View Video Tribute Edwin L. Beard, 82, of Keokuk, IA died Friday, February 29, 2008 at the River Hills Village in Keokuk, IA. He was born on November 12, 1925 in Quincy, IL, the son of Edwin L. and Edna Lamb Laaker. He was raised by Leon Dollie Beard of Wayland, MO. He first married Mary Carroll on May 30, 1946 in Warsaw, IL. He later married Sherry Kirchner. Edwin was a veteran of the United States Army. He had been employed by General Mills/Ogilvie Mills in Keokuk for forty-two years retiring in 1989. He attended the First Baptist Church in Hamilton, IL. He had been devoted to his family and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Edwin especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren play in sporting events. During his younger years Edwin had enjoyed coaching Little League baseball. He is survived by two daughters, Carroll Gray and her husband Michael of Warsaw, IL, and Linda Clough and her husband Paul of Hamilton, IL, one son, Larry Beard and his wife Jeana of Hamilton, IL, four grandchildren, Jennifer Chickey, David Gray, Brian Clough, and Leslie Cochran, two step-grandchildren, Jason and Eric McNeill, six great-grandchildren, two sisters, Wanda Zelle of Quincy, IL and Maxine Beard and her husband Charlie of Stronghurst, IL and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marilyn Williams. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA with Pastor Gene Baker officiating. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton, IL. Memorials may be made to the Hamilton Kiwanis Youth Program or the First Baptist Church of Hamilton.