Wayne Beeson

Wayne Edgar Beeson was born August 17, 1925 in Cassville, Missouri to Della Josephine and Roy Kenneth Beeson.  Wayne was the seventh of fourteen children, who were all born at home.  He passed from this life on August 18, 2022 surrounded by his family and friends.  Wayne’s family and friends were able to celebrate his 97th birthday before he went to heaven.

Wayne was no stranger to hard work.  As a boy, he helped with many chores on the family farm.  In his teen years, he had to leave school in order to go to work on the farm.  In 1941, at age 16, he and two brothers broke out 100 acres of virgin farm land with a team of horses, a 12-inch breaking plow and a one row cultivator in order to grow a corn crop.  They were successful.  During WWII, Wayne enlisted in the Army and was sent to Fort Fannin, TX for infantry training.  Through a series of fateful events, Wayne missed being shipped out to the South Pacific for combat.  He completed his military training at Fort Dix, NJ before being sent to Germany where he served as a gunner in a tank platoon.  Wayne was very proud of his military service to his country.  He proudly flew his American flag outside of his home every day.

After the war ended, Wayne and the same two brothers left Cassville to farm a plot of land his father had bought near Golden City, MO.  It was here he met and married Virginia Alice Windes on October 14, 1950.  After droughting out on the farm, and losing all their cattle one night in a lightning storm, the couple moved.  One of Wayne’s older sisters worked in Tulsa for Warren Petroleum, and Wayne was offered a job if he would move to Hobbs, NM.  “Where the hell is Hobbs, New Mexico?” he inquired before they set out.  Wayne worked at that petroleum plant for 33 years before retiring in 1985, beginning as a mechanic and ending his career as the Maintenance Supervisor.

Wayne was an avid quail hunter.  He taught his sons, sons-in-law and grandsons how to hunt quail.  He enjoyed many hours with them hunting the best places in Lea County to find birds.  Wayne was a great marksman and didn’t waste shells.  On one hunt he downed 22 birds with only 23 shots.  Another passion was baseball.  As a young man he played with his brothers on farm teams around Missouri where they most often were the winners.  He played semi-pro baseball for a time.  Wayne was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.  He continued to watch and root for them in his later years with Virginia by his side.  Many hours were spent coaching Little League teams that his sons were on.  He coached both of them and taught them both how to be good pitchers.  He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Hobbs for over 65 years.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 68 years, Virginia, ten siblings, and one grandson, Travis Beeson of Dolores, CO.  He is survived by his children, Larry Beeson (Claire) of Charlottesville, MO, Pam Tabor (Cas) of Carlsbad, NM, Penny Norris (Bubba) of Hobbs, NM, and Mark Beeson (Barbara) of Dolores, CO; six grandchildren, Nikki Salameh (Sam) of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Kyle Tabor (Jowanna) and Sean Tabor (Amanda) of Carlsbad, NM, Derek Norris (Katie) and Bruce Norris (Dani) of Knowles, NM, and Ryan Beeson of San Marcos, TX; six great-grandchildren, Bay and Skye Salameh of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Kiera, Jenson, Ben and Aydree Tabor of Carlsbad, NM, Cash Norris, EmmaJane and Arabelle Norris of Knowles, NM; three brothers, Don Beeson of Cassville, MO, Mitchell Beeson of Monett MO, and Chuck Beeson of Tulsa, OK, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Wayne’s wonderful neighbors, Mike and Lisette Cowger, and Ora and Gabe Melendez; his loving caretakers, Maria Moody and Paulie Gladden; plus all of the EMTs and emergency room staff at Lea Regional Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.