Frank A. Beardsley, Jr., M.D. was born July 8, 1925 in Clinton County Hospital to the late Frank A. Beardsley, Sr. and Mabel (Peterson) Beardsley and died peacefully on November 29, 2021 at Wesley Manor at age 96. He lived a long and full life filled with much happiness and devotion to family and community. He was rarely seen without a smile on his face, and he lived his life with optimism even through life’s hardships.
Frank was a product of Riley Elementary School and graduated from Frankfort High School in 1943. He served as an Ensign in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. On June 17, 1948, he married Maryann Burge, and they enjoyed 66 years of marriage through her death on January 10, 2015.
Frank graduated from Wabash College in 1949 where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. His medical education was at Indiana University Medical School where he graduated in 1954 and interned at City (now Eskanazi) Hospital in Indianapolis. He began the practice of medicine in Frankfort in 1955 and would continue his career as a physician in service to his cherished patients through his retirement in 1991. He truly loved the practice of medicine and his patients, and practiced in various areas of medicine including emergency medicine, obstetrics, and anesthesia in addition to his primary practice in Family Medicine in which he was one of the early doctors to be board certified in that specialty. He worked tirelessly for his patients including countless house calls at all hours of the day, and he especially enjoyed caring for mothers and babies in delivery (for which they would express their gratitude for the remainder of his life).
Throughout his time in Frankfort, Frank was devoted to his community. He was a member of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and a deacon. He served as President of Frankfort Kiwanis Club and Frankfort Country Club and was a director of Lincoln Federal Savings Bank and the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the American Legion, Moose, Elks, Masons, and Symposiarchs, and played in the Fun Time Band. Other significant civic contributions included founding of the Frankfort Medical Clinic, establishing the Key Club at Frankfort High School, and participated in the organization of Habitat for Humanity of Clinton County. He was honored as a Clinton County Gem in 2013 and was inducted into the Frankfort High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.
Frank was involved in many interests including golf, woodworking, playing the tuba for over 80 years, music especially big band music of the 1940s, RVing with Maryann and friends, and countless Indiana University football and basketball games. He also was a devotee of legendary Frankfort basketball coach Everett Case and frequently gave programs on his life and career.
Visitation and Services
Visitation will be Friday, December 10th from 4-7 p.m. at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort and Saturday, December 11th from 10-10:45 a.m. at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 352 W. Clinton St., Frankfort, with funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Private family burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Clinton County, 1100 W. Green St., Frankfort, IN 46041.
Survived by:
Frank is survived by his sons, Richard (Dianne) of Carmel and Steven (Teresa) of Frankfort; his grandchildren, Matthew (Kristen) of Frankfort, Andrew (Theresa) of Zionsville, Margot (Taylor) Clark of Carmel, Natalie (Pete) Kostroski of Minneapolis, MN, Carl (Capri) of Scottsdale, AZ, and Meredith (Michael) Nekolite of Noblesville; 16 great-grandchildren; and 7 nieces and nephews.
Preceded by:
He was preceded in death by his wife Maryann, sister Betty Hamborsky, and brother John Beardsley, M.D.
Steve, so sad and sorry of your Fathers passing. He was a man I respected.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSuch a great Doctor and wonderful person, my condolences to your family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Frank was a great friend and a magnificent person. We shared many wonderful times together. Doc was one of God’s special persons. Will miss you.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWe were very blessed to have him as our physician and delivered our children. When I worked at the pharmacy we worked well together for the good of all patients. He truly will be missed.
Condolences to the family,
Gary and Beverly Stewart
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDoc was one of the kindness, most gentle man I have ever had the pleasure to know… he touched so many lives and this community is a better place because we were blessed to have Dr. Frank Beardsley living in it!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleHow do I say thank you for being a wonderful mentor to me in our medical careers. I was blessed to have several conversations with you recently. God put you on this earth to take care of people and for that we were blessed. May God put his arms around all of your family and may you and Maryann go dancing again.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Frank was an inspiration! He had such a positive outlook on life and always had a smile on his face. We are so sorry for your loss. He will be greatly missed.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleRick, Dianne, Steve, and Theresa: When I heard of your loss, my heart went out to all of you and the family that will miss him so much. Your father was always a delight to be around, as was your mother, and I know he leaves a space that can be filled with many loving memories and anecdotes. I for one will always remember him, after decades of marriage, referring to MaryAnn as his bride and the way she would beam back at him when he did. Their kindness to me was always much appreciated. My thoughts and prayers are being sent your way.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMy prayers go out to his family at this time. What a wonderful man Frank was. My brother Tony and I was his first set of twins in 1957. And Doctor was there for my first son. I have many fond memories of this great man. So many blessed to have know him.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI remember going to see Dr. Beardsley as a kid. He was such a nice and caring person. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWe greatly enjoyed Frank as a person, our Doctor and our friend. His loving spirit drew everyone to want to be in his presence. His healing touch lifted up our hearts and minds. This world needs so many more like him. Rest in Peace thou good and loyal servant.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI was addressing my Christmas cards this evening, and for some very spiritual reason, I googled your Dad before addressing his card, only to learn of his death. Please know the influence that your parents Frank and Marianne had on my life was significant!
Sue Anne
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Facebook Twitter GoogleOur sincere condolences to the Beardsley families. We are very sorry to hear of Doctor Beardsley passing.
He was a very kind man.
Sincerely,
The Baker Family
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Frank Beardsley was a wonderful Doctor, Friend, Confidant and Mentor. He was a significant reason why I came to Frankfort to practice medicine. After recruiting me he was always around to discuss anything you could want to know. He told the best stories in the Doctor’s Lounge and always knew the back story of what happened in Frankfort. My life has been infinitely richer because of my association with him.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSorry to the Beardsley family for the loss of a great man.
The Walter and Lynn Long family
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI had the pleasure of working with Dr. Beardsley for several years. He also delivered my first born. He was a remarkable human being, doctor and friend. He loves his wife, Maryanne and his family so very much. Dr. Beardsley will be missed by everyone who knew him. Very sad for all of us. But he is now with the love of his life. God bless you. Sending prayers to his family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSorry for your loss. What a sweet guy.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Beardsley was a true GEM, and the Frankfort community was blessed to have him. It’s true, he was never without a smile and if he ran into you outside his practice, he remembered you and greeted you like an old friend. I cherished the time he was my doctor and know that heaven is much richer with Dr. Beardsley there. My condolences to his family and loved ones. His, will be some real tough shoes to fill. God Speed Doc.
Irene Booth
Phoenix, AZ
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Facebook Twitter GoogleYou will be missed Doc. Thank you for the many laughs and smile and talks we had. My condolences to your family
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Beardsley and family. So sorry to hear of the passing of your father. What an amazing man. Thinking of you. Blessings, Pam Smith
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSteve, Matt and the Beardsley Family we are so sorry for your loss. His footprints in our Community are large and enduring as he enriched other folks lives with his efforts. Seemed like whatever community service work I was doing Frank was already there or in the vicinity. May we all be inspired anew by his legacy. Rest in peace Sir.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleRick & Steve,
I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. I always enjoyed any opportunity that I had to spend with your mom & Dad. You were both blessed to have him in your life for such a long time. I will pray for you and your families.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleA thankful heart for this true gentleman and wonderful physician. They simply don’t have to many physicians like this anymore. He was my physician for many yrs as a kiddo and I just loved him. My heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Frank Beardsley.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleA thankful heart for this true gentleman. They simply don’t have to many physicians like him anymore. He was my childhood physician and I just loved him. My sincere condolences to his family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSo sorry to hear of Dr. Beardsley passing, he was our family doctor for many years. He delivered all of our children. Always had a smile on his face. A very kind gentle man. Our prayers to the family, Bill & Lou Ray
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWhat a marvelous guy we’ve lost and what a life he lived. My thoughts and prayers go out to you boys and your families. Doctor B will be missed. He was so instrumental in helping get Pat into Med school and Pat so admired and considered Doc one of his idols. May God bless you all.
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Facebook Twitter GooglePrayers for the family. We have great respect for Dr. Beardsley. Such great memories both from the hospital and the Fun Time band. He was loved by so many.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleFrankfort was truly blessed to have Dr. Beardsley. What a rich and selfless life he led. He touched so many lives including mine. My thoughts are with all the family.
Priscilla Hardesty Holder
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWith our deepest heartfelt sympathy, from Steve & Peggy Rozzel
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Facebook Twitter GoogleCondolences on the passing of “Dr. Frank”.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Beardsley was a true Friend and Dr. to us. He delivered both of our daughters, came to our home when I was so sick I couldn’t be on my feet 8 miles away and such a jovial man, we loved him dearly! Sincere sympathy to all the family!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time, Susie McQueen Surber
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Facebook Twitter GoogleVery sorry to her of Dr. Beardsley’s passing. My condolences to the family. Dr. Beardsley delivered me and my daughter, and was our family physician until his retirement. He was a wonderful caring man.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Beardsley will be greatly missed. He definitely brought light and joy to all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Beardsley family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleRick,
Your dad’s life reads like a good book. I wish I had met him.
Skip Tucker
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Facebook Twitter GoogleOh my goodness. What a man! He was our Dr. When I was young. My mother also. In her older years she would tell him he was the best looking Dr. in town. He would sort of laugh and blush at the same time. I never read about a man that did so much in his life. I’d say he was a SUPER man. My name is Marilyn Leonard Nall. My mother in-law, Dora Nall, did your grandfathers laundry and took care of their kids during the day time. When Dora had her last child and already had 3 girls, not expecting a boy. So she named him Frank Robert Nall. So my husband is Frank Robert Nall. We are SO proud of his name and all he accomplished. I have 7 flower beds around our house. I was out by the street at one of them. Frank and his wife pulled up on the wrong side of the street to get close and I believe it was a light yellow car. He looked at me and said “Ugliest yard in town.” We all laughed. Loved them both.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI was so sorry to hearing of your father’s/grandfather’s passing. He was a true legend in the Frankfort community and touched the lives of many people. He will be missed.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Beardsley was my grandfather-in-law, and I cannot say this about too many people, but he was truly a wonderful man. I started dating his grand daughter over 20 years ago, and apparently he just thought that made me an automatic insta-grandkid, because he treated me no different than any of the others from the very first moment I met him. I have really sat and pondered this, and I cannot remember ever “getting to know him,” because he just skipped straight to grandpa status from day one. I did absolutely nothing to earn this special treatment, so I can only assume that he was amazing in his treatment of many, many other people as well. Gramps was one of those old men who walked around happy every single day that he lived. I only saw him a handful of times each year, and it was a rare occasion if he didn’t spontaneously break out into song. I’m fairly certain I will live my whole life and never reach that level of happiness where I can’t help but just start singing out loud at random times. I know he is singing with the angels in heaven now, and that should give all of us here on earth a great deal of hope. Thanks for everything Gramps, I will never forget you.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDr. Beardsley was a neighbor, friend, mentor and remarkable person to my family for all the years we knew him and lived near. He rescued each of the 5 Scheid kids from many “emergencies” and saved Sandy’s life in 1977, for which we remain grateful forever. He stood by us and many more as a man of God and honor. Dr. Frank was a dear friend to my father to the end. Thank you for a lovely example!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSo sorry for your loss and my prayers go out to the Beardsley family for strength to get you through this time of sorrow.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMy condolences to you and your family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSteve and Matt, John and I are so sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather. I so enjoyed reading and rereading his life story. What a joyous man! It sounds like you are blessed with many wonderful memories and I know those memories with produce joy in the hours of sorrow. Prayers for comfort and peace.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSteve & Rick,
Some belated thoughts as I catch up on things from California – You know I thought the world of your parents and loved visiting them whenever I got back to Frankfort, especially when I was back taking care of my Mother, Helen Derrick Smith Woodruff. (Heaven must be swinging now!). Hope to hoist one with you in Frank & Maryann’s memory next time I’m “Back Home Again In Indiana”. All the best to you and your families. Chuck Smith
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