Charles C Beard

Mt. Morris, IL, Charles C. Beard, 93, died Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Pinecrest Manor in Mt. Morris following a brief illness. He was born on July 7, 1922 in Fairbank, Iowa the son of Ira E. and Cassie (Cloyd) Beard. He attended Maple Grove Country School and graduated from Mt. Morris High School, class of 1940. He married Marjorie F. Horst in Mt. Morris, IL on August 23, 1947; and she preceded him in death on June 4, 2007. He was a life-long farmer in Mt. Morris. Charles was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Ogle County Farm Bureau and served on the Board of Directors for Palmyra, Lincoln, Nashua (PLN) Insurance Company. He was a 59 year member of Mystic Tie Masonic Lodge No. 167 A.M. & F.M. (Polo) and a 59 year member of the Mt. Morris Lions Club. He served as the 1985 Lions District 1-D Governor on the Board of Trustees of the Lions of Illinois Foundation. He was a fifty year member of Tebala Shrine Temple; in 2015 he was given the distinction of becoming a Tebala Shrine Ambassador. He was a member of the Rockford York Rite Bodies, Crusader, Commandery No. 17 Knights Templar (Rockford), and a life member of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite N.M.J. of the Valley Freeport. He was a 56 year (life) member of the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge #1551, a 50+ year member of the Mt. Morris Goodfellows, and a former Reserve Deputy of the Ogle County Sheriff's Department. Survivors include his daughter, Connie (Richard) Mongan, and son, Charles E. (Debra) Beard, all of Mt. Morris; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren. Charles was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and sister, Margaret L. (Beard) Wilkinson. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 27 at 11:00 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 308 E. Brayton Road, Mt. Morris with Pastor Josh Ehrler officiating. Burial at Oakwood Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Mt. Morris Moose Family Center. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 26 from 4 - 8 P.M. at Finch Funeral Home, 405 East Hitt St., Mt. Morris with Masonic Rites accorded. Memorials to the Shriners Children's Hospital.