Tom Henderson Beard, 79, of Hillsboro passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2012, at Ferguson Cemetery in Oletha. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.
Tom was born December 15, 1932 in Cameron to Earnest and Agnes (Henderson) Beard. He was raised in Hillsboro and graduated from Hillsboro High School before serving four years in the U. S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He was a graduate of Baylor University with a B.B.A. and Juris Doctor. For a number of years, he practiced law in Hill County and also served terms as Hill County Attorney, Hill County District Attorney and Hillsboro City Judge.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Earnest Douglas Beard, Jr.; and a sister, Martha Beard Hall.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Thompson Beard of Hillsboro; children, Tom H. Beard, Jr. and wife, Londa, of Hillsboro, Dr. Barbara Beard Parker and husband, Dr. Robert Parker, of Mangham, LA, Charles Beard and wife, Jean, of Waxahachie, and Robert Beard and partner, Greg Shelton, of Fort Worth; sister, Mary Beard McDaniel and husband, Gene, of Richardson; brother-in-law, Marty Hall of Dallas; grandchildren, Christopher Beard of Houston, Joseph Beard of College Station, Caleb Parker and Anna Grace Parker of Mangham, LA, and William Crist of Richwood; great-granddaughter, Heidi Crist of Richwood; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hill County Cell Block Museum, P. O. Box 555, Hillsboro, TX 76645; Jack Jones Memorial Scholarship, 4753 FM 1246 E, Thornton, TX 76687; Sierra Club, 85 Second Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-3441; or Democratic National Committe, 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003.