Max Hartwell

Beasley, Jr.

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IN LOVING MEMORY

Max Hartwell Beasley, Jr.

Apr 14 1940 - Aug 31 2017

Max Hartwell Beasley, Jr., 77, of Richardson, passed away on August 31st in Richardson.

A memorial service will be held at Custer Road United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 9th at 11:00 am with Reverend Tim Morrison officiating. Military interment will be held at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, on Friday, September 8th at 1:00 pm. Turrentine Jackson Morrow are handling the funeral arrangements.

Max entered this world on April 14, 1940, in Decatur, Alabama, the first child of Ruth (Francis) and Max Hartwell Beasley, Sr. As a toddler, Max saw his father off to serve in World War II in Germany until he was five, and Max kept many mementos from his father’s service to this day. While growing up, he enjoyed baseball, scouting and exploring caves. He was a proud and caring big brother, not only teaching his little sister, Linda, how to ride her bike, but also being hailed in the Decatur Daily newspaper for saving her from drowning in the family bathtub when she was just over a year old. Max graduated from Hillsboro High School in Nashville in 1958, where he played cornet in the high school band and was a member of Sigma Phi Omega.

Max went on to attend the University of Oklahoma on a naval scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, and where he met his future wife, Carol Joyce Harrell of Gage, Oklahoma. Max wrote home to tell his family about how he enjoyed horseback riding with Carol on her family’s farm, so they knew she was pretty special right away. While at OU, Max was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma marching band and a member of Acacia Fraternity. He was a die-hard Sooner fan, religiously following any and all of OU’s teams, no matter what the pursuit. To this day, it wasn’t often that you’d see Max wearing anything other than Crimson and Cream, and he continued to give back to his alma mater by consulting with the Electrical Engineering program for years.

Upon graduation, Max and Carol married on May 27, 1963, and he entered the United States Navy the same day. He reached the rank of Lieutenant, and his service first took him and Carol overseas to Italy, later being based in Jacksonville, Florida, for two years, where they welcomed their first child, Alysen, and later in Norfolk, Virginia, for another two years. After completing his service, Max began working for Texas Instruments in Richardson, Texas, and he and Carol welcomed their second child, Max Hartwell Beasley, III, (“Trey”). During his 15 years with TI, Max was the lead design engineer on a terrain-following radar project for the B-1 “Stealth Bomber,” a system that the company had struggled to develop before his contributions, as well as working on the F-111 program. Max also earned a Master’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University, and became a Registered Professional Engineer in both Texas and Oklahoma. Max eventually struck out on his own and built his company, Southwest Microwave Electronics Corporation, focusing on microelectronic componentry sales for military communications and radar systems.

Max was involved in many other areas of the community. One of his great passions was his decades-long membership as a Bass in the Men of Note barbershop chorus. Not only did Men of Note allow him to enjoy competing in local and regional contests, perform in their spring and Christmas concerts, and treat local communities to countless patriotic holiday performances, but it also provided the gift of friendship with a special group of men who love to share their music with everyone. Max was also a long-time member in the Chancel Choir at Custer Road United Methodist Church. He was honored and proud to serve as a chairman of the local IEEE chapter’s Microwave Theory and Techniques Group, as a member of their Dallas Section Committee, and as well as a precinct chairperson for the Republican Party. He served as the Chairman of the Dallas Midcon group, was a member of the Order of Masons, and was a member of the Association of Old Crows, an organization for individuals who have common interests in Electronic Warfare (EW), Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Information Operations (IO), and other information related capabilities. In 1985, Max was a founding member of The Ark House, a non-profit charity that maintains and furnished more than 20 apartments for families of critical care patients who have had to travel to Dallas from afar for extended medical treatments.

But above all else, Max was a devoted husband and father. He doted on his bride, getting caught smooching in his mother’s kitchen and hugging tightly in countless photos over the years. Max and Carol enjoyed traveling together whether for pleasure or on retreats with their Sunday School classes, and they loved going to the Red River Rivalry in the Cotton Bowl with Carol’s brothers, Verlan and Terry. He devoted countless hours to coaching Alysen and Trey’s soccer, football and baseball teams, and enjoying the fun and silly names of Indian Princesses and Indian Guides, with Trey as Golden Eagle and Max as Bald Eagle. He enjoyed hunting up in Oklahoma and fishing out at their lake house getaway in Little Elm. Throughout their childhood, Max was like a second father to many of Alysen and Trey’s friends, at a time when kids could roam their neighborhood in packs and always count on an open door and supportive ear from Mr. Beasley. Carol often had no idea how many people to expect for dinner!

This devotion grew even more with the addition of each of his treasured grandchildren, who he adored and was so very proud of. As babies, the kids never tired of “trottyhorse,” and he never tired of their giggles of delight. Max supported all their interests, whether in sports, music, the arts or their education. He would offer advice to Chet’s coaches, teach Jake how to play Taps on the cornet, and, of course, deliver singing Valentines – and a teddy bear – to his precious, beautiful granddaughters, Amanda, “Kendall Roo” and his “Little Bit” Bridget. He rarely missed a performance, game, school assembly or graduation, because he knew how important his presence was and is for those he loved. He loved them hard, and they loved him right back. We will always save a seat for you, Papa.

Max is preceded in death by his parents, Ruth (Francis) and Max Hartwell Beasley, Sr.

Max is survived by his wife, Carol Beasley; his children, Alysen Beasley Northern and her husband Nate of Plano and Max Hartwell Beasley, III, (“Trey”) and his wife Kathryn Sohl Beasley of Richardson; his grandchildren, Amanda Northern McHargue and her husband Cayson, Kendall Brooke Northern, Max Hartwell Beasley IV (“Chet”), Jacob Sohl Beasley, and Bridget Ruth Beasley; his sister, Linda Beasley Rosen and her husband Allen of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; his brother, Steven Francis Beasley and his wife Violet of Northridge, California; along with many loved in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Ark House (arkhouse.netgive.org) or sent to Men of Note (menofnote.org) via check to 1516 Faringdon Drive, Plano, TX 75075. Condolences may be left in Turrentine Jackson Morrow’s online guestbook at TJMfuneral.com.

Max is with his Lord and has joined the Heavenly choir to forever sing His eternal praises. We look forward to the day we will be reunited with him; we know he will be waiting for us with plenty of hugs.

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