Keith Stager Beard

Keith Stager Beard was born Keith Joseph Stager on September 7, 1935 in Topeka, Kansas. His father, Keith Clarance Stager, mother Mary Furlow Stager Beard, and his stepfather Ronald Beard preceded him in death. Keith was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict and attended Kansas State University prior to his military duties and after returning to civilian life. He was a dedicated "'Wildcat" and enjoyed visiting K-State for football games. He met the love of his life Narvelle Oglevie and they were married in Norton, Kansas on August 19, 1956. They were stationed at Memphis Naval Air Station before Keith was assigned to the surface Navy. He served aboard the U.S.S Boston, the first guided missile cruiser. Keith began his career in pipeline engineering with Great Lakes Pipe Line Co. in Kansas City. During their long and happy marriage they had two children, daughter Janelle and son Roger. They moved to Tulsa in 1966 when Williams Brothers purchased Great Lakes Pipe Line. He was always proud of the 40 years he spent with Williams Brothers Engineering Company. During those working years he met what became some of his very best friends for the rest of his life He retired in 1996 after suffering his first heart health event. During his working years he was a member of the Tulsa Petroleum Club, Pipeliners Club of Tulsa, Indian Springs Country Club and several industry organizations including the Southern Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, INGA and American Gas Association. During his retirement Keith became very involved in the Tulsa heart health community as a volunteer. He was a board member of the Tulsa Affiliate of the American Heart Association and a national officer and board member of the heart patient support organization, The Mended Hearts, Inc. With Mended Hearts he was responsible for activities in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Keith volunteered in the Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Saint Francis Hospital for 17 years. He was grateful for the relationship he developed, especially with the nurses in Cardiac Rehab, who constantly looked out for his well-being. Both he and Narvelle were volunteer ushers for many years at Tulsa's Performing Arts Center and Tulsa Community College PACE. Keith is survived by a small but very close family, his loving wife Narvelle, his daughter Janelle in Broken Arrow, and son Roger in Tulsa. Memorial service will be 2:00 P.M., Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Moore’s Southlawn Chapel. Moore’s Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at

Keith Stager Beard

September 7, 1935 - March 21, 2014