwell; sons-in-law, Tom Badgwell and Michael Hailey; grandchildren, Heather Jo "Jody" Benavides, Jessica Lynne "Jessie" Christian, Susan "Sana" Elaine Flynn, Shellby Elise Appleton, Ray Dale Clites, Robert Louise "Robbie" Clites and Colby Ralph Clites and her beloved great-grandchildren, Carlo and Olivia Benavides, Madilynne and Eli Christian, Emery, Wren, Rebecca, Reed, and Isabella Clites, and Nicholis Appleton, Jr. Siblings: Rita Catino, Reva Heileman and Roy Courtright.
Elsie is preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert Louis Beard; parents, Charles Henry "Chuck" Courtright and Mildred Jenny Hanson Courtright; grandparents-paternal, John Leslie Courtright and Lillian Mae Stone Courtright; grandparents-maternal, Charles Franklin Hanson and Elsie Viola Stanton Hanson; siblings, Viola Lindow, John Courtright Sr. and Francis Courtright.
Memorial Service will be January 25, 2025 at 11:00 A.M., First United Methodist Church.
Tributes and words of condolence may be left for the family at www.frobergfuneralhomeatoakpark.com
Arrangements are under the direction of Froberg Funeral Home at Oak Park, 300 Oak Park Drive, Alvin, Texas 77511 281.331.8217