WARREN BEESON
BORN: DECEMBER 08, 1944
LEFT THIS WORLD: MAY 27, 2022
Warren was born in El Centro, California to Bertha & Forrest Beeson. He was the middle child between brothers Henry Beeson and Vern Beeson.
Warren lived in Southern California into his twenties, during which time he met and married the love of his life, Barbara Jean Jones. The two married and then shortly after followed Warren’s parents to Oregon after visiting and falling in love with all the green. The two settled into the Willamette Valley and got jobs while Warren attended Oregon State University (Go Beavs!). After some time, the two made the move to Klamath Falls, Oregon where oldest daughter Heather was born, and then after another move to Roseburg, youngest Holly was born. A couple of jobs and moves later, the Warren Beeson family found themselves back in the Willamette Valley where Warren stayed until after the passing of his wife Barbara in 2013, when he made the move across the country to Nashville, Tennessee to be with his kids and granddaughter, London.
Warren was passionate about the community of Lebanon, which became his home for more than 30 years. After moving to take the position of Chamber Manager at the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce, he found himself switching back to his roots of Fair Management and took a position of Fair Manager at the Benton County Fairgrounds. But small business was in his heart and when presented with the opportunity, he jumped in with both feet and became the small business owner of GravaGraphics on Main Street in the heart of downtown Lebanon. Warren wanted nothing more than to see the community of Lebanon thrive and not only joined, and led, several organizations while in Lebanon, but he was instrumental in giving breath to many events and projects that are still happening today such as the Star Spangled Celebration, the Lebanon Dog Park and the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
Throughout his time in Lebanon, he was extremely proud of the many organizations he was able to be a part of including the Lebanon Strawberrians, the Lebanon Rotary Club, the Lebanon Community Foundation, and even an interim position on the Lebanon School Board. This doesn’t even begin to touch the vast amount of projects he was involved in, the organizations he was a part of, and the passion he had for the Lebanon Community. Though at times a little too passionate, one could not deny that even with the sass he could sometimes show, his intentions were true and his heart was always pointed to growth for the community he loved. He truly believed that Lebanon was the City That Friendliness Built! This passion was evidenced in the two awards he was awarded including both Lebanon Man of the Year in 1999 and Senior First Citizen in 2017.
After moving from Lebanon, Oregon to the Nashville, Tennessee area, Warren spent his last few years making memories with his only granddaughter, London, whom he adored (and the feeling was mutual). He got involved in the Smyrna Senior Center and specifically, a Creative Writing class, where he loved writing down his memories for his kids and family of his precious almost 50 years with his wife Barbara. He loved history so spent time visiting the many battle fields located throughout the South. And he couldn’t let his entrepreneurial spirit sit idle, so created an Etsy store where he sold wonderful handmade clocks and toys along with taking them to farmers markets in the area and selling them in local shops. He was a creator to the very end. Warren is preceded in death by his parents Bertha and Forrest Beeson and his wife Barbara whom he is delighted to be joined with again! He leaves behind his eldest daughter Heather Hixson and her husband Jason McGovern, his youngest daughter Holly Hixson and her husband Paul Gray and granddaughter London, and his two brothers Vern Beeson and wife Anne, and Henry Beeson and wife Kathy.
Warren will be missed by not only his family, but by both communities that he touched. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 10th, at 3:00pm at the Woodfin Funeral Home in Smyrna, Tennessee with an additional dedication ceremony to be held at a later date in Lebanon, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to one of Warren’s favorite 501c3 organizations, the Lebanon Community Foundation. Checks can be made to the Lebanon Community Foundation and sent to Umpqua Bank ATTN: Jolene Watson at 777 Park Street, Lebanon, Oregon 97355.
