Alice J. Beard

Alice J. Beard, 72, died Wednesday, September 24, 2014 in Abilene at her residence. Born in Graham, Texas on July 18, 1942, she was the daughter of Mary (Duncan) and J. W. Roman. Since 1948, she had been a resident of Abilene, where she was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She married William Anderson Beard on April 26, 1963 in Snyder. Alice started “Say So Week’ and the Pumpkin Patch at Grace United Methodist Church. She had been a volunteer/ Pink Lady at Hendrick Medical Center since 1984, and had accumulated 6,000 hours. She also made the Pineapple Upside Down Cake for the West Texas Rehab which brought in thousands of dollars every year. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Mary and Melvin Hector; her father, J. W. Roman; and sisters, Frances Hector and Shirley Couch. Survivors include her husband, Bill Beard of Abilene; son, Bill Douglas Beard and wife Joyce of Abilene; stepmother, Joy Roman of Abilene; and grandchildren, Brittany Michelle Helmick and husband Dakota, Brandon Michael, Bethany Marie, Brianna Monique and Nathan Ryan Beard, and great-grandson, John Wayne Helmick, all of Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 27, at Grace United Methodist Church with Rev. Gayle Thornberry and Rev. Bob Green officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 26, at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be George Morris, Brandon Beard, Dakota Helmick, Harold Couch, Lloyd Ray Couch and Ken Ramey. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 1402 Grape Street, Abilene, TX 79601.