Christopher Moody Beyer

Christopher Moody Beyer, 46, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on February 16, 2015, in Katy, Texas. Chris was a 1986 graduate of Second Baptist School. In 1994, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas State University. He worked as an administrator and client relations specialist at Interface-Samaritan Counseling Centers in Spring, Texas.

Chris was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, on April 28, 1968, a beautiful Sunday morning when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. An ancient nursery rhyme says, “But the child who is born on the Sabbath day/Is fair and wise and good in every way.” The truth of this adage was evidenced by Chris’ guiding principles of love of family, loyalty to friends, faithfulness to his morals, and kindness to others.

Chris had the gift of enjoying life’s ordinary blessings. He derived great pleasure from things musical and literary, often attending concerts, collecting guitars, craving entertainment, and reading voraciously. If something was hilarious, witty, or related to Cheap Trick or Elton John, Chris was there and contributing his own verse! He was an amazing cook, constantly wowing friends and family with treats from his stovetop, oven, grill, and smoker. Chris had a life-long passion for all things mechanical. As a boy, he spent happy hours on his Honda ATV, motor boating and water skiing on Lake Travis, and operating heavy equipment on his grandfather’s farm in Taft, Texas. As a man, he amassed an encyclopedic knowledge of the automotive world and relished driving off-road in the five (count ‘em!) Jeeps he owned over the years, attending vintage auto shows to admire classic Jaguars and Duesenbergs, and traveling to Indy Car and Formula 1 races with his dad. Chris adored his niece and nephew, Chloe and Quinn Beyer, and he delighted in showering them with perfectly chosen birthday and Christmas gifts. More than anything, Chris loved his college sweetheart and wife, Kathy Gallas-Beyer. Together with their many rescued four-legged children, they crafted a home of creativity and cuisine, humor and hospitality, and loyalty and love. Just like that nursery rhyme, Chris lived to promote fairness, practice wisdom, and seek goodness. He was a sweet, gentle soul, was greatly loved, and will be greatly missed.

He was predeceased by his grandparents Moody and Adele Beyer of Taft and Quentin Auldon Bradley of Portland, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Gallas-Beyer, his parents, Stanley C. and Shirley Beyer of Houston; his brother Charles Auldon Beyer, nephew Quinn, and niece Chloe of Katy; grandmother Olga Bradley and aunt Unita Shell of Bel Air, Maryland; uncle Douglas and aunt Marilyn Hart of Taft, Texas; cousins Commander David Stevens, M.D., USN, and wife, Cathy, and Pam Stevens of Corpus Christi, Greg Shell and wife Patty of Friendswood, Texas, Brad Shell and wife Lisa of Kernersville, North Carolina, Brian Shell of northeast Maryland, and Dale Shell of New Castle, Delaware.

The period of visitation will be held Thursday, February 19, 6-8 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home (13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77079). The memorial service will take place Friday, February 20, 11:00 a.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church (10221 Ella Lee Lane, Houston,Texas 77042). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 or the charity of your choice.