Edith Melissa (Morlan) Beard

Edith Melissa (Morlan) Beard passed away at age 95 on October 14, 2024 at Johanna Shores Presbyterian Homes in Arden Hills, MN.

Edith was born on July 12, 1929 to Willis C. Morlan and Mary Catherine (Switzer) Morlan on the Morlan farm near New Waterford, Ohio. After her mother passed away in 1936 and her father passed in 1941, Edith and her younger sister, Eva, were raised by their sister Zora as well as supported by other siblings and extended family. She attended a one-room school until sixth grade then graduated from David Anderson High School in Lisbon, Ohio in 1947. She attended The College of Wooster, in Wooster, OH, where she received a BA in Sociology, and met her future husband, Clarence Beard. As she liked to say about June 11, 1951, “We graduated in the morning and got married in the afternoon.” Their marriage lasted 70 years, until Clarence’s passing in 2021.

The Beards moved to Chicago in 1951 for Clarence to attend McCormick Theological Seminary while Edith worked at General Motors Acceptance Corporation, GMAC, with car loan modifications. Their first child, Ruth, was born in 1954, then they moved to Morgan, MN to serve the Morgan/Wabasso Presbyterian Church congregations. In 1956 they moved to Alta, IA to serve the First Presbyterian Church. Timothy was born in 1958, and Janet in 1964. In addition to serving alongside Clarence as the pastor’s wife, Edith also at various times taught Sunday School and served as a deacon.

Edith began working as a teacher’s aide at the Alta Elementary School in 1969 when Janet started kindergarten and continued until 1991. In 1991 Clarence and Edith moved to Fridley, MN, where they lived around the corner from daughter Ruth’s family. During retirement, Edith volunteered at her grandchildren’s schools and at Presbyterian Church of the Way, where she was a member. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. 

Edith was known for her practicality and love for her family. She enjoyed working alongside teachers to support elementary students and relished being a mother and grandmother. The family is grateful to the staff at Johanna Shores Presbyterian Homes for their tender care for Edith the past six months. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Edith is the last of her generation in our family. Preceded in death by husband, Clarence; her siblings and their spouses, Kathryn Mercer (Earl), Beth Kinney (Robert), Dallas Morlan (Esther, Velma), Zora Peters (James) and Eva Tucker (Paul); granddaughter Ashley Beard. Survived by children Ruth Johnson (Daniel), Tim Beard (Wendy), Janet Clarke (Richard); four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to Presbyterian Church of the Way, Shoreview, MN, designated to the memory of Edith Beard.

In the video below, the service starts at 22:20 with a prelude.