Joan Irish Herron Beard

Joan Irish Herron Beard, of Curtis, Arkansas, the Curtis Postmaster, passed away.

Joan was born on October 13, 1927, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and died on September 29, 2026, in Brandon Florida. She was the daughter of the late Joe and Althea Neel Irish of Richwoods, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her baby daughter, Ann; sons, Steven Howard Herron and Troy Mike Herron; her first husband Harris Herron; and her second husband, Wallace Beard.

She is survived by one son, H. Terry Herron of Brandon, Florida; sister, Jimmy Caldwell of Vivian, LA; two brothers Jerold Irish and his wife, Martha of Fairview, Texas and Johnny Ray Irish and wife, Maurice of Bridgeport, Texas; two grandsons, Jared Herron of Brandon, Florida, Mr. and Mrs. Corey Herron of Havana, Florida; granddaughter, Jessica Herron of Pasadena, California; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Herron Walton of Arkadelphia; seven great-grandchildren and one step-grandson in the Herron family.

She also survives step-sons, Mark Beard of Gum Spring, Arkansas, and Lennie Beard of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; and Guen and Vicky Beard of Alexander, Arkansas.

Joan was a lifelong member of the first Baptist Church of Curtis where she taught Sunday school for the children.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, October 9, 2026 at Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel. Funeral services are 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 10, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Curtis. The pastor of the First Baptist Church of Curtis, Reverend Jeffrey Murphy and Brother Johnny Irish will be officiating the service. Burial and final resting place will be at Richwoods Cemetery in Richwoods. Pallbearers are Jared Herron, Corey Herron, Rodney Beene, David Caldwell, Charlie Caldwell, and Troy Tucker. Honorary pallbearer is Cameron Beene.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Curtis, Arkansas.

Arrangements are by Smith Family Funeral Home- Arkadelphia/Ruggle-Wilcox Chapel, www.smithfamilycares.com.