Joe Roy Bean

1933 - 2025

Funeral services for Joe Roy Bean, 91, West Plains, Mo., will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Bean passed away Oct. 18, 2025, near West Plains, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Oct. 25, 1933, outside of Bakersfield, Mo., to Raymond and Alice "Faye" Atkinson Bean. Joe was the second born out of eight boys. Joe attended schools at Plum Hollow, Bakersfield Elementary, Hog Danger and Barren Creek, and graduated from Bakersfield High School with a class of 42 in the Class of 1951.

After graduating, at age 17, Joe went to Kansas to harvest wheat for a family friend. After harvest was complete, when he returned home, he had a friend visiting from Belvidere, Ill., and said he would get Joe a job in Belvidere. He went and worked in the tomato factory and at a gas station, but his favorite was Dean's Ice Cream Plant. He had just been promoted when he got the call to be examined for the draft. Joe moved back home and instead of waiting to be drafted, he chose to enlist in the Army.

At the time of enlistment there were only two positions left between him and another young man. After drawing straws, the other soldier got the Air Force and he got the Army. A few weeks later at the end of May, Joe was sworn into the Army in Kansas City then bussed to Camp Crowder, near Neosho, Mo., then bussed to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., for 16 weeks of basic training. Because he had enlisted for three years, he was with a group of soldiers that were ordered to remain in Ft. Leonard Wood for additional training before being shipped to Germany as utility engineers. The two-year enlistees were shipped to Korea.

While stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, Joe would get weekend passes to come home. One of those weekends changed his life forever. Ruth Juanita Driscoll caught his attention while he sat outside the Bakersfield First Assembly of God church during a revival service watching "the show." Little did he know that within a few months' time, he would become a born-again Christian during that six-week revival, fall in love and marry his bride o Oct. 24, 1953. Juanita was his rose in the flower garden of life; they celebrated their 70th anniversary in November 2023 before she passed in January 2024.

On Jan. 3, 1954, he began his 30-month journey to Germany. Joe kept his integrity with the Lord and his wife. He joined an Assembly of God group in Germany and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost while there.

His life as a civilian began Memorial weekend, 1956. Juanita had purchased and furnished a little farm outside West Plains and couldn't wait for his arrival home. His first job was working for an iron ore mine.

In November 1957, he was approached by the Neatherys to work as a lineman at their new business, Community Cable Company. As the radio station tower service and repairman, he climbed many, many towers, having one major fall, but because of a miracle hand of God, he sustained minor injuries. In 1985, Joe sustained injuries while trimming a tree in his spare time. After spending a few weeks in Springfield Hospital and six months in recovery, he was finally able to work again. Robertson-Drago approached him about working for the funeral home. He got his funeral director's license and remained with Robertson-Drago Funeral Home for over 25 years.

Joe was ordained as a minister in the early '80s. He was a faithful lay-preacher, having served as a trustee/deacon in this home church that he helped build, Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle. Joe left for three years to pastor his hometown church, Full Gospel Church, Bakersfield, Mo. Joe faithfully worked, served and ministered every way he could to help establish a conservative, Full Gospel independent work, free from organizational influence. He was a pastor and preacher backer. Thanks to the Neatherys, he was given radio air time during which he led a Sunday morning radio broadcast for many years, along with fulfilling many roles during transitioning of pastors. Being a firm believer in Christian education, Joe helped establish Calvary Christian Academy and CrossRoads Christian Academy, serving on both boards. Other preaching ministries included holding revivals in little country churches in this area. He officiated many, many funerals and a few weddings.

In his spare time, Joe was actively involved as a firefighter, having served with the West Plains Fire Department as a volunteer fireman for 31 years. After his resignation from Bakersfield church, he returned to West Plains and was immediately placed on the board of Howell Rural Fire Department where he remained as president until May 2024. Joe also served as a member of the Fairview School Board for many years. Joe drove cars for local car dealers. He also served in the West Plains unit of the Veterans Honor Guard; it was his passion as long as he could attend.

Joe loved hunting and fishing. While pastoring, he had a boat named "Visitation." As a joke, he would tell how long he'd been out on "visitation." The highlight of his year would be when the Toney family showed up for deer season. Joe and Victor Toney were kindred spirits and enjoyed their time fishing and hunting together.

The children joined to his union with Juanita were their son Michael Joe Bean and wife Paula, Princeton, Ind., their children Johanna (Dominic) Chicago, Ill., Kristin (Collin) Lee Summit, Mo. and Bracy (Briana) Springfield, Mo., and 10 grandchildren Eli, Jude, Ila, CJ, Benny Paul, Gabriele, Juliette, Evelyn, Olivia and James; daughter Tamala Ruth Riggs and husband Ray, West Plains, their child Tabitha (Anson) Miller, West Plains, and three grandchildren Lucas, Liam and Lance; late daughter Anna Rafae Johnston (David), Ontario, Canada, their child Courtney Anne, Ontario, and the late Alicia; their son James Timothy Bean (Judy), Jefferson City, Mo., his children Nathanael (Hailey), Joplin, Mo., and James Martin (Brittany) West Plains, and the late Timberlee and Lathe and three grandchildren Colter, Quinn and Cheyanne; and their son John Mark Bean (Daralena), Slovakia, their children Dara (James) Thomas, Springfield, Dale Joseph (Ellyn) Springfield, Daine (Ashley), Blue Springs, Mo., Danae (Nathan) Coolidge, Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada, and Dessa (Kevin) Godla, Springfield, and 12 grandchildren Winston, Laith, Elias, Hudson, Addelyn, Jack, Maisy, August Jo, Zimri, Thaddeus, Eloise and Jacob.

Joe is survived by three brothers Jerry Bean (Peggy), Douglas (Bonnie) and James "Red" (Mary Lou); three sisters-in-law Dorothy Jo, Ramona and Betty; and In-laws Sister Mary Toney, Jim (Delores) Driscoll and Thelma (Paul) Montgomery.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Juanita; daughter Anna; four brothers Elbert Lee, Russell "Gene" (Paulene), Donald and Lawrence; his in-laws Tommy and Annie Driscoll, whom he loved so much; and a host of family and friends that were awaiting his coming.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday, at Calvary Pentecostal Church. Burial will be in Homeland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post Honor Guard or Homeland Cemetery, and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains. Online condolences may be left at www.robertsondrago.com.