Melvin Leroy "Mel" Beyer Obituary, Garland County, AR

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Submitted by: George M. Akins<GAkins2@aol.com>
              - Step son
        Date: 8 Aug 2004
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Melvin Leroy "Mel" Beyer 2 Jul 2002 The Sentinel-Record

Obituary - The Sentinel-Record, Tuesday, July 2, 2002         
Hot Springs, AR
  Melvin Leroy "Mel" Beyer, 81, died at his home in Hot Springs, Friday
evening, June 28, 2002. He was preceded in death by his parents, Perry
Louie and Sylvia Mae (Terrill) Beyer; and sister, Bonnie Jean Stevens.
He is survived by his wife Juanita Joyce (Akins) Beyer; his daughter 
and husband, Melody May Smith and Dwayne of Carlsbad, NM, and daughter
Rosalie Ann Neese of Hot Springs; his sons and wives, John Thomas Akins
and Linda, George Michael Akins and Margie, all of Benton, Shawn Lee
Akins and Jo of Mabelvale; his brother, Perry Lawrence Beyer and wife
Martha of Hot Springs Village; 14 grandchildren and 21 great
grandchildren.
  Mel graduated from Amarillo High School and was going to Amarillo Jr.
College, when his Infantry National Guard unit was mobilized. After 2 
and ½ years he entered the Air Force to be trained to fly the B-24 heavy
bombers, and then was assigned to the 446th Bomber Group during World 
War II, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and in the 
same year a cluster (the same as another DFC). He had 851 hours flying 
time of which 222 were combat hours, with 28 bombing missions completed 
by May of 1944. For the remainder of the war he was a 1st Lt. Instructor 
to new pilots on the B-29 bombers.
  He retired as a district manager after 53 years of service with Brown 
and Bigelo. He was the first salesman ever to be inducted into the Brown 
and Bigelo Hall of Fame. After retirement he continued to work for Creative
Services.
  He was a member of the Gardner United Methodist Church. He was a member
of Moose Lodge 1252, and served two terms as Governor and held several
other offices. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and lifetime member of
Pampa, TX Lodge 966. He played bugle in the Shriners Drum and Bugle Corp 
Marching Band in San Antonio and Houston, TX for 18 years. He was also a
member of the V.F.W. Post 2278. He really enjoyed playing golf, fishing,
dancing and took great joy and pride in working in his yard.
  Visitation will be Tuesday, July 2nd from 6 to 8 pm at Caruth - Hale
Funeral Home, located at 155 Section Line Road, Hot Springs. Funeral
services will be 3 pm, Wednesday, July 3rd, at Caruth - Hale Funeral
Home. Rev. Bruce Howard of Gardner United Methodist Church officiating.
Entombment will be at Crestview Cemetery Mausoleum with full military
honors presented by Thaddeus H. Caraway VFW Post 2278 Honor Guard.
  In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Cal Farley Boys Town,
Amarillo, TX.
  Pallbearers will be Jack Piper, Jerry Oliver, Butch Brown, Huston 
Kymes, Junior Myrick and Arvis Vaughn. Honorary Pallbearers are Vernon 
Austin, Dr. Randy Hill, and Members of Moose Lodge 1252
 Guest register is at http://www.caruth-hale.com. .