John Dee Beasley

John Dee Beasley, Sr. Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him Papa. John Beasley, age 93, a native of Texas and resident of Austin died Monday, March 15, in Austin. He was born March 18, 1910 to Bonnie Angie Tucker Beasley and Don Kirk “DK” Beasley in Overton, Texas, and was raised by the Lawrence Family of San Marcos before going to live with his father in the same city. He worked with his father in the construction business where he gained his love for construction, especially concrete, which is evidenced by the numerous structures he created that his family will cherish. He married Catherine Richards on Nov. 17, 1933. During the major portion of his life, he was President of H. Richards Oil Company and Capital City Oil Co. of Austin. H. Richards Oil Co. is a distributor in Austin and Central Texas of Chevron, Texaco, Shell and other products. It got its big break when it received the contract to furnish fuel and lubricants on the Mansfield Dam job at Lake Travis in the mid-1940’s. The company built its reputation on excellent service with top grade products which it still does to this very day. During this time it has been considered a pioneer in the distribution of diesel fuel after it is re-filtered by its own unique process which produced a reliable, high grade fuel for many projects in Central Texas such as Interstate Highways, IH10 and IH35 plus many others. Capital City Oil Company is a local distributor of Phillips 66 products. He was a member of Austin Masonic Lodge #456, Austin Scottish Rite, Ben Hur Shrine Temple where he served as Potentate in 1973, and a Past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Shrine Children’s Burn Hospital in Galveston. He is survived by his son John Beasley, Jr., and his wife Ramona, two daughters, Martha and husband Leonard Neeper and Sue and husband Dr. John Watson. He is blessed with 9 grandchildren, Cathie and husband Gary Ricks, Brenda and husband Major George Kelling, Len Neeper and wife Lori, Johnise and husband Scott Stamper, Renea Beasley, Sharri and husband Doug Poor, Dana and husband Greg Rively, Christina and husband Jimmy Jordan, Connie and husband Greg Julian. Also surviving are 17 great-grandchildren and extended family, Dorothy Hutchison, Virginia Olson, Lillian Richards, Janice Jackson and husband Will, Jimmy Richards and wife Catherine and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Catherine and sister Imogene Beasley. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 18th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 19th at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas with the Reverend Ron Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons-in-law. Memorial contributions may be made to St. David’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 315, Austin, TX 78767, The Shrine Children’s Burn Hospital, c/o Ben Hur Shriners, 3851 Airport Blvd., Ste. 105, Austin, TX 78722, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com