Mitch Beard

Mitchell "Mitch" Beard, of Ringgold, Ga., passed away Thursday, May 22, 2014, from injuries he received in a motorcycle accident. He was 24 years old. A longtime resident of the Chattanooga area, Mitch was a 2008 graduate of Tennessee Temple Academy where he played football and baseball. He was a combat-decorated U.S. Marine who served in Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the following citations: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, Rifle Qualification Badge (Sharpshooter). After his service to our country, he returned home to work with his father in the family business, Alpha Services. Mitch is survived by his parents, Jill and Steve Beard; sister, Chelcee Beard; grandparents, Sharon and David Blaser and Sandra and Charles Beard; uncles, Jim Beard, Philip Beard, and Steve Blaser. The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel in Hixson and 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday at Life Spring Baptist Church, 1701 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421. A celebration of Mitchs life will follow at 11 a.m. on Monday at the church with Rev. Kevin Skogen and Dr. Jeremy Wallace officiating. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Mitchs name to the Wounded Warrior Project, 223 Rosa L. Parks, Avenue, Suite 301, Nashville, TN 37203 or to the PTSD Foundation of America at www.ptsdusa.org. Arrangements have been made by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.