Henry Beard

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Henry Lyle Beard, 90, of Du Quoin, passed away at 1:20 p.m., Monday, September 8, 2008, at the Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.

Lyle had worked as a coal miner at Peabody Coal for twelve years. He had worked for the City of Du Quoin as Superintendent of the Water Department for twenty-four years. He was a Charter Member of the Old Du Quoin Baptist Church and had been sixty-eight years without missing Sunday School. He was a member of the Laborer's Union. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

He was born July 22, 1918 at Old Du Quoin, the son of Henry Monroe and Emma (Senior) Beard.

He married Wanda Summers on May 30, 1946 at Benton, and she survives.

He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin, one son - David Beard of Du Quoin, one daughter - Brenda Gibbons and husband Ron of Tamaroa, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers - Virgil, Dwight, and Norman, and one sister - Opal Umholtz.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 11, 2008, at the Old Du Quoin Baptist Church with Rev. Ted Clark officiating.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the church.

Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.

Friends may make memorials to the Old Du Quoin Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.