William Charles Beyer

William Charles “Bill” Beyer passed away Monday, July 2, 2012 at the age of 91. He was born in Ferris, Texas on January 5, 1921 to Will and Ella Beyer. He spent his early years in Boerne, Texas before moving to George West, Texas where he graduated from George West High School. Mr. Beyer joined the Marines in 1942 and served in World War II as a charter member of the Third Marine Division. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars for Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the Good Conduct Medal, USMC; the Marine Combat Action Ribbon; the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with Bronze Star for Marianas Islands and Iwo Jima; the Presidential Unit Citation for Iwo Jima; the Rifle-Sharpshooter Medal; and the Pistol-Expert Medal. After returning from World War II, he married Janice Laverne Beyer and they made Kingsville their home. Mr. Beyer spent his entire 39 year career at the Celanese Corporation during which time he traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe to start methanol units for the company. He planted 17,000 oak trees by hand to start a Royal Oak tree farm and spent several decades working to beautify the local area by planting oak trees in and around South Texas, including Kingsville where he planted oak trees along the entire expanse of University Boulevard. After retiring at the age of 61, Mr. Beyer continued to pursue his many hobbies and passions, which later included raising longhorns, farming, and writing articles on numerous topics for the Kingsville and George West newspapers. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and nature enthusiast as well as a member of First United Methodist Church of Kingsville. Mr. Beyer was a wonderful family man who enjoyed traveling the world and great State of Texas with his family.

Mr. Beyer was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janice Laverne Beyer; parents, Will and Ella Beyer; and brother, Walter Beyer.

He is survived by his two daughters, Bobbie (Gregg) Ryan of Kingsville and Jan (Stan) Haun of Rockport, Texas; grandchildren: Heath (Tricia) Ryan, Jason (Sara) Ryan, Michelle (Thomas) Zentner, and Ryan Haun; and great-grandchildren, Hannah and Nicholas Ryan.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Kingsville. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jim Curran officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. at George West Cemetery in George West.

Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.