Pauline Dunkin Beaird was born to the union of Lucy Ann (Pride) and Emmett Peyton Dunkin May 12, 1914 in the Shawnee Prairie Community, Angelina County, Texas. She passed from this life, surrounded by loved ones, to be with her Heavenly Father Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at the age of 94 years 11 months & 7 days.

Funeral services for Mrs. Beaird will be held Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home Chapel with Harold Hancock and Mack Wade Dunkin officiating. Interment will follow in the Berry Cemetery.

Mrs. Beaird was a gifted caregiver by trade and instinct. She was a nurse in the Nacogdoches and Lufkin areas for nearly 60 years. She worked in various doctors' offices and hospitals but most enjoyed private duty care during her semi-retirement. Mrs. Beaird was chosen Nurse of the Year in 1975. Mrs. Beaird also devoted her life to loving and caring for two families. She deeply loved her children, their families, and her brothers and sisters in Christ. She was a member of the Church of Christ and worshiped at the Timberland Drive congregation for 53 years. Mrs. Beaird enjoyed friends and interests in many walks of life. She was instrumental in the path leading to the development of the Lufkin State School in the early 60's. Mrs. Beaird was a member of The Lufkin Council of Retarded Citizens where she held both state and local offices. She was a member of the Angelina County Nurses Association, The Autumn Club, Heart Trackers and volunteered at the Elliott House. Mrs. Beaird loved to travel, read, power walk, people watch and play 42.

Mrs. Beaird is survived by and leaves to celebrate her life her daughters and sons-in-law, Rose Ann and Phillip Largent of Pasadena, Dolores (Sissie) and Lee Thompson of Lufkin and Paula Jo and Cliff Ely of Houston; grandchildren and their spouses, Phyllis and Scott Roberts of Pasadena, DeDe Largent of Austin and Leigh Ann and Tony Faour of Conroe; great-grandchildren, Kristi (Roberts) Ashworth and husband Neal, Christopher Roberts and Kayla, Candice Collins, Brittany Faour and Jordan Faour; great-great-grandchildren, Keegan Ashworth, Kendall Ashworth and Presley Roberts; brothers, Mack Dunkin and George Dunkin; sisters, Jo Hewett, Ruby Abbey, Augusta Ingram, Sara McNamara and Fara Doggett; and no less important, numerous brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends. Mrs. Beaird is predeceased by her mother, Lucy Ann Dunkin; father, Emmett Peyton Dunkin; ?Ma?, Allie Farah Dunkin; husband of 36 years, Joseph Cullen Beaird; brothers, Harrison Dunkin, Denman Dunkin and Wood Quinn; and sisters, Mildred Bealer, Ruth Kirkland, Ollie Thrailkill and Dorothy Shoffitt.

Pallbearers will be Mrs. Beaird's nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Luke Slatter (Grandson of Mike and Janice Penn) Memorial Scholarship, c/o Hudson ISD Business Office, 6735 Ted Trout Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.

Published in Lufkin Daily News