Kevin Dean Beard

Kevin Dean Beard, age 52, a resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, March 29, 2010, at the Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He was born Feb. 18, 1958, in Roswell, N.M., the son of James Beard and Zelma Ruth Ingle Beard. Kevin served with the United States Army from 1976 to 1980. He had worked for a time at the Hinton Dairy farm north of Fort Scott. He enjoyed playing the guitar as well as hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Carol Hites, of the home; two sons, Skyler Beard, Nevada, and Kristopher, Beard, El Dorado Springs, Mo.; three daughters, Jessica Beard, Nevada, Jorja Beard, Osawatomie, Kan., and Tasha Martin, of Texas; one brother, Marty Beard, Carthage, Mo., a sister, Gail Williams, Jericho Springs, Mo.,; and a grandson.

The Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 1, at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Memorials are suggested to the Kevin Beard Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.