REV. ORBY RAY BEARD

EAST PRAIRIE -- The Rev. Orby Ray Beard, 79, of Dyersburg, Tenn., formerly of East Prairie, died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 1990 at the Methodist Hospital in Dyersburg, following an extended illness.

He was born Sept. 29, 1911 in Columbia, Ky., to the late Rudolph and Clemie White Beard. He married Edith Webb on Aug. 26, 1936 in Grange City, Ky. She survives.

He was a minister in the Christian Church for 58 years, 14 of those years at the First Christian Church in East Prairie. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Dyersburg.

Other survivors include three sons, Errol David Beard of Dayton, Ohio, Donald Webb Beard of Dyersburg and Gary Ray Beard of Memphis, Tenn.; one brother, Richard Beard of Indianapolis, Ind.; one sister, Ina Neal of Columbia, Ky.; and two grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by one son and one sister.

Friends may call today after 6 p.m. at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church in East Prairie. The Rev. Howard Thomure will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg.