Benjamin Colby Beard

Benjamin Colby Beard, 32, of Parkdale, died Thursday, September 19, 2024, in Le Roy, Kansas as the result of an industrial accident. Colby was born in Monticello, a former resident of Portland for most of his life and a resident of Parkdale for many years. He was a 2010 graduate of Hamburg High School and a member of the Portland Baptist Church. Colby was a hard-worker and had worked on the pipeline for a few years before he started at MasTech, a utility construction company, as a truck driver hauling equipment and parts. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hanging out at the Portland Camp and Longshot. Colby loved spending time with his family and friends, but his daughter was the love of his life.

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Joe Abraugh; his paternal grandparents, Earl Pittman Beard and Mary Catherine Beard; two uncles, Scott Beard and Billy Beard; two aunts, Kathy Sivils and Karen McCain Abraugh and two cousins, Randy Abraugh and John Sivils.

He is survived by his daughter, Whitlee Kate "Bug" of Oak Grove, Louisiana; his mother, Dewanna Abraugh Beard of Crossett; his father, Joe Beard of Parkdale; his sister, Kenzie Young and husband, Brian, of Portland; his maternal grandmother, Alice Abraugh Oden of Crossett; four uncles, Johnny Beard of West Fargo, North Dakota, Troy Abraugh and Larry Sivils both of Wilmot and Steve Beard and wife, Joanna, of Oak Grove, Louisiana; his aunt, Cindy Deshazo of Wilmot; two nephews, William and Henry Young and numerous cousins and friends.

Funeral services are 10 a.m., Monday, September 23, 2024, at the Portland Baptist Church with Bro. Mark Harris officiating. Burial will be in the Portland Cemetery. Pallbearers are Parker Rosson, Ryan Grantham, Clifton Barry, Steven Sadler, Brad Gee and Holden Rutledge. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, PO Box 2222, Little Rock, AR  72203. 

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.