Elizabeth M. Beard

October 5, 1923 - August 27, 2015

Elizabeth M. Beard (Libby), 91, of Brookdale Place, Cincinnati, OH passed away on Friday, August 28, comforted by the presence of her family. Born October 5, 1923, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of Dr. Hugh W. MacMillan and Floy Johnson MacMillan. A 1945 graduate of the College of Wooster, she received a Master of Arts degree in 1947 from the University of Cincinnati. Elizabeth began her career in education, teaching at St. Timothy’s in Catonsville, MD during the fall of 1948. On December 17, 1948 she married Dr. Jared Spencer Brown and moved to Arlington, VA in the summer of 1949 while Dr. Brown completed his Navy assignment at Walter Reed Medical Center. She moved to Mercersburg, PA in 1950 and resided there until 1960 when she moved to Strafford, PA. In 1961 she moved to Chambersburg, PA. Following Dr. Brown’s death on July 13, 1963, Elizabeth returned to Shippensburg University for the purpose of renewing her teaching credentials, then resumed her career in 1964 with the Chambersburg Area School District, teaching American History at the Chambersburg Area Senior High School until her retirement in June 1986. During that time she also served as the American Field Service advisor and class advisor. Elizabeth married Robert J. Beard, Sr. on July 31, 1968. They celebrated 31 years of marriage until his death on October 18, 1999. During that time they lived not only an active marriage together, which included traveling and many memorable fall weekends supporting the Penn State Nittany Lions, but they continued to devote their attention to setting a strong example for their five children and later their children’s spouses and their children. Following her retirement in 1986, Elizabeth shared many enjoyable days organizing eventful AARP’s bus tours as well as serving as a patient advocate at the Chambersburg Hospital and sitting on the Village Square Residence Council. Elizabeth was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Chambersburg until 2010 when she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and became a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. In addition to her first and second husbands and her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Bruce G. MacMillan and Dr. Robert Johnson MacMillan and a daughter-in-law, Susan G. Beard. Surviving are her brother, Dr. James E. MacMillan of Athens, OH, her five children: Robert J. Beard, Jr., Hagerstown, MD; Dr. Spencer A. Brown (wife, Roxane), Cherry Hill, NJ; Bruce W. Brown (wife, Scotty), Williamsburg, OH; Marianne H. Lord (husband, Gary), Cincinnati, OH; and David M. Brown (wife, Patti), Loomis, CA; nine grandchildren: David Beard; Tamina (Brown) Crook; Keersten (Brown) Friedricksen; Amy (Brown) Taylor; Corrie Lord; Jared Lord; Benjamin Lord; Kelsey (Brown) Boyte; and Austin Brown; and five great grandchildren: Robbie Beard; Christopher Beard; Gavin Crook; Maddox Crook; and Wyatt Taylor. A memorial service for Elizabeth will be held on October 18 at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati with the Rev. Nancy Ross - Zimmerman officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Mercersburg, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church, 703 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231 Arrangements are by Sellers Funeral Home Inc., Chambersburg, PA 17201 and the Gwen Mooney Funeral Homes, Cincinnati, OH 45223 Online condolences may be shared at: www.springgrove.org or www.sellersfuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth M. Beard, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.