Obituary of Richard Douglas Beatty

Richard Douglass Beatty, born September 10, 1934, Brookings, South Dakota. Son of Nina Alberta Eldredege and Harold Edgar Beatty. He graduated from South Dakota State with a degree in Journalism and an endless curiosity. Joining the Air Force sparked a life-long love of flying and fueled a deep dive into the mechanics of aircraft. When Richard was a young boy, his dad took him on a trip to see and learn about train locomotives. At first, he was frightened by these big, steam-breathing monsters, but this quickly transformed into a jubilant fascination with trains. When he wasn’t able to ride as a passenger, he would travel the world from his desktop as an Engineer, the dream job he'd obviously landed in a parallel universe. Eventually, his acuity in journalism led to a job as an award-winning Yellow Page Salesman—back when print was the new Kindle. In 1970, during a sales trip to Portland, Oregon, a friend insisted that he meet a woman named Evelyn. After a long-distance courtship, Evelyn and Richard married in 1974. Richard loved his job and was an excellent husband and provider. He was so good at connecting with people through the art of storytelling that he was usually the top salesman, thereby winning free trips to various exotic islands. He used to say he couldn’t afford any more “free trips” because Evelyn refreshed her wardrobe for every adventure. Their daughter, Jessica Jean, was born in 1976, the third daughter born to Evelyn after Audra Madison and Laura Smith, thereby completing a matriarchal powerhouse. If Richard had a superpower to rival his being outnumbered by females most of his life, it was his athleticism, for he mastered nearly every sport he tried. He enjoyed fishing, swimming, skiing, tennis, and mountain climbing. However, he was the ultimate Pro at golf, a sport for which he won many trophies. A steadfast supporter of Evelyn’s fanciful ingenuity, he even mastered the unique sport of playing the didgeridoo. He learned the art of circular-breathing within an hour of picking up this Australian instrument leaving the entire family bewildered by his newfound talent. Later in life, Richard created great adventures for his family, including both motorcycle and motorhome trips. In 2000, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and, with Evelyn by his side for every taxing treatment, he escaped the clutches of cancer as Houdini escaped straitjackets underwater. After his sensational recovery, they moved back to Fort Worth where he would live out the rest of his years. In 2013, he was told he had severe kidney damage and had to begin dialysis. He braved dialysis for 6 years, battling deteriorating health until his right leg had to be amputated. Not letting this stand in his way, Richard embraced his newfound bionic leg and, over the next year, would cast adventures of tragedy and triumph with the full-time support of Evelyn and his girls. He passed away quietly surrounded by his family amid the sound of laughter, tears, and a lot of love. Upon his passing, Richard’s son-in-law experienced a comforting vision of Richard encircling him, then flying toward the sky while signaling that he was “A-Okay, Okie Dokie!” This was a classic gesture from his time in the Air Force and perhaps a spiritual sign that all was well as he returned to his home in the sky. Richard was survived by Evelyn and Jessica Beatty, Audra Madison, Laura Smith, Steve, Donnie... Missed always, forgotten never.