Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Fairfield Recorder newspaper
Oct 26, 2008



2-vehicle crash
kills Teague coed

An 18-year-old college student from Teague, Candace Lea Beggs, died Sunday 
afternoon in a 2-car wreck at the Lake Mexia Bridge on U.S. 84.
The wreck occurred about 4:30 p.m., shortly after Miss Beggs left Teague to 
return to Howard Payne University in Brownswood.
A report filed by Department of Public Safety Trooper Donnie Carter shows that 
Miss Beggs, driving west in a Dodge Neon car, veered into the eastbound lane of 
traffic and was struck broadside by an oncoming car.
Driver of the eastbound car, a KIA Rio, was Dusty Valsamaki of Waco.
Carter is still investigating the wreck to try and determine why the Beggs 
vehicle veered into oncoming traffic.
Both cars caught fire after impact with occupants still inside.
A Waco man who owns a house on Lake Mexia, Rusty Beals, witnessed the wreck and 
cut two children out of their seatbelts in the Valsamaki vehicle, the DPS 
trooper reports.
Beals, with help from two other people, also hooked a tow line onto one of the 
vehicles and pulled them apart, Carter points out.
Miss Beggs was pronouced dead at the scene by Peace Justice Sherri Lenoir, 
Limestone county precinct three, and the Teague woman was identified by dental 
records.
The four occupants of the Valsamaki, a niece and nephew, and her sister, Alaina 
Martin, 20, were flown to hospitals by medical helicopter.
Miss Beggs, a May graduate of Teague high school, was a freshman student at 
Howard Payne majoring in cross cultural studies with a minor in English.
At THS she was active in athletics and art, and was a percussionist in the band.
Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at First Baptist Church of Teague.
The 18-year-old is survived by her parents, the Rev. Darrell and Denise Beggs of 
Teague; a sister, Charis Beggs of Waco; and a brother, Jeremy Beggs of Waco. 

==============================

Candace Lea Beggs

Funeral services were held Wednesday for Candace Lea Beggs, 18, of Teague who 
died Sunday, Oct. 26, in an automobile accident near Lake Mexia in Limestone 
county.
Miss Beggs was born in Lancaster on Feb. 17, 1990, to Darrel and Denise Beggs.
She moved to Teague with her family at the age of 4 and graduated from Teague 
high school in 2008.
Miss Beggs was enrolled as a freshman at Howard Payne University in Brownwood 
where she was majoring in cross cultural studies.
During her high school career, she was active in arts and athletics and was a 
percussionist in the Teague Lion Band.
Miss Beggs was learning to play the guitar and volunteered every year as a 
counselor at Latham Springs Christian Camp.
She also worked part-time for Freestone County Justice of the Peace, Debra 
Hamilton.
Miss Beggs was a devoted Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church of 
Teague for over 11 years.
Services were held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the First Baptist Church 
of Teague with Rev. Bill Roe, Terry Williams and Shannon Hopkins officiating.
Interment followed at Chalk Mountain Cemetery near Glen Rose.
Miss Beggs is survived by her parents Rev. Daniel and Denise Beggs of Teague; 
sister, Charis Beggs of Waco; brother, Jeremy Beggs of Waco; paternal 
grandfather, Ted Beggs and wife Shirley of Montague; paternal grandmother, Peggy 
Miller and husband Jim of Nocona; uncles, Dale Beggs of Byers and Billy Beggs 
and wife Carol of Arlington; and aunts, Vicky Jefferies of Arlington, Amanda 
Reeves of Montague, Yvonne Austin and husband Mike of Phoenix, Arizona, Carlan 
Miller and husband Jack of Duncan, Oklahoma, and Pam Miller and husband Bob.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Teague. Arrangements were 
made by Bowers Funeral Home of Teague.