Cheryl L. Beard, 74 of Bluffton, passed away on Monday afternoon, Sept. 7, 2026, at her home in Bluffton.
Cheryl was born on May 19, 1952, in Fort Wayne, to Franklin James and Alice M. (Kreiselmeyer) Loftus. She graduated from Heritage High School in Monroeville, Ind. in 1970. She furthered her education for one year at Ohio State University. She worked as a seamstress and certified nursing assistant in Ohio, Texas and Indiana for a total of 10 years. Cheryl enjoyed sewing and embroidery. She loved baking and making homemade bread. She was known to have a green thumb when it came to gardening. She was also involved in scrapbooking and liked to make homemade cards and candles that she often shared with her neighbors at Christmas time.
On Sept. 5, 1986, Cheryl and Rev. David S. Beard were married in Fort Wayne. The couple served the Church of God together, taking them to Illinois, Missouri and finally to Bluffton, Ind. in 1996. The couple shared more than 31 years of marriage together before his passing on Jan. 9, 2018.
Survivors include her children, Michael W. Beard of Ossian, Elizabeth L. (Beard) Kahn of Bluffton and Christopher S. Beard of Bluffton. She was a loving grandma to seven grandchildren, Donovan, Mackenzie, Kylie, Zoey and Charlie Beard, and Victoria and Alexandra Kahn. She is also survived by her siblings, Mark (Linda) Loftus, David Loftus and Karen Lauer, all of Fort Wayne.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Franklin and Alice Loftus, her husband Rev. David S. Beard, a stepson and a brother, Dan Loftus.
As Cheryl requested, no formal service is planned at this time.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends are welcome to share online condolences with the family at www.thomarich.com.