Marjorie Pierce Beard

Marjorie Pierce Beard, age 91, of Austin, Texas died on May 7, 2016. Marjorie was born November 9, 1924 in Dallas, Texas to parents Graham Harry and Mary Leona Horton Pierce. Upon her parents divorce in 1930, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, Andrew Johnson (Andy) and Martha Elizabeth (Bess) Byrd Pierce, on their farm on Preston Road, north of Dallas. She attended school at Richardson, Texas where she graduated from high school in 1942.

In the fall of 1942 she moved to Austin, Texas to attend The University of Texas, living with maternal aunt and uncle, Hugh and Lee McCormick, and cousin Mary (Lewis), during her freshman year. While a student, she worked part-time as a clerk for the Bureau of Business Research, in Waggoner Hall, under Dr. Buechel and Dr. Cox.

In her sophomore year she met Thomas Kelbert Wood from Richland Springs, Texas, an engineering student in the Naval ROTC program at UT. Tom received his Navel commission in 1944 and was sent on active duty in the Pacific. Marjorie remained a student at UT. While on leave a year later when his ship was in dry-dock at Hunter's Point in San Francisco, California, Tom Wood, Lt (j.g.) and Marjorie married in the First Methodist Church at Richardson, Texas.

After the war, Marjorie and Tom returned to Austin for Tom to finish his highway engineering degree. In the meantime, he started to work part-time for the Texas Highway Department, where he continued his employment after graduation. Tom eventually became District Engineer of the Austin area, following Ed Bluestein, and continuing there through his long ordeal, and eventual death on March 14, 1971, of kidney failure.

In 1974, Marjorie married Leo Roy Beard, a professor of civil engineering at UT, in Water Resources. She is survived by her children, Charlie & Patricia Wood Fowler of Richland Springs, Texas, Oscar & Phyllis Kay DeVaux of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Kent & Ann Wood Bonner of Richland Springs, Texas, Thomas Kelbert, Jr. & Kim Wood of Austin, Texas; step-children, James & Patricia Beard Huntzicker of Portland, Oregon, Thomas & Mamie Beard, of Reno, Nevada, and James and Susan Beard of Woodburn, Oregon; 22 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.

Marjorie is a member of the University United Methodist Church, in Austin, where she joined as a student at the University of Texas, in the early 40's. There she has been active in United Methodist Women, serving as President 1980-1982, as well as being a member of the Couples Plus Class – serving as President in 2003. She is also a charter member of the Auxiliary to the Travis Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers – President 1960-'61. Other organizations are: West Lake Hills Garden Club – President 1980 –'81; P.E.O, Chapter FK – President 1991-1993; Daughters of the American Revolution, Austin Colony Chapter; and the University of Texas Ladies Club.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe Street. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive in Austin.