Richard Don Beeby's Obituary
Richard Beeby Obituary
Services to honor and celebrate the life of Richard (Dick) Don Beeby will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 28, 2021 in the Chapel at South Tulsa Baptist Church. Dick passed from this life on Monday, January 24, 2022. He was 81.
Richard (Dick) Don Beeby was born September 24, 1940, in Enid, Oklahoma. He was welcomed by parents Arthur and Bernice (Cromer) Beeby and older brother Roy.
Growing up in the rural community of Marshall, Oklahoma, it was there that Dick attended school until his senior year. He had the fortune of growing up with lots of extended family nearby and was very close to his many first cousins. During school, Dick played football, played the trumpet in the band and was active in the FFA program. Through the FFA program, he and his fellow students became quite skilled in both meat and dairy judging surprising students from states known for their dairy products by winning first place at the national level.
Approaching his senior year of high school, Dick transferred to Enid schools where he graduated from Enid High School in 1958. It was there that he met a beautiful young woman and the love of his life, Sondra Hill. The two married on August 20, 1960 and rarely left each others side for the next 61-1/2 years.
Following high school, Dick joined the Army Reserves and began school, in Stillwater, at Oklahoma State University. Following his freshman year he was called to Active Duty where he served stateside for a couple of years, serving much of that time in New York City and Chicago as a food inspector. Once released, he continued his education at OSU and the two welcomed their first daughter. In 1964, Dick graduated from OSU with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Soon after, he and Sondra moved to Tulsa where he began a career with Tulsa Public Schools teaching science classes, first at Burroughs Elementary and later at Lindbergh Elementary. Soon after moving to Tulsa, they welcomed their second daughter. Dick was devoted to his three girls, Sondra, Theresa and Jayme. The family was very active at Calvary Baptist church and later at Gracemont Baptist church where Dick and Sondra taught Sunday school for many years.
Dick always loved school and so, while teaching, he continued his education at Tulsa University obtaining his master’s degree in Education in 1970. He then started work on his doctorate degree and when he learned he would have to stop teaching to complete the degree program and write his thesis on campus, with a family to support he decided to pursue a law degree instead. He would complete Law School at the University of Tulsa, in 1975 and began a private practice, slowing down only as he reached his 70s and continuing to serve clients until right before his death.
Dick’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. Together, they enjoyed many vacations and adventures. The family’s favorite spot was Red River, New Mexico where, for many years, the Beeby’s would spend the entire month of August camping in “hobo camp” surrounded by Dick’s mother and stepfather, his brother Roy and his family, and many other cousins and friends from Marshall. In addition to camping, Dick loved sailing and kept sailboats on Ft. Gibson Lake for many years. He also built a small sailboat that he could sail on the pond in their backyard. Dick enjoyed his dogs, teaching obedience and agility at Tulsa Dog Training Club for many years. He was an avid photographer, always snapping pictures of their travels and building a dark room to share as a hobby with his daughter.
When Jayme and Theresa married, Dick rounded out his family with the addition of two sons and not long after, four wonderful grandchildren. He always enjoyed having the grandchildren over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. He encouraged their education, introducing them very early to computers by ensuring they had fun, educational games to play on his computer whenever they came over. He also enjoyed every aspect of their lives attending countless school and sporting events.
Described as loving, tender-hearted, funny, quiet and intelligent, Dick was well-loved by his family and friends, and he will certainly be missed. His legacy will live on through the lives of those who survive him including: his loving wife, Sondra; his daughters, Theresa Lewis and husband David, and Jayme Bynum and husband Kirk; and his grandchildren Christopher Bynum and fiancé Taylor, Kelsey Call and husband Ryan, Kathryn Bynum, and Justin Lewis and fiancé Josie. He is also survived by numerous other family members, including a nephew, Jim Beeby and two nieces, Nina Cowan and Janet Hicks.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Arthur Benjamin Beeby and Bernice L. Cromer and by his brother, Roy Gilbert Beeby and wife, Patricia Ann Beeby.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Dick’s memory to Samaritan’s Purse. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/memorial-giving/
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