Donald Wayne Beard, 74, was born on Friday, February 25, 1949 in Nashville, Tennessee where he resided when he traveled home on Monday, July 17, 2023.
He is the son of the late Sara Lou (Beard) Lepley and the step-son of the late Author Lee Lepley of Nashville, Tennessee.
He retired after 21 years of loyal service with Oscar Mayer in Goodlettsville, TN where he worked as a bacon processor, tunnel operator, and bacon injection operator, as well as several other positions until the plant closed in April of 1995. He then became a stay-at-home dad to his 4 youngest children and many animal babies. He loved rose gardening and always provided his wife with fresh cut roses.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, mother Sara Lou (Beard) Lepley, step-father Arthur Lee Lepley, son Scotty Wayne Beard, grandson CJ Sharp, grandfather William Jackson Beard “Daddy Bill”, grandmother Era Allie (Hartley) Beard “Nannie”, sisters Hazel Lepley, Era Mae Pruitt, and Shirley Carson, parents-in-law Jack Foster, Shannon Foster, June Woodley, and Jack Woodley, brothers-in-law Glenn Pruitt, Jerry Rhodes, Clarence Jenkins, Wayne Adams, and William (Bill) Foster, other family and friends, and many loving pets.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Barbara June (Foster) Beard, his children Christy Kay Michelle Harris and Danny of Bowling Green, KY, Cynthia Faye Sharp and Josh of Nashville, TN, Karen Elizabeth Beard and Terry Copas of Hermitage, TN, Jessica LeeAnn Beard of Nashville, TN, and Donald Wayne Jackson Beard of Nashville, TN, grandsons Trinity Kai Sharp and Anthony Trey Sharp of Nashville, TN, loving pets Melvin, Jake, Pugsley, and Chloe, grand-fur-babies Oscar, Susie, Nesta, Baylee, Lilly and Louie, brothers Eugene “Gene” Beard and Enn of Nashville, TN, Arthur “Bubba” Lepley of Nunnelly, TN, sisters Patricia “Pat” Jenkins of Centerville, TN, Judy Adams of Hartsville, TN, and Vickie Rhodes and Steve Birchfield of Florence, AL, brother-in-law Jack Foster and Denise of NY, sisters-in-law Jacklynn Andrus and Toby of TX, Janet Fraser of TN, and Sylvia Kerl and James of TX, lifelong friends Wayne Owens, Tommy Stevenson, and Dale Ivey, and other loved ones.
He is not lost – he is home.
“The pain does not come from letting go.
The pain comes from not letting go when it is time to let go.”
This is not goodbye – it’s see ya later, alligator. We love you.
A visitation for Donald will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Eastland Funeral Home 904 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37206.
A celebration of life will occur Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of Eastland Funeral Home.
Burial will follow the service at Hartley Cemetery 6017 Cross Keys Road, College Groves, Tennessee, escorted by “Larry” of C&L Traffic and Escort.
Pallbearers: Donald Wayne Jackson Beard, Nashville, TN, Gene Beard, Nashville, TN, Danny Harris, Bowling Green, KY, Josh Sharp, Nashville, TN, Terry Copas, Hermitage, TN, Tommy Stevenson, Goodlettsville, TN
Honorary Pallbearers: James Kerl, China, TX, Wayne Owens, Gallatin, TN, Dale Ivey, Nashville, TN
Poppy’s Escorts: Trinity Kai Sharp, Anthony Trey Sharp
Front Escorts: Christy Kay Michelle Harris, Cynthia Faye Sharp, Karen Elizabeth Beard, Jessica LeeAnn Beard
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EastlandFuneralHome.com for the Beard family.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
