Dewayne Beaty's Obituary
George Dewayne Beaty went home to be with our God and Savior, Thursday, November 1, 2018, at Arabella of Longview in Longview, Texas. The memorial service will be Thursday, November 15, 2018, at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Longview, Texas. Friends and family are invited to view a display of memorabilia from Dewayne’s life, beginning at 1:00 pm in the Atrium area of First Baptist Church, between the church offices and the Sanctuary.
Dewayne was born in Wheeler, Texas, on April 11, 1936, to George and Opal Beaty. He was raised a “Fighting Irish” in Shamrock, Texas, where he spent an idyllic childhood among friends and family in the small Texas Panhandle town. He excelled in football, and when he registered for classes at Hardin-Simmons University, he thought he might become a football coach. God soon changed his course. Dewayne took part in many student-led revivals and services and traveled to churches in the surrounding area to lead music and preach. God called him during this time to give his whole life, including his vocation, to the spreading of the Gospel, and Dewayne surrendered.
Dewayne graduated from Hardin-Simmons University with a Bachelor of Science in 1958. He served in the United States Army as an officer trainee and Lieutenant at Ft. Benning and Ft. Hood from 1958-59. He often referred to his army years as the time when God grew him and used him most. He retired from the Army Reserve as a Captain.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas was where Dewayne received his Master’s of Religious Education in 1961. It was also there that he met the “love of his life” and his best friend, Claudia Curd Beaty. They married after graduation and moved to West Texas to serve God at First Baptist Church, Odessa, Texas. Together, they gave their lives and family in service of churches throughout Texas and in Nashville, Tennessee. They served as Minister to Youth and Recreation at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas; Belmont Heights Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee; and Highland Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Dewayne served First Baptist Church of Longview, Texas, for 33 years, in several capacities: Minister to Youth and Recreation, Minister to Senior Adults and Recreation, and Associate Pastor and Minister to Senior Adults. As a token of their great love and gratitude for Dewayne and Claudia, FBC Longview named the education building in their honor. All of Dewayne’s life was spent knowing and loving people in Jesus’ Name. His smile, laugh, and turn of a story was a comfort and a challenge to everyone he met.
Rev Beaty is survived by his wife, Claudia Curd Beaty; children, D’Anna Beaty Yastrebov and husband, Anton; David Dewayne Beaty and wife, Rosie; daughter-in-love Eliska Smith Padilla and husband, Edgar; grandchildren, Houston and Caroline Beaty, and Sophia Yastrebov; sister, Donna Beaty Cole and husband, Ford; niece and nephew, Kerre and Loren Cole; beloved sister-in-law, Sarah Jo Curd Embrey and husband, Chuck; beloved brother-in-law, John Curd and wife, Judy.
Memorial gifts in Rev. Dewayne Beaty’s name may be made to the Hollandsworth/Beaty/Gatlin Fund for Senior Adults at First Baptist Church, 209 E. South St., Longview, TX 75601.
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