Harley Blackerby Beckwith
Service: 10 a.m. Friday, June 23, at Nelson's Green Forest Chapel, with interment at Farewell Cemetery, Green Forest; Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at Nelson's Green Forest Chapel, with arrangements by Nelson Funeral Service, Inc.
Harley Blackerby Beckwith, of Green Forest, was born June 24, 1940, in Rison, son of Harold Horton and Estelle Marie (Scott) Beckwith. He departed this life Monday, June 19 (2017) in Berryville, at the age of 76 years.
Harley proudly served his country in the United States Army. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1958. He attended Arkansas A & M, now known as U of A at Monticello, where he was member of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.
He was the USDA inspector for FH&P, (now Das Butcher Haus) in August 1971 and retired from the inspection program in March 2000.
During his lifetime, he was a member of the Green Forest United Methodist Church, American Legion, Carroll County Cattleman's Association, Ozark Riding Club and Jefferson County Mounted Patrol.
He loved his horses, especially the Beckwith horses from South Dakota. His favorite vacation was hauling the horses to the river or The Big Oak, camping out and riding every day. If traveling, he loved to just drive and see the country.
His grandchildren call him “Papa” and he doted on all of them. Kyler, Kady, Jeremiah, Miriam, Samuel, Hannah and Kensley were all his little cowboys and cowgirls.
In 1976, Harley met and married Jeannie (Martin) Beckwith, who survives him. He is also survived by his children, daughter, Rachel Kendrick and husband, Kevin and son, Allen Beckwith and wife, Joni; sister, Helen Walker; brother Jimmy Beckwith; seven grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Estelle Beckwith; three brothers, Oliver, Sam and Raymond Beckwith; and two sisters, Barbara Beckwith and Louise (Beckwith) Simmons.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at Nelson's Green Forest Chapel. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Friday, June 23, at Nelson's Green Forest Chapel, with the Reverend Steve Cook and Brother Kevin Robertson officiating. Interment will follow the service in the Farewell Cemetery, Green Forest, under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service, Inc.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Gideon's International, P.O. Box 362, Berryville, AR or charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com.
