1924
Jeff Beavers
2022
Jeff Beavers
March 16, 1924 — February 27, 2022
Alva “Jeff” Beavers, 97, of Mart, went to be with the Lord on February 27, 2022. He was honored at a private family gathering.
Jeff was born March 16, 1924, in Mart, TX, to Frederick Jones and Nannie (Willingham) Beavers. He graduated from Mart High School in 1941. After graduation, he attended North Texas State Teachers College in Denton and enlisted in the Navy Reserve (officer training) in January 1942. On August 13, 1942, he was called to active duty and went into the Naval Construction Battalion, also known as the Seabees. He was stationed in Oahu and later in Guam, where he helped build a base hospital that housed casualties from Iwo Jima. He was discharged in February 1946.
On June 20, 1946, he married Wanda Archer in Mart at the First Methodist Church parsonage. June 20, 2022 would have been their 76th anniversary. He spent most of his career as a locomotive engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He did spend some time repairing TVs and radios, and at the time of the Waco tornado of 1952, he was working at Montgomery Ward. In the late 50s he was elected General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and moved to Palestine where he was very active in Trinity Church.
When he retired in 1985, he was an ordained minister and served in a prison ministry for a time. After moving back to Mart in 2006, he and Wanda became active with the First Methodist Church of Mart, and they lead a prayer group in their home.
Jeff loved playing golf and especially loved beating his son in law and grandsons! He also loved researching family history, mowing the lawn, and sharing the Gospel. He told the Waco Tribune Herald when interviewed for a Voices of Valor article, “The best walk of all was serving Jesus Christ.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Fred Beavers and Marcus Beavers, and sisters Magdalene Calvery and Babe Aycock.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda, daughter Janis Reid and husband Jim, son James Beavers and wife Debbie, five grandchildren: Jennifer Reid Wright, Justin Reid, Jeff David Beavers, Jeremy Beavers, and Joshua Beavers, 11 great-grandchildren: Montgomery Beavers Smith, Noah Wright, Chandler Wright, Joshua Wright, Emily Kate Wright, Luke Reid, Jack Reid, James Beavers, Jillian Beavers, Jeremiah Beavers, and Jordyn Beavers, and two great great-grandchildren: Ry Smith and Carter Smith.
The family would like to thank Brenda and Bebe for taking such great care of Dad.
Memorials can be made to First Methodist Church of Mart.
Jeff was born March 16, 1924, in Mart, TX, to Frederick Jones and Nannie (Willingham) Beavers. He graduated from Mart High School in 1941. After graduation, he attended North Texas State Teachers College in Denton and enlisted in the Navy Reserve (officer training) in January 1942. On August 13, 1942, he was called to active duty and went into the Naval Construction Battalion, also known as the Seabees. He was stationed in Oahu and later in Guam, where he helped build a base hospital that housed casualties from Iwo Jima. He was discharged in February 1946.
On June 20, 1946, he married Wanda Archer in Mart at the First Methodist Church parsonage. June 20, 2022 would have been their 76th anniversary. He spent most of his career as a locomotive engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He did spend some time repairing TVs and radios, and at the time of the Waco tornado of 1952, he was working at Montgomery Ward. In the late 50s he was elected General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and moved to Palestine where he was very active in Trinity Church.
When he retired in 1985, he was an ordained minister and served in a prison ministry for a time. After moving back to Mart in 2006, he and Wanda became active with the First Methodist Church of Mart, and they lead a prayer group in their home.
Jeff loved playing golf and especially loved beating his son in law and grandsons! He also loved researching family history, mowing the lawn, and sharing the Gospel. He told the Waco Tribune Herald when interviewed for a Voices of Valor article, “The best walk of all was serving Jesus Christ.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Fred Beavers and Marcus Beavers, and sisters Magdalene Calvery and Babe Aycock.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda, daughter Janis Reid and husband Jim, son James Beavers and wife Debbie, five grandchildren: Jennifer Reid Wright, Justin Reid, Jeff David Beavers, Jeremy Beavers, and Joshua Beavers, 11 great-grandchildren: Montgomery Beavers Smith, Noah Wright, Chandler Wright, Joshua Wright, Emily Kate Wright, Luke Reid, Jack Reid, James Beavers, Jillian Beavers, Jeremiah Beavers, and Jordyn Beavers, and two great great-grandchildren: Ry Smith and Carter Smith.
The family would like to thank Brenda and Bebe for taking such great care of Dad.
Memorials can be made to First Methodist Church of Mart.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Jeff Beavers, please visit our flower store.
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