Helen M. Beard

Helen M. Beard, age 90, of Mountain Pine, died Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Hot Springs, AR. She was born December 23, 1932, in Howard, Kansas, to Maudie Muriel and Lawrence Dow Beard.

Helen served in the U.S. Navy for four years as a Radioman and Cryptographer. She worked as an Airline Stewardess for two years with Ozark Airlines which was based in St. Louis, Missouri. She then entered college and earned her Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees from Florida State University. Helen was Associate Professor at California State University at Los Angeles and later co-owned a retail business in Upland, California. She worked for the State of Arkansas with the Department of Human Services serving as a case worker and then supervisor in Children and Family Services. Helen headed up the Adoptions and Substitute Care unit for the state of Arkansas in Little Rock, and subsequently returned to Northwest Arkansas where she became the Benton County Administrator for the Department of Human Services.

Helen lived her life in the service of others. She will be remembered as resourceful, resolute, wise and generous. When she disagreed with you, she was neither abrasive nor belittling, but she also had a quick wit and could deliver a joke with a perfectly straight face. Above all, Helen was a good friend and a good person whose contributions continue to be felt by many. She will be greatly missed.

She has resided in Kansas, Washington, Missouri, Oklahoma and California prior to making her home in Gentry, Arkansas in 1978 and moving to Mountain Pine, Arkansas in March 2007.

Helen was preceded in death by her mother, Muriel Hooker, father, Lawrence Beard, stepfather, Harmon Hooker and brothers, James D. Brewer (Tiny) of Ritzville, Washington and Joe E Brewer of Auburn, Washington and her nephew, Mark Brewer.

Survivors include her companion and best friend, Patricia Heacock of the home and five nieces and nephews and their families, and many loving friends.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Davis[1]Smith Funeral Home of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 610 E. Emma, Springdale, AR 72764, CHI St. Vincent Hospice - Pallative Unit, 300 Werner St. Hot Springs, AR. 71913, and Arkansas Hot Spring Hospice, 508 Ouachita Ave, Suite A, Hot Springs, AR 71901.

Guest registry is at www.smithfamilycares.com.