TERREBONNE and LAFOURCHE Parishes, La.

OBITUARIY for BEELER, MYRTON 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan

Published in Houma Today & The Daily Comet from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28, 2013

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BEELER, MYRTON "MYRT"  

Dr. Myrton "Myrt" Freeman Beeler, 91, of Thibodaux, died of natural causes in 
his home Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013, surrounded by his loved ones. 

Myrt was born in Winthrop, Mass., April 27, 1922, to Helen Scott Beeler of 
Boston, Mass., and Myrton Beeler Sr., of Everett, Mass. 

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until funeral time Tuesday at St. Joseph's Co-
Cathedral in Thibodaux. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday 
at the church. 

He is survived by his partner, Jim Cappel; Jim's children, Maroy and Cherry 
Cappel; Jim's grandchildren, Sarah, Robert and Matthew; Jim's siblings, 
Caroline, Edmund, Teeny, Dick, Fred and their spouses; his sister, Bev 
Espinola, of Bloomington, Mass.; and her daughters, Mary and Barbara. 

Myrt attended Thayer Academy and graduated from Harvard in 1944. During World 
War II, he served in the U.S. Air Force, 66th Infantry Division, Signal 
Company. 
He also served as a lieutenant in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, 
working at the USAF Hospital in Nagoya, Japan. 
Myrt began a career in clinical pathology at Massachusetts General after his 
return to the United States, and subsequently moved to New Orleans. While in 
New Orleans, he worked at Ochsner Hospital and later at LSU Medical School, 
where he was responsible for establishing a doctoral program in Clinical 
Chemistry, at the time the only one in the deep South. He served on the board 
of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology for more than 20 years and was 
appointed editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, a 
position he filled until his retirement in 1989. 
Myrt met his life partner, Jimmy Cappel, in 1966, and they shared a home, life 
and mutual interests in art, music and a series of beloved pets for the next 47 
years. Myrt was known for his sharp mind, fearless curiosity and deep interest 
in the nature of our universe and the environment. 
After an illness while serving in Japan, Myrt asked for a sign regarding his 
future and related feeling a presence that assured him he would live to "see 
everything." He very nearly did, and would have told you that he'd certainly 
seen everything worth seeing. 

He died a happy man who lived an eventful and fortunate life, and will be long 
remembered by those of us who shared in it. 

Thibodaux Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 

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