Joyce Ann Beard

Funeral services celebrating her life will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Pastor John Whitten. Interment will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories in the Companion Garden. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024 from 6-8:00 PM at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.

Joyce was born on September 24, 1962 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to the late Arthur Fritzhof Behring and Harriet Lavonne (Wold) Behring. As a child she learned endurance and perseverance, two traits she carried throughout life. She graduated from Washington High School in 1980 and went on to attend nursing school. She graduated from South Dakota State University’s acclaimed nursing school in 1984. Francine Pierce recruited her immediately after graduating. Sight unseen she came to Abilene and began a long and productive career as a nurse. Once she arrived, she joined Pioneer Drive Baptist Church where she became involved with the singles ministry and met Bill Douglas “Doug” Beard, who she went on to marry and have five children. She worked as a charge nurse at Hendrick Medical Center from 1984-2004. From 2007 until 2019, she worked at Hendrick Medical Center South, formerly known as Abilene Regional Medical Center. Joyce took her career as a nurse seriously and excelled in proficiency as well as leadership. Many of her colleagues became like family to her. She received the Patient Choice Award while at Abilene Regional. She balanced her career as well as raising five children. She often worked 60-hour weeks and demonstrated a work ethic not many could match. When not busy, she enjoyed reading and family trips back home to South Dakota. Joyce and Doug remained active members of Pioneer Drive raising their children in the church. She will be remembered for her strong will and her devotion to God and to her family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Doug Beard; her parents, Art and Harriet Behring and her in-laws, Bill and Alice Beard.

She leaves to cherish precious memories, her children, Brittany Helmick (Dakota), Brandon Beard, Bethany Manry (Jacob), Brianna McCarson (Dalton), and Nathan Beard; cherished grandchildren, John Wayne and Kylie Faith Helmick and Issabella Renè Manry. She is also survived her siblings, Julie Wilson, a two time breast cancer survivor (something Joyce was proud of), Fritz Behring and Deborah Reese; one aunt Frances Winter; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and colleagues and friends.