George Peter Beam

George Beam, Buzz, Pig Farmer George, was born to Lawrence and Margaret Beam (Cooper) in Yakima, Washington on December 20, 1941. George passed away, July 7, 2023 peacefully in his home after he was told not to die, Dad was never a believer in having anyone tell him what he could or could not do and relished in proving you wrong. George grew up in Yakima and was well known in his youth. If you needed a snake, frog or mouse, George was your guy. Having a coyote for a pet made him a neighborhood favorite due to the nightly yipping and howling everyone within a mile learned to love. Dad never ventured away for long, but knew every nook and cranny of Washington state from the highest mountain to the darkest alley.

In 1963 George joined the Army and served in Nebraska at the Omaha Air Force Station, that’s all “hush hush”, I’ve probably said to much already. George also married Linda Pratt in 1963 and had three children, Beth, Steve, and Jill. Growing up, we saw many adventures and feared Dad's “famous shortcuts.” Each outing wasn’t only lengthy, but was coupled with the prospect of running out of gas. Many of these trips were in poorly maintained vehicles, where baling wire was a key component in its ability to function. Low gear was used in lieu of breaks and we’d always park on a hill so you didn’t need to push to start.

Dad was a self-proclaimed genius at any endeavor that caught his attention. He had a desire to acquire other people's crap through yard sale, dumpster diving or cruising alleys for various treasure. Whenever he hit the motherload, which was often, visions of what he could accomplish drove him to action (for a few days).

George was a great inventor but sadly was born too late in history. 100 years earlier and we would not be reading of Thomas Edison or Alexander Graham Bell. A Google search for Nikola Tesla would come back “who’s that?” Unfettered by the how small the internet made the world, he routinely embarked on new life altering plans and designs only to find they are already available next day on Amazon.

Dad was a very accomplished artist, and was quick to draw a portrait for anyone he met. His ability to transform an everyday situation into a hilarious cartoon was better than most recognized names. He would often parody friends, nurses, coworkers, and employers; walking a very thin line on many occasions.

His devoted wife of 60 years, Linda proceeded Dad in life by twenty short days. She was always the voice that kept him from doing the really crazy stuff. Twenty days without her guidance is more time then I would have betted without her reminders, “George, don’t light that in here. George, take that badger outside it isn’t dead. George, quit poking at that wasp nest. George, don’t use a lawn chair for a car seat etc. etc…” Sorry Mom, we tried to keep him out of your hair for as long as we could.

Dad loved collecting Ellensburg blues and sharing the story of each rock for anyone with an interest or no escape plan. He studied many things in great detail and was a regular at the Selah Library. The Law and natural medicine were subjects he held onto the longest, touting the miracle of stinging nettle tea to his friends, family, or doctors and providing hand written instructions (prescriptions) when needed.

He was always a lot of fun to everyone and being a big kid himself was a special delight to all the real kids around him. He was for sure the original “hold my beer and watch this” guy. 40 years of sobriety only changed what we held while we watched.

Waiting on the other side, is his wife, Linda, parents, Lawrence and Margaret, sister, Pat, brother, Walt. And great granddaughter Angel. Left to oversee and clean up his vast treasures are his children, Beth (Beam) Simmons and husband, Mitchell, son Steven Beam and wife, Mellissa, and daughter Jill (Beam) Burden and husband, Jeff. His grandchildren, Jason Simmons and wife, Ellen, Brianna (Simmons) Ashby and husband, Michael. Megan (Beam) Lesser and husband, David, and grandson, Jacob Beam. Five great grandchildren, Emmie, Alice, Gunner, Kennedy, and Gideon. Nieces, nephews and a bunch of friends that will be telling of his exploits and wisdom for generations.

A celebration of life and Potluck will held at Sun Tides golf course in Gleed on Wednesday, 7/19/2023 at 3 pm. Internment at Tahoma cemetery will be posted at a later date. Flowers or donations are not expected. Bring a story, and pay Georges wisdom forward where you can.

Thoughts, photos and memories can be posted to Dads page at www.keithandkeith.com.

A special thanks from the family goes out the Memorial Hospice Care Team for always being there and to Gene Gandy for his organization skills and dedication to Dads celebration.