Celebrating the Life of Grandma Laura Beard.

Laura Lee Beard December 28, 1937 - March 29, 2011

Last week we lost a very special person in my Grandma (Great Grandma) Beard. While it was nice to get together with family and celebrate her life, there was definitely a different feeling being there without her being there. Even though she will be missed by all we are grateful to know that we will see each other again. This is not good-bye but instead a see you later.

I am so grateful that we lived so close to her over the last 9 years and loved having my kids know who their grandmother was and be able to spend as much time with her as we have. I can remember as a little boy being so excited to go visit my grandparents and I saw that same excitement with my kids. Now it may have been the fact that my grandmother always had a gift for them, would take them out to eat, and usually took them clothes shopping; but I think that some of that was also being able to spend time with and get to know their great grandparents. I am so grateful that they had that opportunity and that my grandmother also was able to see them grow up a little. I have so many memories of my grandmother from turning me lose in the garden, to taking me skinny dipping in the creek, to helping her make dinner, to visiting her at her store and being able to go pick out the clothes that I wanted, to having her visit us while in Montana, and being able to take the kids down 3 or 4 times a year, that I truly feel blessed to have been a part of her life while on earth a and am comforted by the fact that we will be reunited again one day. One story that I shared at the funeral and will always remember about her involved my grandfather, a baseball and a bat. My grandfather had peaked my interest in baseball and had me in the yard one day throwing baseballs to me to hit. I remember hitting one ball right back at him and hitting him right in the eye. I dropped the bat and ran into the house, into the back room, crying. Still to this day I remember how bad I felt. I felt as though I had really done something wrong and was in trouble. I remember her coming back and getting me telling me that everything was going to be ok and that grandpa would be fine. After a little coaxing she finally got me to leave the back room and go see grandpa. I will never forget going into the kitchen and seeing him standing there with a steak on his eye. He took it off and his eye was all swollen and already black and blue. I will remember that entire story for as long as I live. My grandmother was a very strong and independent woman but had such a big heart and was always looking for ways to comfort and help others. She was very giving of her time and often volunteered to benefit others. She touched the lives of so many people and will be missed by us all. I have no doubt that she is in a better place and has moved on to the next phase of her life. She is with Heavenly Father now and can continue her works along side Him.

The following is just a compilation of pictures from our recent trip to Indiana in which we remembered and celebrated her life. The fist slideshow was pictures of her life and our lives with her. Thanks to my cousin, Sierra, for putting the pictures of my grandmother together and creating disks for everyone to take. There are quite a few pictures that I had never seen and am grateful to now have them in my files.

Grandma we love you and miss but know that you are in a better place and Heavenly Father must have needed you back with him. We are blessed to have been a part of your life and grateful to know that we will see you again one day. You have left a strong legacy here on Earth and we are all proud to be a part of your family.