Graveside service for Freddy Joe Beard will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 1, 2018 at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Dr. William F. Watkins, Pastor of Locust Grove Baptist Church, east of Lawton officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Freddy Joe Beard, 56, was reunited with his mother and father on Friday, September 21, 2018 at his home in Edmond. Freddy was born at Fort Sill on October 14, 1961 to Luther James and Inez M. (Bjerke) Beard. He was the youngest of five children with three older brothers and one older sister.  For most of his life he lived with family as he was born with Down syndrome. Freddy was a very special member of our family, and had unique relationships with every member.  He loved his brothers and sister fiercely and equally loved his nieces and nephews as the family grew.  He spent time every year meticulously writing everyone's birthday on his calendar, and never forgot to wish us a happy birthday when the day came.

He went to the Greiner School for the Handicapped in Lawton and graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1983.  At the Greiner School, he learned to latch hook rugs, painting, and how to make peanut brittle.  Those hobbies stayed with him throughout his life.  He was an avid bowler and participated in Special Olympics for many years.  He loved football especially the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys.

In his later life, he moved to Edmond to live with his brother Gordon.  In Edmond, he worked for The Meadows for 16 years and received an award for the employee of the year.  He enjoyed his work there and made many friends and participated in many walk-a-thons fundraising for the Meadows.

He is survived by three brothers and a sister: Dwight Beard and wife Vonny of Edmond; Gordon Beard and wife Janet of Edmond; Inez Lewis and husband Wayne of Temple, Texas, and Marion (Butch) Beard and wife Joan Hunt of Lawton.  He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Olympics or The Meadows Work Shop in Edmond.