John Isham Beard
John Isham Beard died Thursday, April 17, 2003 after a lingering illness.
He was a resident of Signal Mountain for 47 years. He was the owner of John Beard Ford in Dayton, Tn., for 25 years before his retirement.
Mr. Beard was a native of Lake Providence, La. His late parents, James and Myrtle Cole Beard, were pioneer settlers of the area. He was a graduate of Lake Providence High School, where he held the distinction of being president of his class for his freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. He was a graduate of Louisiana Tech with a B.S. degree in accounting. He holds memberships in Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity and Sigma Tau Gamma honorary fraternity. He served for three years in World War II, having been stationed in India, China and Burma with the 121st tank division.
Mr. Beard had a long association with Ford Motor Company first working at a dealership at the age of 14. He came to Chattanooga in 1947 from a Shreveport dealership headed by Mr. Prentiss Furlow. Thirteen families came for the purpose of purchasing controlling interest in a local dealership. Mr. Beard served as auditor and comptroller for Mr. Furlow’s holdings in Chattanooga and throughout the South. Mr. Beard is the group’s last survivor.
Mr. Beard belonged to the Chattanooga Sales Executive Club. He was a 32nd degree Mason.
Mr. Beard acquired the Dayton Ford dealership in 1964. He was awarded Ford’s highest dealer honors several times. While in Dayton he was president of the Rotary Club, president of the Chamber of Commerce and served on the industrial committee. He was inducted into the Presidents Club of Bryan College and served on the Board of Directors.
Mr. Beard was a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, having been a former deacon. He holds membership in Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club. His hobbies were golfing, boating, Tennessee football and spending time with his family at his Soddy Lake cabin.
Mr. Beard is survived by his wife, Billie Houser Beard, his daughter Deane Beard Sprague and son-in-law Orin Sprague, his son, John William Beard and daughter-in-law Carol Nation Beard. His grandchildren are David William Haddock, John Robert Haddock, Laura Elizabeth Haddock, John William Beard, Jr. and Caroline Campbell Beard. His deceased brothers and sisters are James Beard, Fort Stockton, Texas, Charles Beard, Kingland, Texas, Myrtle Beard Fowler, Tallulah, La. and Rosemary Beard McInnis, Kosciusko, Miss. He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday night from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church and from 2 to 3 p.m. prior to the service beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday in the church with Dr. William Dudley and Rev. Tom Goodrich officiating.
Interment will follow in Chattanooga Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Philip Carson, Alex Emerson, Les Nation, Jr., Rick Cunningham, Delma Shaver and Marshall Mize. Honorary pallbearers are Lewis Dyer, Ray L. Nation, Sr., William C. Hall, Richard Yankee, Grady Williams, Eugene Schimpf, Dr. Walter Puckett and life long friend, T. Gilbert Harkey of Shreveport, La.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the personnel at St. Barnabas Nursing Home for kindness, friendship and loving compassion.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are by Coulter Chapel of Lane Funeral Home, 877-3524.