Dorris Beard

January 16, 1937 - April 23, 2015

Mr. Dorris L. "Rose" Beard, age 78, beloved husband of Marie Peach Beard, and a resident of Columbia, passed away early Thursday morning, April 23, 2015 at Life Care Center of Columbia, after a brief week-long stay. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 3:00 PM in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Bro. Joe Bowers officiating. Entombment will follow in Maury Memorial Gardens Mausoleum adjacent to the funeral home with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will receive friends on Saturday, prior to the service from 1:00 until the service hour. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Born on January 16, 1937 in Spring Hill, TN, Dorris L. "Rose" was the son of the late Ernest Leslie and the late Mary Agnes Jenkins Beard. He was a 1955 graduate of Spring Hill High School, and he proudly served his country in the National Guard. He worked as a repairman for Columbia Gulf Transmission until his retirement and was a Mason for over fifty years. His hobbies included hunting and fishing, especially at Clear Creek Lake in Giles County, and also collecting knives. Dorris loved sports of all kinds and was an avid jogger. He married the love of his life, Marie, in 1958, and they spent 57 wonderful years together. He lived by advice given to him years ago, "Don't ever marry until you find someone you think more of than you do yourself." Dorris was a man of integrity, compassion, and huge heart. He was once asked what his dream vacation would be, and he said he wished he could take every underprivileged and abused child in his community on a vacation and give them the love they lack. He will be remembered as a great man of character who loved his family and community deeply. He summed his life up with one word that speaks highly of the kind of man he was; he said he was "satisfied." In addition to his wife, he is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, as well as several great-great nieces and nephews. Extended family also survive. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers: Leslie, George, Vernon and J.B. Beard; sisters: Mae Inman, Virginia Beard, Margaret Carney, Betty Beard, and Odell Sullivan. Pallbearers will be great nephews: Shane Barnhill, Robbie Barnhill, Will Brasfield, Joseph Shapiro, Austin Collier, and Rob Hall. All other nieces and nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Maury Regional Medical Center and Life Care Center of Columbia, with special thanks to Dr. Hrishi Kanth and Dr. Megan Rahmlow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Theta Methodist Church at 881 Carters Creek Pike, Columbia, TN 38401.