Richard Walker Beasley

BEASLEY, RICHARD WALKER - born April 25, 1925, in Hinton WV, passed away on Friday, November 7, 2008 at UT Medical Center, CVICU where he received expert care from all involved. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otey Clarence and Hilda Smith Beasley; older brother and sister-in-law, Thomas Hughes and Doris Umbright Beasley; and nephew, Thomas H. Beasley, Jr. Survivors include: wife, Betty F. Vass Beasley and daughter, Jacqueline R.B. Hale (Tom) of Morristown, TN.; granddaughters, Jennifer Buchanan Owen (Robert) of Knoxville, and Stephanie Buchanan (Brooks) West; great grandchildren, Ashley Brooks, Camryn West, and Ethan West of Jefferson City; step granddaughter, Rebecca DeWitt (Jonathan) and step great grandson, Charlie DeWitt of Maryville, TN.; nieces and nephews, Gerald Richard Beasley, Kate Hodge (Steve), Ed Beasley (Karen), Priscilla Fischer (Terry), Mary Pat Beasley all of the St. Louis MO area, John Walker Beasley (Jan) of Hamilton VA., Carl Beasley of Columbus OH, and 4 great nieces and nephews; the Vass family includes sisters-in-law, Marie Bennett (Dewey) of McConnelsville, OH, and Juanita Meador of Hinton WV; nieces and nephews, Pam Shumate (Curtis) of Hurricane WV, Deanna White of Hartland MI, Lisa Ferry (John) of Crown Point IN, Becky Keske of Lime OH, Sherry Bennett of Anna, OH, Renee M. Smith of Hinton WV, Eric Meador of Concord, NC, and Wally Meador of Salisbury, NC, 10 more great nieces and nephews; and one special 1st cousin, Jerry Beasley (Jean) of Hinton WV. He and his family joined 1st Presbyterian Church when they moved to Morristown in 1961. He was a member of the Lions Club in Pearisburg VA., and past band director of the Knoxville Shriner's Kerbela Temple. He was a member of the Nashville Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, past exalted Ruler of Elks, BPOE Lodge #1667, and a member of VFW Post #5266, where he was a Major in the TN Defense Force, and played Taps at area military funerals attended by the local Honor Guard. He was an Army Sergeant in DEML Service during WWII, and was accepted into Officer Candidate School, Battery C, 4th Anti-aircraft training battalion, Ft. Eustis, VA. Mr. Beasley received his Bachelors in Music Education from Concord College, Athens WV on the GI Bill, and was president of Kappa Sigma Kappa, captain of the swimming and diving team, and played trumpet with the Commanders dance band. He received his Masters from ETSU, Johnson City, TN and was a member of the TSSBDA. He was band director in Man, WV for 1 year, Oceana WV for 1 year, Giles Co and Pearisburg VA for 8 years, Morristown TN for 3 years, and Jefferson City/Co HS, Elem., and middle school his last 30 years of teaching, retiring at 70, after teaching and mentoring thousands of students in his 43 year career. His students earned many trophies/top awards in concert, field, and street performances, as well as solo ensemble medals. He was recently honored with a plaque from his Pearisburg/Giles Co. students which read; "This plaque is presented with deep love, respect, and appreciation for teaching us the enjoyment of music, the art of entertaining, the discipline of marching, the thrill of competition, the pride of accomplishment,...you insisted on perfection and accepted nothing less, we thank you with all our hearts. Proud PHS band members 1953-1961." He spent endless hours researching family genealogy, and was a past member of the Knoxville Community Recreation Band, and for the past 20 years played trumpet/flugelhorn in the Walters State Community Band. There will be no funeral services, but friends and students may sign the family guest book at Mayes Family Services at their convenience. His wishes of cremation were honored, and military graveside services will be Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 2:00 P.M. at Mountain Home Veteran's Cemetery in Johnson City, TN, where he will be buried not far from where his father was laid to rest. Family and friends will gather Wednesday, 12:00 P.M. at Mayes Family Services to proceed to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Walters State Community Band Foundation, 500 S. Davy Crockett Pkwy., Morristown, TN 37813, or an organization of the donor's choice. Arrangements by Mayes Family Services, Morristown.