Zachary James Beard

Zachary J. Beard, age 19, of Grant, died March 6, 2003, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born March 27, 1983, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Janette Nielsen and James Curtis Beard. He attended school in Rigby and graduated in 2001. He was raised in Rigby and Idaho Falls, and worked at Kelly Canyon Ski Resort. He was a member of the LDS Church. Zach dearly loved all of his family and friends and the love of his life - Casey. He never said goodbye without saying “I Love You.” He had a heart of gold and a yearning for life’s adventures, always in search of the new. He always loved to hug his family and to be hugged back. He had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed spending time in the mountains, horseback riding, four wheeling and hiking. One of his greatest enjoyments was hunting with his dad and brother, always in search of the trophy of a lifetime. He also loved fishing, even if the catching wasn’t good. Zach sometimes liked being a cowboy and liked roping and tending to cattle and riding his horse. He and some of his closest friends worked on a dude ranch in West Yellowstone, Montana, and also a cattle ranch in Oregon. He loved to just sit, watch and listen to his dad sing and play the guitar. His dad loved doing it for him - when you watched them, you could hear both their hearts sing. To be taken away so early, to miss out on all his dreams, such sadness in all of our hearts - but we know he’s being taken care of by Our Heavenly Father above. Zach will be so dearly missed and never forgotten. Zach, we love you forever! Survivors include his parents, James and Linda Beard of Idaho Falls, and Kirk and Janette Hansen of Grant, sister Heather Beard of Richland, Washington; brother Justin Larry Beard of Grant; Step siblings, Christopher Hansen, Talisa Hansen and Brecka Hansen all of Rigby and Melissa (Darren) Brewster and Kristin Miller of Idaho Falls; nephews Kyler Beard and Jaiden Snyder; Grandparents, Rita and Lyman Curtis and the late John Beard of Idaho Falls, and Larry and Maxine Nielsen of Washington; step grandparents, Florence Walker and Wes Vias of Rigby, DeWayne "Dutch" and Lola Hansen of Rigby, and Gus Palmer of Omaha, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his grandfather John Beard and Uncle Randy Beard. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 10, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. in the Grant Ward LDS Chapel with Bishop Dennis Merrill officiating. The family will visit with friends at the Grant LDS Church on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Grant Central Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby.