John Herschel Beard, 71, passed away peacefully in his garden Saturday, June 18, 2022. He was born to the late Norvell Ayres Beard and Mary Margaret Beard on August 6, 1950 in Madill, Oklahoma.
Herschel graduated from Madill High School in 1968 and moved to Stillwater to study at Oklahoma State University. He was a member of the Cowboy Marching Band and Phi Gamma Delta, where he made many lifelong friends. Herschel completed his Master’s degree in Communications from OSU and returned to Madill to work with his father in the family title company in 1975. He married Sue Jennings of Sulphur on June 12, 1982 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman. Wade Jennings Beard was born in 1983 and John Thomas Beard followed in 1986. Herschel worked at Marshall County Abstract Company and Marshall County would not be the same without his dedication to the company and community, and his knowledge of the County was unsurpassed. In 2020, he was excited to celebrate and honor his family’s legacy of being a family owned company for 100 years.
Pops dedicated his life to serving his family and community. He was active with the Madill First United Methodist Church, Fran Drummond Madill Community Day Care Center, Madill Rotary Club, Madill Art Club, Bread of Life, Santa’s Elves, Oklahoma Land Title Association, American Land Title Association, Phi Gamma Delta, OSU Alumni Band, and Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. His activities brought him an immense amount of joy and energy. He loved seeing his community thrive. Pops never missed his sons’ athletic events or band performances. He was in the stands for every OSU home game when Wade was drum major, and has continued his support for the Cowboys every year since. He served as President of the Fiji parents club at OU while JT was in school. His parents instilled in him an understanding of service to his family, his community, his church, and his country. He never wavered in his duty to this service.
Herschel spent countless hours serving the title industry. He served as OLTA president in 1992 and on several committees in Oklahoma and nationally. In 2008, he was appointed by then-Governor Brad Henry to the newly created Oklahoma Abstractors Board, to which he served eight years. Herschel served on the American Land Title Association Board of Governors from 2009 to 2013.
Herschel was highly artistic and creative. He enjoyed his painting class every Wednesday, and taking Jack and Henry to the Art Club to do arts and crafts. Gardening and taking care of his plants brought him much joy. He loved to cook and entertain for friends and family any chance he got. His generosity and support were unmatched as he gave without question to serve God and others.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sue Jennings; son, Wade and his husband, Bobby of Oklahoma City; son, JT and his fiancé, Jenny of Norman; grandchildren, Jack, Henry, and Melody; loyal companion, Reese; sisters Mary Beth Scott, Jane Papke, and Nancy Kerr; several nieces and nephews; and countless close friends and colleagues.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm with a family hour from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Funeral service will be 2:00 pm, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church in Madill, Oklahoma. Steven and Wanda Littrell, Larry Bauman will officiate the service. Music by Dick Jennings, Patty Tickel, and Elizabeth Scott. Interment will be at the Oakland Cemetery, Oakland, Oklahoma. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
Casket Bearers: Logan Beard IV, Martin Self, Dan Little, Robert Keating, Lynn Windel, Nelson Reid, Keith Long, Mark Bilbrey, Tray Collier and Steven Ortloff
Honorary Bearers: Bryan Thomason, Alan Ortloff, Floyd Miller, Gary Ayres, Steven Fooshee, Logan Beard III, Frank Crabtree and Madill Rotary Club Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Madill, Oklahoma or the Fran Drummond Day Care Center, Madill, Oklahoma
