James Douglas Beeman's Obituary
James Douglas Beeman passed away peacefully from a respiratory illness with his wife by his side on June 21, 2019, at the age of 70.He was born in Manhattan, Kansas, on December 14, 1948, and moved to Tulsa as a young boy. Jim graduated from Memorial High School in 1966 as part of the third class in the school’s history.He attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he majored in political science and managed the campus radio station, KRNL. It was also there, during a speech class, where he met his soon-to-be wife of 49 years, Liz Beeman.Following graduation, Jim was a disc jockey spinning the day’s hits at KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. But the rock and roll lifestyle gave way to a more stable existence when a took a job in retail and started a family.After successful 11-year career in personnel management at Sears Roebuck in the upper Midwest he moved his family home to Tulsa where he became the President of Beeman Products Co., a specialty building distributor. For more than 33 years he shepherded this successful small business. He served as President of the Oklahoma Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors and was awarded the Roy Martin Golden Hard Hat award for meritorious service to that organization in 1997.Jim was a devoted patron of Union Public Schools where his children attended, and his wife taught English and speech. His involvement included coaching youth sports, moderating candidate forums and serving on long range planning committees. He was instrumental in the planning, building and completion of the Union High School baseball complex.Jim returned to his broadcasting roots as the public address “Voice of the Redskins”, where he called more than 150 Union home football games over a 20-year timespan. In 2015 was inducted into the Union Athletic Hall of Fame.He was passionate about gardening, growing vegetables, Oklahoma Sooner football, golf and fishing. But nothing gave “Sir” (as they called him) more joy than spending time with his five grandchildren – Kathryn, Holly, Cooper, Alex and Annabel.Survived by wife Liz Beeman; sons Jim Jr. (Carrie) of Portland, Oregon, Doc Beeman (Jennifer) of Platte City, MO, Father Daniel Beeman of Norfolk, VA, a Catholic Priest; mother, Florence Beeman; brother William Beeman (Frank Farris); and sister Adele Beeman (Steve Freedman). He was preceded in death by his father, William O. Beeman.His funeral will take place on Friday, June 28, at 10 a.m. at Jim’s home Church of 38 years — First United Methodist, 112 E. College Street in Broken Arrow.His son, Father Daniel Beeman, will preside at the Funeral with Reverend Larry Varvel, assisting.A reception will follow.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Beeman Education Scholarship, c/o Shea Ludwig at the Union Schools Education Foundation, 8506 E. 61st Street, Tulsa, OK 74133.
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