Richard "Dick" Gates Bean Sr.

Richard Gates (Dick) Bean, Sr. of Roswell, N.M., died peacefully the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, at the age of 90, while watching the Dallas Cowboys football game.
A lifelong resident of Roswell, Mr. Bean was born on the family farm to the late Robert Perry Bean, Jr. and Verda Lee Gates Bean, on Dec. 1, 1918.
In his youth, Mr. Bean had an extensive paper route throughout Roswell, and was a master tennis player. He also served as the fingerprint technician for his father, who was the sheriff of Chaves County. Mr. Bean graduated from Roswell High School in 1936. In 1942, he graduated with the highest honors from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He then attended the University of Arizona School of Law, graduating second in the class in 1946. Mr. Bean then returned to Roswell to begin his 63-year practice of law, first in the field of family law and then later in estate planning and trusts.
Mr. Bean was elected to two terms as the Roswell City Attorney in 1952 and 1954, and was the president of the Chaves County Bar Association in 1953 and 1954. He was also on the school board from 1959 through 1965, and was a county commissioner of Chaves County from 1974 to 1976. In 1995, at the age of 76, Mr. Bean was elected Chaves County Probate Court Judge, serving two consecutive, four-year terms. Mr. Bean was fondly known as "Mr. Democrat" in Chavez County.
Mr. Bean was a member of the Chaves County Bar Association and was active in the Roswell Sertoma Club for more than 60 years, receiving the Service to Mankind award in the 1970s. He served on the boards of the Roswell Humane Society and the Roswell Boys Club. Mr. Bean has collected vintage cars and was an active member of the Valley Vintage Antique Car Club.
Mr. Bean is survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha Winder Bean, and their children, son Richard Gates Bean, Jr. and his wife, Lynda, of Harker Heights, Texas; and daughter Martha Lee Bean of Allen, Texas. He is also survived by his three grandsons, Richard Gates Bean, III, Taylor Rhea Bean and Morgan Alexander Bean, all of Harker Heights. Mr. Bean also is survived by four nephews, R. Perry Bean, IV and his wife, Sue, of Midlothian, Texas; William W. (Tad) Osborn and his wife, Kim, of Roswell, N.M.; John Winder and his wife, Patti, of Pullman, Wash.; and Jim Winder and his wife, Katrina, of Hillsboro, N.M. Mr. Bean also is survived by four nieces: Patricia Bean Mason and her husband, Ben, of Taos, N.M.; Janet "Enid" Osborn-Schneidemen and her husband, Jay, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; Louise Long of Las Cruces; and Nancy Winder-Mitthof and her husband, Axel, of Viola, Idaho. Also surviving Mr. Bean are his sister-in-law Hermie Childs Bean Davis of Midlothian, Texas and his adopted son J. T. Bowyer, his wife, Iris, and daughter Lindsey of Harker Heights,.
Mr. Bean was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert Perry Bean, III, and his nephew Richard Terry Bean.
Pallbearers were J. T. Bowyer, William W. (Tad) Osborn, Ben Mason, Kenny Forrest, Greg Eiffert and Parker Eiffert. Honorary Pallbearers were Senator Timothy Z. Jennings, Tom Jennings, Robert Chewning, Morgan Nelson, Lowell Davina, Joe Phillips, Lowell Hughes, Stan Santheson, James P. Johns, Tim Whalen, Charles Chewning, John Bonds and all members of the Chaves County Bar Association.
Services for Richard Gates (Dick) Bean were held Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 at First United Methodist Church of Roswell, New Mexico. Interment immediately followed the services at South Park Cemetery in Roswell. Preceding the services, family and friends were invited to a luncheon at the First United Methodist Church.
All funeral arrangements were handled by LaGrone Funeral Chapel in Roswell. Memorial Donations may be sent to either the Cowboy Bell Scholarship Fund at First United Methodist Church in Roswell or to the Roswell Humane Society.