Gary Bruce Beard

Gary Beard, 67, of Essex Junction, VT passed away peacefully on April 9, 2021 at his home, surrounded by his family. Gary was born in Laconia, NH on May 30, 1953 at the motorcycle races to Harlan Beard and Lucille "Bunny" Bigras. He was raised in Chelsea and Barre before settling in South Burlington. Gary graduated from South Burlington High School in 1972. After graduation, he served in the United States Navy. Upon completion of his service to the Navy, Gary became an iron worker and a certified crane operator for local companies, having worked on several of the larger buildings in New England. Gary married Mary Robinson on August 5,1989. He was an avid swimmer in his younger days having spent many summers with cousins in Nantucket. Gary was also an outdoorsman. He loved to fish, camp, canoe and explore the Vermont countryside bottle digging with "Bottle Buddies". Gary enjoyed the antique business either buying or selling. He was a wealth of knowledge on Vermont bottles and antiquing, forming many friendships along the way. Gary is predeceased by his father Harlan, mother "Bunny", and father-in-law Hank Robinson. Gary is survived by his wife Mary Robinson Beard, and was proud of his two sons, Luke and Connor, his sister Lynn and her husband Allen and family, his sister Annette, his brother John and family, his mother-in-law Patsy Robinson, several nieces, nephews, in-laws and numerous close friends. There will be a Celebration of Life later in the summer when family and friends can gather. That date will be announced here.