Robert Harlan Beaman was born May 5, 1938, in Bolivar, the son of Roy Fred Beaman and Maude Johnson Beaman. He passed away at 3 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2004, in his home at the age of 65 years, 11 months and 6 days following a lengthy battle with cancer.
He graduated from Bolivar High School, where he was active in the music department. He played a trumpet in the band and was a charter member of the B Bops, one of the few area high school jazz bands. Robert's vocal ability earned him a music scholarship to Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
Robert willingly shared his musical talents in many ways through the years, and his beautiful vocal solos brought comfort to families at many, many funerals until his bout of throat cancer no longer allowed him to sing.
He had been a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar since 1947 and was a deacon, choir member and soloist. He also served as choir director for several years. Robert not only volunteered time at his church, he did so at several small rural churches in the area, doing behind-the-scene jobs as well as providing special music.
Robert began working at the Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and helped set up the dial system for rural areas of the county, then served as central office technician and dispatcher until he retired in 1992.
He held membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge and served in the Missouri National Guard unit in Springfield for several years. As a Red Cross volunteer, Robert helped connect military personnel with families of service men and women.
Robert took pride in his hometown of Bolivar, and he gave much time and energy to making it a better place. He spent untold volunteer hours through the years grooming and caring for Neuhart Park, where the Simón Bolívar statue is located, and he was instrumental in seeing that the Plaza of the Americas project at the park moved forward to near completion.
His civic contributions to the city of Bolivar were endless. He was past president of the Bolivar Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Bolivar Rotary Club. He represented Ward 2 as city councilman for 28 years. During that time his duties included a short period as mayor pro tem, a responsibility he took very seriously. Council duties included service on a variety of committees, though Robert's primary interests were the finance commitee, on which he served as chair for many years, and the airport committee. He was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board, both prior to and after his service on the council, and was still a member of that committee at the time of his death. He also served as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Polk County Health Center for more than 20 years and was chairman of the board at the time of his death.
Robert didn't always approach issues like others might, but he earned the respect of his peers for his sincere concern about what was best for the city.
Like all of us, Robert had his faults, but he had a soft heart. He was at his best when he was quietly doing things to help others - things that probably only those involved may ever know about. Robert was loved and he will be sadly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy F. Beaman, who died when Robert was only 10 years old; his mother, Maude Johnson Beaman; a son, Edwin; a grandson, Brady; and two brothers, John Fred and Charles.
Robert is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Deanna Beaman of Buffalo; three grandsons, Joshua, Dalton and Gavin Beaman, all of Buffalo; a sister, Mary Sheets of the state of Pennsylvania; a special friend, Pat Hood, who has given loving and devoted care throughout Robert's illness; a sister-in-law, Betty Beaman of the state of Rhode Island; a friend, Max Haning of the state of Texas; and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.
Services were Monday, May 3, in the First Christian Church of Bolivar with the Rev. Jerry Book and the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Music was provided by JoBeth Maas, pianist. Casketbearers were Nick Maas, Gary Short, Bill Barnhouse, Donnie Brannon, Lewis Stoufer and Stanley Shobe. Honorary casketbearers were Martha Gilliam, Kelly Raney, Jean Raney, Mary Thiessen, Larry Phillips, Lowell Inman, Charles Hendrickson and J.L. Hood. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
——————————————
Newspaper article:
Longtime Bolivar alderman Beaman succumbs to cancer
Robert Beaman, a Bolivar alderman for nearly three decades, died Saturday after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
During his 28 years of service as Ward 2 alderman -beginning in 1973 - Beaman served on a long list of committees including the airport committee and as chairman of the finance committee. He was still a member of the planning and zoning commission at the time of his death.
"There will never be another one like him," Bolivar Mayor Charlie Ealy said.
Ealy served with Beaman as Ward 2 alderman for eight years.
"He was very blunt when he talked, but honest," Ealy said. "He taught me many things about being an alderman; about being a mayor. He was invaluable to me when I first came on as an alderman."
Before retiring from the board in 2002 Beaman was a strong supporter of the Neuhart Park project and the airport.
He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Polk County Health Center, where he served as a member for more than 20 years.
"He was very knowledgeable about city business," Ealy said. "He worked on all kinds of big projects during his years as alderman. But he never was out there saying 'This is what I did.' He was always behind the scenes. He was a good-hearted man. He would have given the shirt off his back to anyone."
Beaman served in the Missouri National Guard and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He was also an active member at First Christian Church, were he served as deacon.
He worked in the communications business for 29 years, starting with Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and retiring from Alltel in 1992, where he was the central office technician and dispatcher.
Services were held Monday at Butler Funeral Home.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
{Thanks to Contributor: Ron Hutcheson (47742330) for the obituary information}
He graduated from Bolivar High School, where he was active in the music department. He played a trumpet in the band and was a charter member of the B Bops, one of the few area high school jazz bands. Robert's vocal ability earned him a music scholarship to Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
Robert willingly shared his musical talents in many ways through the years, and his beautiful vocal solos brought comfort to families at many, many funerals until his bout of throat cancer no longer allowed him to sing.
He had been a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar since 1947 and was a deacon, choir member and soloist. He also served as choir director for several years. Robert not only volunteered time at his church, he did so at several small rural churches in the area, doing behind-the-scene jobs as well as providing special music.
Robert began working at the Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and helped set up the dial system for rural areas of the county, then served as central office technician and dispatcher until he retired in 1992.
He held membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge and served in the Missouri National Guard unit in Springfield for several years. As a Red Cross volunteer, Robert helped connect military personnel with families of service men and women.
Robert took pride in his hometown of Bolivar, and he gave much time and energy to making it a better place. He spent untold volunteer hours through the years grooming and caring for Neuhart Park, where the Simón Bolívar statue is located, and he was instrumental in seeing that the Plaza of the Americas project at the park moved forward to near completion.
His civic contributions to the city of Bolivar were endless. He was past president of the Bolivar Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Bolivar Rotary Club. He represented Ward 2 as city councilman for 28 years. During that time his duties included a short period as mayor pro tem, a responsibility he took very seriously. Council duties included service on a variety of committees, though Robert's primary interests were the finance commitee, on which he served as chair for many years, and the airport committee. He was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board, both prior to and after his service on the council, and was still a member of that committee at the time of his death. He also served as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Polk County Health Center for more than 20 years and was chairman of the board at the time of his death.
Robert didn't always approach issues like others might, but he earned the respect of his peers for his sincere concern about what was best for the city.
Like all of us, Robert had his faults, but he had a soft heart. He was at his best when he was quietly doing things to help others - things that probably only those involved may ever know about. Robert was loved and he will be sadly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy F. Beaman, who died when Robert was only 10 years old; his mother, Maude Johnson Beaman; a son, Edwin; a grandson, Brady; and two brothers, John Fred and Charles.
Robert is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Deanna Beaman of Buffalo; three grandsons, Joshua, Dalton and Gavin Beaman, all of Buffalo; a sister, Mary Sheets of the state of Pennsylvania; a special friend, Pat Hood, who has given loving and devoted care throughout Robert's illness; a sister-in-law, Betty Beaman of the state of Rhode Island; a friend, Max Haning of the state of Texas; and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.
Services were Monday, May 3, in the First Christian Church of Bolivar with the Rev. Jerry Book and the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Music was provided by JoBeth Maas, pianist. Casketbearers were Nick Maas, Gary Short, Bill Barnhouse, Donnie Brannon, Lewis Stoufer and Stanley Shobe. Honorary casketbearers were Martha Gilliam, Kelly Raney, Jean Raney, Mary Thiessen, Larry Phillips, Lowell Inman, Charles Hendrickson and J.L. Hood. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
——————————————
Newspaper article:
Longtime Bolivar alderman Beaman succumbs to cancer
Robert Beaman, a Bolivar alderman for nearly three decades, died Saturday after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
During his 28 years of service as Ward 2 alderman -beginning in 1973 - Beaman served on a long list of committees including the airport committee and as chairman of the finance committee. He was still a member of the planning and zoning commission at the time of his death.
"There will never be another one like him," Bolivar Mayor Charlie Ealy said.
Ealy served with Beaman as Ward 2 alderman for eight years.
"He was very blunt when he talked, but honest," Ealy said. "He taught me many things about being an alderman; about being a mayor. He was invaluable to me when I first came on as an alderman."
Before retiring from the board in 2002 Beaman was a strong supporter of the Neuhart Park project and the airport.
He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Polk County Health Center, where he served as a member for more than 20 years.
"He was very knowledgeable about city business," Ealy said. "He worked on all kinds of big projects during his years as alderman. But he never was out there saying 'This is what I did.' He was always behind the scenes. He was a good-hearted man. He would have given the shirt off his back to anyone."
Beaman served in the Missouri National Guard and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He was also an active member at First Christian Church, were he served as deacon.
He worked in the communications business for 29 years, starting with Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and retiring from Alltel in 1992, where he was the central office technician and dispatcher.
Services were held Monday at Butler Funeral Home.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
{Thanks to Contributor: Ron Hutcheson (47742330) for the obituary information}
Robert Harlan Beaman was born May 5, 1938, in Bolivar, the son of Roy Fred Beaman and Maude Johnson Beaman. He passed away at 3 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2004, in his home at the age of 65 years, 11 months and 6 days following a lengthy battle with cancer.
He graduated from Bolivar High School, where he was active in the music department. He played a trumpet in the band and was a charter member of the B Bops, one of the few area high school jazz bands. Robert's vocal ability earned him a music scholarship to Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
Robert willingly shared his musical talents in many ways through the years, and his beautiful vocal solos brought comfort to families at many, many funerals until his bout of throat cancer no longer allowed him to sing.
He had been a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar since 1947 and was a deacon, choir member and soloist. He also served as choir director for several years. Robert not only volunteered time at his church, he did so at several small rural churches in the area, doing behind-the-scene jobs as well as providing special music.
Robert began working at the Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and helped set up the dial system for rural areas of the county, then served as central office technician and dispatcher until he retired in 1992.
He held membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge and served in the Missouri National Guard unit in Springfield for several years. As a Red Cross volunteer, Robert helped connect military personnel with families of service men and women.
Robert took pride in his hometown of Bolivar, and he gave much time and energy to making it a better place. He spent untold volunteer hours through the years grooming and caring for Neuhart Park, where the Simón Bolívar statue is located, and he was instrumental in seeing that the Plaza of the Americas project at the park moved forward to near completion.
His civic contributions to the city of Bolivar were endless. He was past president of the Bolivar Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Bolivar Rotary Club. He represented Ward 2 as city councilman for 28 years. During that time his duties included a short period as mayor pro tem, a responsibility he took very seriously. Council duties included service on a variety of committees, though Robert's primary interests were the finance commitee, on which he served as chair for many years, and the airport committee. He was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board, both prior to and after his service on the council, and was still a member of that committee at the time of his death. He also served as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Polk County Health Center for more than 20 years and was chairman of the board at the time of his death.
Robert didn't always approach issues like others might, but he earned the respect of his peers for his sincere concern about what was best for the city.
Like all of us, Robert had his faults, but he had a soft heart. He was at his best when he was quietly doing things to help others - things that probably only those involved may ever know about. Robert was loved and he will be sadly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy F. Beaman, who died when Robert was only 10 years old; his mother, Maude Johnson Beaman; a son, Edwin; a grandson, Brady; and two brothers, John Fred and Charles.
Robert is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Deanna Beaman of Buffalo; three grandsons, Joshua, Dalton and Gavin Beaman, all of Buffalo; a sister, Mary Sheets of the state of Pennsylvania; a special friend, Pat Hood, who has given loving and devoted care throughout Robert's illness; a sister-in-law, Betty Beaman of the state of Rhode Island; a friend, Max Haning of the state of Texas; and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.
Services were Monday, May 3, in the First Christian Church of Bolivar with the Rev. Jerry Book and the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Music was provided by JoBeth Maas, pianist. Casketbearers were Nick Maas, Gary Short, Bill Barnhouse, Donnie Brannon, Lewis Stoufer and Stanley Shobe. Honorary casketbearers were Martha Gilliam, Kelly Raney, Jean Raney, Mary Thiessen, Larry Phillips, Lowell Inman, Charles Hendrickson and J.L. Hood. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
——————————————
Newspaper article:
Longtime Bolivar alderman Beaman succumbs to cancer
Robert Beaman, a Bolivar alderman for nearly three decades, died Saturday after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
During his 28 years of service as Ward 2 alderman -beginning in 1973 - Beaman served on a long list of committees including the airport committee and as chairman of the finance committee. He was still a member of the planning and zoning commission at the time of his death.
"There will never be another one like him," Bolivar Mayor Charlie Ealy said.
Ealy served with Beaman as Ward 2 alderman for eight years.
"He was very blunt when he talked, but honest," Ealy said. "He taught me many things about being an alderman; about being a mayor. He was invaluable to me when I first came on as an alderman."
Before retiring from the board in 2002 Beaman was a strong supporter of the Neuhart Park project and the airport.
He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Polk County Health Center, where he served as a member for more than 20 years.
"He was very knowledgeable about city business," Ealy said. "He worked on all kinds of big projects during his years as alderman. But he never was out there saying 'This is what I did.' He was always behind the scenes. He was a good-hearted man. He would have given the shirt off his back to anyone."
Beaman served in the Missouri National Guard and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He was also an active member at First Christian Church, were he served as deacon.
He worked in the communications business for 29 years, starting with Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and retiring from Alltel in 1992, where he was the central office technician and dispatcher.
Services were held Monday at Butler Funeral Home.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
{Thanks to Contributor: Ron Hutcheson (47742330) for the obituary information}
He graduated from Bolivar High School, where he was active in the music department. He played a trumpet in the band and was a charter member of the B Bops, one of the few area high school jazz bands. Robert's vocal ability earned him a music scholarship to Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
Robert willingly shared his musical talents in many ways through the years, and his beautiful vocal solos brought comfort to families at many, many funerals until his bout of throat cancer no longer allowed him to sing.
He had been a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar since 1947 and was a deacon, choir member and soloist. He also served as choir director for several years. Robert not only volunteered time at his church, he did so at several small rural churches in the area, doing behind-the-scene jobs as well as providing special music.
Robert began working at the Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and helped set up the dial system for rural areas of the county, then served as central office technician and dispatcher until he retired in 1992.
He held membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge and served in the Missouri National Guard unit in Springfield for several years. As a Red Cross volunteer, Robert helped connect military personnel with families of service men and women.
Robert took pride in his hometown of Bolivar, and he gave much time and energy to making it a better place. He spent untold volunteer hours through the years grooming and caring for Neuhart Park, where the Simón Bolívar statue is located, and he was instrumental in seeing that the Plaza of the Americas project at the park moved forward to near completion.
His civic contributions to the city of Bolivar were endless. He was past president of the Bolivar Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Bolivar Rotary Club. He represented Ward 2 as city councilman for 28 years. During that time his duties included a short period as mayor pro tem, a responsibility he took very seriously. Council duties included service on a variety of committees, though Robert's primary interests were the finance commitee, on which he served as chair for many years, and the airport committee. He was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board, both prior to and after his service on the council, and was still a member of that committee at the time of his death. He also served as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the Polk County Health Center for more than 20 years and was chairman of the board at the time of his death.
Robert didn't always approach issues like others might, but he earned the respect of his peers for his sincere concern about what was best for the city.
Like all of us, Robert had his faults, but he had a soft heart. He was at his best when he was quietly doing things to help others - things that probably only those involved may ever know about. Robert was loved and he will be sadly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy F. Beaman, who died when Robert was only 10 years old; his mother, Maude Johnson Beaman; a son, Edwin; a grandson, Brady; and two brothers, John Fred and Charles.
Robert is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Deanna Beaman of Buffalo; three grandsons, Joshua, Dalton and Gavin Beaman, all of Buffalo; a sister, Mary Sheets of the state of Pennsylvania; a special friend, Pat Hood, who has given loving and devoted care throughout Robert's illness; a sister-in-law, Betty Beaman of the state of Rhode Island; a friend, Max Haning of the state of Texas; and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.
Services were Monday, May 3, in the First Christian Church of Bolivar with the Rev. Jerry Book and the Rev. Harold Hendrickson officiating. Music was provided by JoBeth Maas, pianist. Casketbearers were Nick Maas, Gary Short, Bill Barnhouse, Donnie Brannon, Lewis Stoufer and Stanley Shobe. Honorary casketbearers were Martha Gilliam, Kelly Raney, Jean Raney, Mary Thiessen, Larry Phillips, Lowell Inman, Charles Hendrickson and J.L. Hood. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
——————————————
Newspaper article:
Longtime Bolivar alderman Beaman succumbs to cancer
Robert Beaman, a Bolivar alderman for nearly three decades, died Saturday after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
During his 28 years of service as Ward 2 alderman -beginning in 1973 - Beaman served on a long list of committees including the airport committee and as chairman of the finance committee. He was still a member of the planning and zoning commission at the time of his death.
"There will never be another one like him," Bolivar Mayor Charlie Ealy said.
Ealy served with Beaman as Ward 2 alderman for eight years.
"He was very blunt when he talked, but honest," Ealy said. "He taught me many things about being an alderman; about being a mayor. He was invaluable to me when I first came on as an alderman."
Before retiring from the board in 2002 Beaman was a strong supporter of the Neuhart Park project and the airport.
He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Polk County Health Center, where he served as a member for more than 20 years.
"He was very knowledgeable about city business," Ealy said. "He worked on all kinds of big projects during his years as alderman. But he never was out there saying 'This is what I did.' He was always behind the scenes. He was a good-hearted man. He would have given the shirt off his back to anyone."
Beaman served in the Missouri National Guard and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He was also an active member at First Christian Church, were he served as deacon.
He worked in the communications business for 29 years, starting with Missouri Telephone Company in 1963 and retiring from Alltel in 1992, where he was the central office technician and dispatcher.
Services were held Monday at Butler Funeral Home.
Credit: Bolivar Herald-Free Press; May 5, 2004
{Thanks to Contributor: Ron Hutcheson (47742330) for the obituary information}
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