Velma Beardsley, 82

Velma L. Beardsley, 82, of White Pigeon, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Garce Healthcare in Three Rivers, following an extended illness.
She was born Sept. 5, 1934, in Pineville, Ark., a daughter of Arbille and Fannie Marchant. She was an Elkhart, Ind., resident from 1950-1972, and a resident of St. Joseph County since 1972. She was a homemaker and retired from Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She attended Fairhaven Baptist Church.
On Feb. 6, 1950, she married Melvin Beardsley in Morelee, Mo. He died Aug. 30, 1989.
She is survived by her children, Helen (Mitchell) Whitman of Constantine, Carl (Doris) Beardsley of Sturgis, James (Jane) Beardsley of Reading and Tammy (Leon) Tessman of Litchfield; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Carol (Wayne) Hensley of Phoenix; a brother, the Rev. Cecil Marchant of Edwardsburg; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Joyce Smith; a sister; two brothers; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from noon-2 p.m. Friday, April 28, 2017, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will begin at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ken Gill officiating. Interment will follow in White Pigeon Township Cemetery. Donations may be directed to the funeral home