John William "Jay" Beeler

John "Jay" William Beeler, 69, of Chesapeake, VA passed away on Friday, February 20 after a hard-fought battle of recovery efforts stemming from a stroke in March 2025. "Jay" was born on November 7, 1956, in Akron, Ohio to parents, Col. William and Lollie Beeler. He spent his childhood on the move, attending twelve different schools until eventually graduating at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach in 1974.

Jay entered the Dockmaster Apprenticeship Program when he was 21 and continued in the field for the rest of his life. He served as "The" Dockmaster (just kidding, Eddie!) at Norshipco and BAE Systems for more than 45 years. Jay was known for his incredible work ethic, being a boss committed to the well-being of his employees, and was well liked by everyone he worked with in the shipyard-literally, everyone his family has ever talked to from work!

But, of course, the foundational relationship of his life began when he was forced by friends to sit on a couch at a house party with his wife, Richelle "Shelley" Beeler in 1983. Since then, they've lived in four different homes together, and sat on many of their own couches together willingly for over 40 years. Jay and Shelley went on their first date to Harborfest in 1983 and were married on June 15, 1985. They built their forever home together in 1993, and made a life full of memories and love over the course of 40+ years.

Together, Jay and Shelley have two sons, Joshua Gregory Beeler (39) and Daniel Ryan Beeler (37). Jay was a loving father to both, coached their sports teams through childhood, taught them what it means to work hard at the task before them and how to love your people well, tried his hardest to pass on a love for fishing, and earned a fair amount of payback for his rebellious youth in their childhood shenanigans. He was a wonderful father than continues to be both of their examples for that task today.

In addition to husband and father, Jay was a beloved brother and uncle to many. He was especially proud to finally earn the title of "Papa," and added as much love as he could to the lives of his grandchildren: Aubrey, Brody, and Jayden.

Jay is predeceased by his father (Col. William Beeler) and his mother (Lollie Beeler). He is survived by his wife, Richelle "Shelley" Beeler; his son, Joshua Beeler (wife, Sherry; sons, Jayden and Brody); his son, Daniel Beeler (daughter-in-law, Julie; daughter, Aubrey); his siblings, Lisa Spruill (husband, Clayton), Leslye Greenberg (husband, Bobby); and Ross Beeler (fiancée, Stacey); his in-law siblings, Rhonda (husband, Tony), Somer (husband, Jack), Kisha (husband, Lowell), Kristy (husband, Mike), Ryan (wife, Lindsay); and his numerous nieces and nephews, and extended in-law family.

Beyond family and work, Jay was first and foremost a fisherman. Whether it was shore fishing, kayak fishing, or the occasional boat trip, Jay was as committed to the craft as anyone else. He worked for the preservation of it across habitats, provided for his family through it, and maintained many close friendships with coworkers, family, and friends on those coastal waters. His family is confident that his first and most regular work in the eternity of his Savior Jesus Christ will be the exploration of heaven's new shores.

Special thanks are extended to family and friends who visited regularly, those who stayed with him for extended time in a variety of care facilities, the wonderful staff at Suncrest Hospice, and especially to Rhonda who stayed with him throughout home hospice as his caregiver (and to Tony for letting her stay here!).

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Studly Brewing and Pizza in Chesapeake, VA on Monday, March 9 from 6-9pm. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (cbf.org) in memory of Jay Beeler.