James R. Beasley, 78, a former Skagit County resident and Mount Vernon High School coach & teacher went home to be with the Lord unexpectedly at his home in Centralia, WA on Friday, April 14, 2006.
Jim was born in Sedro-Woolley, Washington on February 23, 1928 the son of Nate & Enis Perry Beasley. He was raised and attended grade school in Lyman and graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1946. While attending school Jim played every sport possible and was an honor roll student.
He then attended Western Washington College in Bellingham, graduating in 1950 with an Education Degree. It was at Western his freshman year that he met his wife, Barbara, and after graduation they married on August 4, 1951. In 1965 Jim completed his Master of Science Degree in Physical Education from Washington State University.
Jim’s teaching career began in Burlington Edison where he taught 7th grade and coached football, basketball and baseball. He later taught 7th & 8th grade at Conway, again coaching 3 sports. In 1955 he accepted a job at Mount Vernon High School, teaching freshman English and coached freshman football & basketball. This was the start of a 30 year career, getting to work with the young people of the Mount Vernon area both in the classroom and the athletic arenas. In 1967 he accepted the varsity football coaching position, and his teams did very well during his tenure with the highlight being the undefeated state champions in 1970.
In 1975 he took a break from coaching to be with family and change his teaching assignment to work with seniors in English preparing them for college. Jim’s longtime friend at MVHS, Farrell Thompson, asked him to assist in coaching girls basketball and the combination was a good one as the Bulldog teams went to state several times, winning the championship in both 1978 and 1980.
Jim and Barbara, also a teacher at Conway retired together in 1985.
They left Skagit County and moved to Winthrop where they built their retirement home. Jim loved the area’s fishing and hunting possibilities and they both enjoyed the four very different seasons that the Methow Valley offered. He fished the rivers and lakes with his two sons and outdoor partner Rick Laegerway. The deep snow finally took a toll on Jim & Barbara so they moved back to the West side during the winters living in Centralia, eagerly awaiting the warm spring weather and another opportunity to head back to the cabin in Winthrop.
Jim is survived by his wife, Barbara at the family home in Centralia, WA. His 2 sons & daughters-in-law, Jeff & Helen Beasley of Centralia and Kirk & Carol Beasley of Manhattan Beach, CA. 4 grandchildren, Jordanne, Taylor, Madison and Laura, and his sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy & Russ Oxford of Issaquah, WA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nate & Enis, a sister, Marie Whitehair and an infant granddaughter, Bethany.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Centralia Fire Dept. – EMS Fund, 512 Pearl Street, Centralia, WA 98531 of a charity of your choice.
Funeral services will be held at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday, April 22, 2006 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Richard Coursen of the First Baptist Church in Sedro-Woolley officiating. Interment will follow at the Lyman Cemetery. Visitation is available at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.