James W. Beasley, 77

Funeral services for James W. Beasley, 77, of Gainesville were held Dec. 23, 2014, at Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church with Brother Dale Roberts officiating. Mr. Beasley died Dec. 20 at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

He was born April 18, 1937, in Gainesville, the son of Oda B. and Lucy Jane Coy Beasley. He was raised in the Lilly Ridge area and attended the one-room Lilly Ridge school and then completed two more years of schooling through the American School, a home-school program. He had to quit school early to support his family.

His first job was driving a truck for Ray Wallace Livestock Co.
At a music party, he met Janetta Fern Miller, who thought he was the best mandolin player she'd ever seen. They were married Oct. 8, 1955, in Gainesville.
They moved to Independence, where Mr. Beasley worked for Butler Manufacturing, making feed bins. After moving back to Gainesville due to layoffs at Butler Manufacturing, Mr. Beasley drove a milk truck from 1960 to 1967.

In 1966, the family moved to the Beasley family farm, where Mr. Beasley worked as a mechanic and ran a dairy operation. The family later transitioned from dairy to beef cattle.
Mr. Beasley had to cut back on his work after suffering a stroke in 1996, but he still ran his mechanic shop, farmed and played mandolin. His increasing health issues led the family to sell their cattle in 2012.
The Beasleys loved traveling around Ozark County and surrounding area playing bluegrass and gospel music with their small group, Happy Hill Bluegrass. They played at church, at nursing home, HOBA, Wagon Wheel and jam sessions at friends' and family members' homes and other sites

Mr. Beasley loved his dogs and cats; if he was in the house, they were in his lap.
Later in life, he enjoyed competing in lawn-tractor pulls and got great joy from the crowd's cheers for him, and also from being involved in a sport he could share with both his sons.
He loved people and enjoyed entertaining; he was known as a great storyteller who always had a smile on his face and a story to tell.

Survivors include his wife, Haretta Fern of the home in Gainesville; two sons, Jim W. Beasley and wife Jan of Mountain Home, and Jerry L. Beasley and wife Sherri of Gainesville; three grandchildren, Jason Pool and wife Melissa, Jarred Pool and Hlaey Beasley; three great-grandchildren, Reagan Pool, Tanner Pool and Paxton Pool; one brother, Orlin Beasley and wife Maxine; one sister, Sharlot Renfro; and several other family members.
Burial was in Sims Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, directors.