Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Beard Sullivan

Mary Elizabeth Beard Sullivan was born March 18, 1911, in San Antonio. Her parents were Dick W. Beard and Elsie Rutledge Beard. The family relocated to Fort Worth and bought a home on Orange Street – home base for many years.Her father was in the petroleum business and was transferred to Jacksonville FL when Elizabeth was a teenager. She graduated from high school there and the family returned to Fort Worth the next year.She enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, where she majored in math, made straight A’s, earned a Phi Beta Kappa membership and enjoyed watching her big brother, James Blanton Beard, play football for the Texas Longhorns . She met a fellow student, A.L. Sullivan, at the Methodist Bible Chair (student center). They became engaged, graduated from college in 1935, got jobs in the Fort Worth area and married in 1936.World War II years were difficult for everyone. For Elizabeth, it meant losing her younger brother, Dick W. Beard Jr., in overseas battle. She was thankful to welcome her husband home safely from his time in the Army.As she and Sully were raising their children, Carol and Skip, Elizabeth volunteered at Sunday School, scouting, PTA and other activities.She retired in 1976 from teaching trigonometry and algebra at Paschal. Sully retired that year from his position as a biochemist for the Fort Worth Water Works. They enjoyed grandchildren, church activities, playing bridge, baking treats for friends and volunteering at Masonic Home and School. In any area they volunteered, they worked on establishing college scholarships for students.They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1996. Sully died in 1997. Elizabeth continued tutoring math (at no cost) for many years. She enjoyed memberships in the Fort Worth Woman’s Club and several retired teachers’ organizations. She was a lifelong member of University United Methodist Church.Her favorite things included family, friends, parties, mystery novels, quadratic equations, musical theatre, writing poetry, enjoying Dr. Peppers, and watching the Texas Rangers.She died November 1,2017 at the home of grandchildren Randall and Debbie Taylor in Las Cruces, NM.Survivors include a daughter, Carol (Robert) Taylor of East Wenatchee WA; a son, Glen (Kay) Sullivan of Portland, TX; six grandchildren, Christy Bayly of Vancouver, WA, Richard Taylor of Liberty Lake, WA, Randall Taylor of Las Cruces, NM, Ryan Taylor of Brush Prairie, WA, Connie Schafmanof Clarkston, WA, and Michael Sullivan of Kennet Park, PA; 14 greatgrandchildren; several nieces and nephews,