Lloyd Paul Beard departed this world and entered into heaven on Saturday, August 13, 2011. He is survived by his loving wife, Maria Angelica Ramos Beard; daughters, Veva Gardner of Langley, OK, Paula Allan and husband Daniel Allan of Anchorage, AK, Sharon Call and husband Danny Call of Tulsa, OK, and Billye Boldrey and husband Brett Boldrey of Dix, IL; grandchildren, James Allan of Webb City, MO, Melanie Tobin (Jim) and Clinton Allan of Anchorage, AK, Amanda Gammon Heinzmann of Centralia, IL, Jeremy Layman (Billie) of Claremore, OK, Alyssa Layman of Vinita, OK; great-grandchildren, Matthew Leiser and Jonathon Tobin of Anchorage, AK; and Aiden Layman of Claremore, OK; siblings, Edgar Beard, Jr. (Callie Fae) of Miami, OK, Edna Buckett of Wichita, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Edgar Lee Beard, Sr. and Willa Belle Lacy Beard; infant daughter, Cheryl Lynne Beard; son, James Layman; brother, Walter Beard; and sisters, Beulah Bates and Willa Brown; former wife and mother of his children, Mona Crossley Allen; and his second wife, Seline Beard.
Lloyd was born in Marshfield, MO on April 26, 1925 and raised in Zena, OK where he graduated from Jay High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in WWII, serving in the South Pacific on the Battleship USS Washington, engaging in historic battles, air strikes and bombardments.
Lloyd earned his Associate Degree at NEO A&M, in Miami, OK, where he won the Golden Gloves Welter Weight Championship in 1948. He earned his Master's Degree in English at Eastern State University, in Tahlequah, OK. Lloyd taught school in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Louisiana. He continued his career in the Merchant Marines with training in New York. He then worked for the Lykes Brothers Steamship Co., in New Orleans, LA, as Engineer on the Fleet Ship "Elizabeth Lykes", until his retirement in the early 90's. Lloyd and Maria enjoyed their retirement in Covington, LA.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Community Care Hospice of Hammond, LA and to the Covington community for their kindness, support and caring.