Boyd M. Beasley Sr.

Mr. Boyd M. Beasley Sr., 69, died suddenly on Thursday, February 12, 2009. Services were held at Vaughn-GuynnMcGrady Funeral home in Hillsville, Va. Boyd was laid to rest in the Thomas A. Beasley Cemetery. Son of the late Darcy and Sylvia Beasley, Boyd was born in Welch, W.Va. but lived most of his life in Virginia. He was raised on the family farm in Hillsville, Va., and after graduation from high school, Boyd headed off to the Army and then to King College to pursue an undergraduate degree. In 1964, Boyd married Gail Young Funderburk. They had three wonderful children, two daughters, Lauren and Darcy, and one son, Boyd Jr. After starting his career in banking, Boyd earned a Master's degree in Banking from LSU. Working for nearly 40 years in the banking industry, Boyd and his family lived in Washington and Winston Salem, N.C. and Richlands and Waynesboro, Va. During his time in Waynesboro, Boyd was a charter member of the Fall Foliage Festival Board of Directors. After retiring from the banking world, Mr. Beasley and Gail moved, in 2006, from Waynesboro to Winterville, N.C. to be nearer to family. He was as comfortable working outdoors as he had been working in a boardroom. Whether it was antiquing, golfing or playing poker, Boyd was most at home spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed sharing stories of his adventures over a cup of coffee with an old friend or with a stranger he had just met. Most of all, Boyd enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and filling their heads with laughter and song. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Gail Funderburk Beasley, of Winterville, N.C.; daughter, Lauren B. Cooper and husband, Rodney, of St. Augustine, Fla.; son, Boyd M. Beasley Jr. and his fiancée, Charlene Felstead, of San Francisco, Calif.; daughter, Darcy B. Adee and husband, Kevin, of Winterville, N.C.; grandchildren, Ariel and Hayley Cooper, Drake and Blaire Adee, stepgrandson, Jacob Adee; sisters, Thelma B. Pippin and husband, Kenneth, of Glen Burnie, Md., Joleen B. Kyle and husband, Joe, of Canton, Ga., Carol B. Martin and husband, Robert, of Dublin, Va.; sister-inlaw, Alva Beasley, wife of deceased brother, Odell, of Hillsville, Va.; many beloved nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial donations may be given in honor of Boyd Beasley Sr. to Thomas Beasley Cemetery, c/o Effie Thompson, Treas., 242 Killinger Creek Rd., Rural Retreat, Va. 24368.