Page 391 - Foy

RUBY MYRTLE FOY was the fourth child of ROBERT HENRY FOY (brother of our JOHN
ELON FOY) and LOUISA CHOATE.

This is the story of two valiant people who were born before the turn of the 20th century.
They witnessed the transition from the quiet country life of horse and buggy days to mans
conquest of outer space.

LEE ROY BEARD and RUBY MYRTLE FOY were at a fourth of July picnic at Pleasant Grove
Church, Limestone County, Texas in 1914 when they decided to elope. LEE rented a buggy
and drove as fast as he could to the County Courthouse in Groesbeck, Texas. They were
married by the Justice of the Peace that afternoon.

From the time they were married, RUBY worked along side LEE in everything he did.
LELDON FOY BEARD was born to them July 12, 1918. The little family decided to move to
Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas. In September 1918 they boarded a train for a new life.
Happiness and prosperity followed that lasted all their lives.

LEE found work on the railroads and oilfields. They lived at first near the railroad and then
on the Boda place and in 1919 moved to the Luhn house on the Blasdel place. This beautiful
early Texas house was on the banks of the Brazos River just across from the site of old Fort
Bend. It was here ELOUISE BEARD was born on an icy day, January 8, 1920. Here, also, was
born ROBERT LEE BEARD on May 29, 1921. In 1922 the family moved to 1207 Main Street
in Richmond, Texas.

After a year or so the family moved to Rosenberg, Texas where LEE was elected to weigh
cotton at the rail yards. The family prospered and they bought their first home and their
first car, a Ford Touring Sedan. Their house was located at 1203 Forth Street and cost
$2,900 in 1926. LEE went into several other businesses; a music store, selling victrolas,
confectionary, selling ice cream and sodas, and an M-System Grocery Store.

The grocery business was to be LEE’s and RUBY’s greatest effort. They opened the L.R.
BEARD GROCERY & MARKET in 1933. They weathered the depression because of the oil
boom in the area.

LEE and RUBY raised their three children, sent them to college (LELDON to Texas A&M;
ELOUISE to Texas Women’s University, and ROBERT to Baylor) and saw them married and
raise children of their own. LEE and RUBY worked long, hard hours but they never faltered.
In 1951 they sold the grocery store.

After a vacation trip to New York and Canada to visit LELDON and MARGIE BEARD, they

BROTHERS & SISTERS OF JOHN ELON FOY 36