Obituary of J. A. Beezley
 
    Joel Alexander Beezley, son of
Joel and Sarah Beezley, was born
September 26, 1871 in Crawford
County, Missouri and passed away
at his home in St. James, March
5, 1951, at the age of 79 years, 6
months and 9 days.
    February 12th, 1893 he was mar-
ried to Martha Gravatt.  To this
union, six children were born.
Three of them preceded him in
death.
    He leaves in passing, his wife,
three sons, Floy E., Arlie A., and
Jewell H. Beezley, four grand-
children and four great-grand-
children, also one sister, Mrs. Clara
Gunter of St. Louis and one bro-
ther, Rufus Beezley of Steelville,
Mo.
    There were a number of nieces
and nephews in the family who
have looked to Uncle Jode as a father.
    His home was a place of prayer
and the constant flame from his
family altar has burned it's way
into the hearts and lives of many
people down through the years, and
has been a place of refuge to his
many friends.
    He has been a devoted member
of the Church of God for about 45
years and has been an active mem-
ber of the board of trustees of
the St. James Church during the
past 15 years.
    Until November, 1949, at which
time he and his wife moved to St.
James, he spent his life on a farm
near the Meramec River in Craw-
ford County.
    Funeral services were conducted
at the Church of God in St. James
Wednesday afternoon, March 7th,
Rev. E. D. Johnson officiating.
Three of Uncle Jode's nephews
who are ministers assisted in the
service.  They are Reverend J. A.
Morrison, Reverend Earl Martin,
and Reverend Gordon Morrison.
Gahr Funeral Home was in charge
of funeral arrangements.
(The St. James Journal newspaper;
Friday, March 9, 1951 edition;
Volume 54, Number 28; Front Page)