Byron Beasley

Byron Bronson Beasley, 32, of Hillsboro died Thursday, April 13, 2006, at Town Hall Estates Nursing Home in Hillsboro. Byron was born September 23, 1973 in San Antonio the son of Jimmy and Brenda Russell Beasley. Byron lived with his parents in San Antonio, Waco, and Abbott. Later in life he lived in nursing homes in Austin, Houston, and Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hillsboro. Although he had the mentality of a two-week-old baby, never walked, and never talked, Byron influenced so many people during his 32 years on earth. He brought so much love and joy to his family and friends. Music was so special to him and he enjoyed it very much. His strong will to live gave him many more years on earth than most doctors thought possible and those years of borrowed time gave him an opportunity to know two wonderful younger brothers and a beautiful nephew. Byron taught unconditional love and compassion just by being alive. Gratitude is something he could never express with words, but the wonderful caretakers he had at the three nursing homes he lived in during his life know how much he appreciated each and every one of them. The Lord really blessed Byron and his family with great people who chose occupations and worked hard to be the best they could be to make his life wonderful. Some took care of his daily needs, others kept his home in wonderful shape, and many others had various duties such as administration, clerical, dietary, nursing, therapy, social activities, volunteers, and others that worked together to make his life the best it could be. Byron?s family was so lucky to have been blessed by having him as a child, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, or grandchild. The loving care of his doctors, nurses, family, and friends was so important to him. He was in the PBS documentary ?From the Darkest Corner? in 1985. That film helped make the public aware that mentally retarded people were a very important part of society and were just people, too. Byron was accepted everywhere he went and his brothers grew up arguing about who was going to push his wheelchair! Later in life his nephew loved to push Uncle Byron around. They were so proud of him! Byron was preceded in death by his grandparents, George Russell, Joanne Cypert, and Truman Cypert. Survivors include his parents, Brenda Russell Beasley and Jimmy ?Buzz? Beasley of Hillsboro and Humble; two brothers, Benjamin Russell Beasley of Natchitoches, Louisiana and George Brandon Beasley of Humble; a nephew, Rhys Colton Beasley of Humble; grandparents, Lena Mae and James Beasley of Olney; aunts and uncles, Blair Russell of Chatt, Jackie and Robert Young of Wichita Falls, and Erin and Joe Ripple of Cleburne; and many cousins including, Tai Young Jones, Callie Young, Justin Ripple, and Audrey Ripple. Memorials may be given in memory of Byron to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 673, Hillsboro, TX 76645.