Shirley Anne (Bales) Beard

Shirley Anne (Bales) Beard, the matriarch of the Sechrest bunch, passed away May 27, 2023, warm in her bed with her daughter by her side in Birch Tree, Missouri, just as she wished. She was born to Lawerence Bales and Gladys (Weller) Bales on May 7, 1937, in Mountain View, Missouri.

Waiting on Shirley in heaven are her husband, Bill Beard; her father, Lawerence; her mother, Gladys; sister, Wilma Grohs; brothers, Charles "Josh" Bales, Jimmy Dale Bales, Lee "Butch" Bales, Leroy "Fatty" Bales, and Gary Bales; two sons, Joe Sechrest and Jack Sechrest; son-in-law, Jim Harding; and along with many other family and friends.

Shirley leaves to mourn her passing her daughter, Vicky Harding of Birch Tree; son, Rick Sechrest and wife, Rose of Mountain View; daughter-in-law, Tonya Sechrest of Birch Tree; brother, Tracy Bales; sister and best friend, Joyce Snell of Lufkin, TX; eight grandchildren, James Harding, Amy States, Angie Sechrest, Jeffery Sechrest, Brandy Underwood, Koty Sechrest, Zach Bryant, and Ryder Sechrest; eleven great-grandchildren, Rylen, Caiden, Braylen, Kendrick, Kye, Drew, Maison, Braelyn, Brycen, Rylynn, and Evalyn; and along with many other family and friends.

Shirley retired from Mountain View Nursing Home soon after her husband's death and moved to Birch Tree to be closer to her daughter, Vicky. She was an amazing baker and baked and decorated many cakes over the years. She loved to read most of the time she would have a book or her tablet in her hands, and Danielle Steele was one of her favorites. Shirley loved being outside gardening, watching her hummingbirds, and even mowing grass when she was able to. She loved watching everything turn green and bloom after a long winter, which she hated. She had a heart of gold, and her positive attitude and humor were contagious until the end. With her health declining in the last few months, Shirley never lost her spirit and appetite. She would often say "I may not know why I died, but it wasn't from starvation." Her humor and one-liners will keep her memory alive.

No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Birch Tree, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.