Nancy A. Beard

Nancy A. Beard, 82, died peacefully in her sleep Thursday morning March 30, 2017. Visitation with family 6-8pm, Friday, April 7, 2017 at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West. Funeral service 10:30am, Saturday, April 8, 2017 at First United Methodist Church. Reception/luncheon at church will follow, then burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Nancy was born June 24, 1934 to Robert L. Andrews and Jeannette Y. Andrews in Durham, NC. She studied music performance at UNC Womens College and was an exceptional Pianist and a performing Oboist with the Baton Rouge Symphony. Nancy taught piano privately to young aspiring musicians for many years. She loved nature from the oceans to the mountains and was an ardent birder, with a life list of over 750 birds. She and her husband, Bill, moved to Wichita in 1968, belonged to the Wichita Audubon Society and loved birding together. Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; and her sister, Jean Andrews Jarvis. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Harold L. Andrews (Jeanne) of Chapel Hill, NC; sister, Martha Andrews Taylor (Pete) of Raleigh, NC; two sons, Robert Beard (Julie) of Olathe, KS, and Gary Beard (Mary) of Madison, AL; two grandsons, David Beard and Thomas Beard (Meg) of AL; two granddaughters, Reilly Beard Schultz (Brent) and Madison Beard of KS; two great-grandsons, Luke Beard of AL, and Huxley C. Schultz of KS; three nephews, Ricky Ricks (Lisa), Kevin Andrews (Heather), and Alan Andrews (Kim); five nieces, Holly Jarvis McTaggart, Kristie Jarvis King (Jim), Renee Brooks (Randy), Sharon Morf (Fredi), and Susan Andrews Rodel (Henrik). A memorial has been established with: Wichita Symphony Orchestra, 225 W. Douglas Ave. #207, Wichita, KS 67202.