Dan Francis Beauchamp

Dan Francis Beauchamp was born on December 29, 1931 and transitioned home on May 3, 2018 at age 86. Dan was born in Falls County, specifically in Cego, Texas, to Arthur B. Beauchamp and Agnes Duke Beauchamp. He grew up a rural area, and was raised a country boy with his siblings, brother, Scotty Wayne Beauchamp and has one younger sister, Winona "Wendy" Marschel of Austin. Dan's father Arthur was a sharecropper, and the family planted crops and picked cotton on a farm. For entertainment on the farm growing up, Dan and his sister would dance. Arthur was also a brakeman for the railroad and later worked for the city of Houston, where the family later moved.

Dan had a very challenging childhood with significant health issues. In the first grade he was diagnosed with Osteomyelitis of the bones, which required 7 major surgeries by the time he was 17 years old. The first of these surgeries began with his pelvis and femur and he lived in a body cast for a good while. While he was in the cast, his only way to get around was to scoot on his bottom as he couldn't walk at all. At 9 years of age, Dan had to learn to walk again. During this period, Dan missed quite a bit of school. In the 3rd grade, Dan was diagnosed with Polio, and Dan states that if it weren't for his mother Agnes's good care, he never would have recovered. It speaks on Dan's resilient character that he overcame all these obstacles and while in school in Houston worked in a skating rink and became a accomplished skater.

Dan was known as a people person, outgoing, and a cut-up by his family and friends. He loved skating and dancing. Dan and his brother and sister, and best friend Brian, ran around in a large group of friends that went to the skating rink and afterwards would visit the Pig Stand. The family car was an old Model A Ford had a wooden backseat and floorboard that was built by Dan and his brother Scotty. All the girls thought Dan was a handsome with pretty blue eyes.

Because of Dan's work ethic, he began working as an apprentice in the printing industry, where he developed a close friendship with Charlie Franklin. One day Charlie's wife, Ola Mae and daughter, Sarah Ann came to pick Charlie up. Dan walked outside to meet them and fell in love with Sarah. They were married 37 years until Sarah's passing. After seven years of marriage, Dan and Sarah adopted their only child, Debra Lynn. Dan was a good husband and Dad. He taught Debra how to be independent, resilient, athletic, a nature lover, and strong core values of being honest, standing up for what is right for herself and others, and taking care of family and friends.

Dan and Sarah opened a small, mom and pop OffSet print shop named Austin Litho Service in 1968. In 1983, they decided to sell the business to spend more time together due to Sarah's illness. Dan and Sarah were true Soulmates. They spent all of their work and personal time together enjoying each other's company. After selling the business, Dan went back to work for the University of Texas printing department. He retired from U.T. in 1993. Prior to Dan and Sarah selling their business, their nephew (by marriage to niece Brenda Yancey), Richard Whiteaker worked for them for many years. Dan closed the office daily from noon to 1:00 to eat and play dominoes. It was said by Dan that Sarah was Dan's "social secretary" at Austin Litho Service. Dan had the technical knowledge and Sarah had the people skills to run a successful business together. Dan and Sarah did offset printing for many artists and musicians and Hippies, including many for the Armadillo World Headquarters. They had company Christmas parties and lake parties for their employees. Dan and Sarah worked so hard at Austin Litho, that dinners with Debra were often at Convict Hill Jim's or Joey's.

One of Dan's greatest accomplishments was that he and Sarah's father, Charlie, built a 32 foot houseboat from the ground up by themselves in the backyard. They ordered and followed a set of blueprints. Twenty-two months of nights and weekends it took to complete the houseboat named "Slowpoke". Once the boat was finished, it took a trailer designed for double-wide mobile homes to haul it the one hour trip to Lake LBJ for its maiden launch in 1965. As they launched the boat, Ola Mae looked at Debra and said, "let's cross our fingers on both hands and pray that it floats". The thought that it might not float had never crossed Debra’s mind as a 5 year old.

Dan, Sarah, and Debra spent many years at Lake LBJ at Sunrise Beach with close family friends, the Ellerbee's (Ray, Toni, Tom, Tim, Teresa, and Tracey). They went boating, water skiing, swimming and riding motorcycles as well as playing cards and dominoes. Many hours were spent at Aunt Ellen's house at Sunrise Beach. One of Dan's favorite activities was to go for boat rides at night under the stars.

After Sarah's passing, Dan worked for Richard at Richard's print shop named Graphic Arts. Dan did this after hours from his job at U.T. Dan went with Richard and his two sons, Tommy and Robby to Hawaii. Richard and Brenda have been very good to Dan and Debra.

After Dan retired from the University of Texas, he moved to Spicewood where he resided for 20 years. He then moved to Buda 7 years ago and lived at the Creekside Villa senior apartments where he made many good friends including his girlfriend, Bea. During this time, Dan attended many dances with his dance partner, Betty. They often went to hear John Hanson with Legends in Time band. Dan loved to dance the Two-Step, Waltz, and the Jitterbug. He loved country and western music. John Hanson gave Dan the nickname "Dancing Dan". Dan and his sister, Wendy continued to dance throughout his life. They won a Jitterbug contest once. Dan loved watching western television shows and movies like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Little House on the Prairie and was never seen without his cowboy hat and boots, he was a sharp dresser. He read every Louis L'Amour novel and his bible regularly. He loved Willie and felt a kinship with him because they were both country boys. Some of the attendants who cared for Dan called him "Cowboy" as well as "Dancing Dan". In the last year, Debra's good friend Betty had breakfast with Dan regularly and they became good friends.

Dan and Debra spent quality time together and got closer over the last seven years as she was his very dedicated primary caretaker.

Dan was a Christian man and his favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. For 20 years, he was a member of the Spicewood Baptist church attending a couple times a week and enjoying singing hymns.

Dan has gone home to join his Soulmate, Sarah; his parents; his brother Scotty; nephew Bruce; his favorite dog Duke; and his Granddog ZEN. Dan was survived by many nieces and nephews, in addition to Debra and his sister, Winona "Wendy" Marschel. Dan was a good husband, father and man of faith who has gone home to the Lord.

A Celebration of Dan's life will be held at 1:00 PM, on Friday, May 18, 2018, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.