Elda May Beerbower Roark, age 76, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott. She was born May 25, 1946, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Jesse Clyde Newman and Juanita May Workman Newman. Elda first married Cecil Allen Beerbower on October 21, 1961, at Ft. Scott. He preceded her in death on November 14, 1986.
She later married Tommy C. Roark, Sr. on May 26, 1990. He also preceded her in death on June 3, 2010. Elda’s life was one of service to others. She had worked at all Ft. Scott nursing homes either as an aide or in the dietary department. Elda had a keen eye for finding garage sales or thrift stores and was always ready to find a bargain or a hidden treasure. Elda also enjoyed Ft. Scott’s annual Good Ol’ Days celebrations.
Survivors include her five children, Cecil Beerbower of Manhattan, Kansas, Jesse Beerbower, of Ft. Scott, Liz Beerbower also of Ft. Scott, Jeff Beerbower (Anna) of Redfield, Kansas and Nathan Beerbower (Ginger) of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are several grandchildren and a brother, Jerald Newman of Ft. Scott. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Loretta Lynn Beerbower; two grandsons, Blake Beerbower and Timothy Paul Bybee, a great-grandson, Austin Cole Lukenbill, and two sisters, Georgia Endicott and Mary Catherine Newman.
Rev. Marty De Witt will conduct services at 2:00 P.M. Friday, September 23rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from1:00 P.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Elda Roark Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
