James A. Beeler, 66, Warsaw, passed away at 5:30 a.m Jan. 28, 2015, at his residence. He was born Nov. 15, 1948, in Kirksville, Mo., to Lowell E. and Autharine Burgher Beeler. On June 8, 1968, in Sophia, N.C., he married Nancy Lee Brooks, who survives in Warsaw. While serving as a minister, he lived in several other states until moving to Warsaw in 2002. He received his master’s degree in biblical studies, and was a member of Warsaw Wesleyan Church. The FBI in the Charlotte, N.C., division office employed him for two years, and he served as a pastor for 34 years in the Evangelical Methodist and the Missionary churches. During those years as pastor, he also served as police chaplain/officer for 13 years with the East Ridge, Tenn., Police Department. In addition, he served the Chattanooga, Tenn., and Hamilton County sheriff’s departments during the same period, ministering to over 800 officers and administrative staff. He served as chaplain two days a week for six months at the Knoxville, Tenn., World’s Fair, making many friends from all over the world. He served as chaplain for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department since 2004; he served as district superintendent of the southern district of the evangelical methodist church for five years; he served as vice president for student services for three years at Barclay College in Haviland, Kan., and he worked as a guard at the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department work release since March 2012. Also surviving are two daughters, Cheryl Lynn (and spouse Jeff) Williams, Goshen, and Cynthia Ann (and spouse Bill) Johnson, Grand Island, Fla.; his son, Jeffrey Alan (and spouse Anna) Beeler, Warsaw; his mother, Lancaster, Mo.; his sister, Nancy Kerby, Lancaster; and six grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, with Pastor Terry Powell officiating. Burial is in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Calling begins at 2 to p.m. Sunday at the funeral chapel. ***** Memorials to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607. Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
