Tara Emerson Beeney, 41, of Pekin passed away at 10:48 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2010, at Pekin Manor in Pekin.
Born April 6, 1969, in Sterling to Lonnie and Barbara (Potts) Emerson, she married Ron Beeney on Sept. 19, 1994, in Eureka.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Ernest and Mildred Emerson; and her maternal grandfather, Kenneth Potts.
Surviving are her father, Lonnie (Joan) Emerson of Eureka; her mother, Barbara Emerson of Melbourne, Fla.; her daughter, Liberty L. Rhoades, and Liberty’s half-sister, Bailey Rhoades, both of Pekin; her maternal grandmother, Audrey Potts; Ron Beeney; her mother-in-law, Flavia Rhoades; mother- and father-in-law, Judy and Marion Beeney; Ronnie Rhoades, Liberty’s father; and two stepbrothers, Mark (Kimberly) Leman of Peoria and Jack Leman of Eureka.
Tara graduated from Western Illinois University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement. She was also a varsity cheerleader for Western Illinois University.
After graduation, she began her 18-year career with the East Peoria Police Department as a patrol officer until leaving due to her illness.
She was a member of the New Life Fellowship Church in Pekin.
A visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria.
A service was at 11 a.m Tuesday with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Mark Utech officiated. Burial will follow the service at Kingston Mines Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Harbor Light Hospice Program or to New Life Fellowship Church in Pekin, Ill.
Please visit Tara’s life story at www.RemmertFuneralHome.com.
