Jimmy Jack Beale

Plano- After fighting cancer for 23 years, Jimmy Jack Beale of Plano, Texas passed from this earth into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ on January 5, 2017.

He was born, March 23, 1943, and raised in Sherman, Texas. He was the son of A. J. "Bud" and Frances Beale. At age 5, Jimmy was baptized by Dr. Ellis at the First Baptist Church of Sherman. Within the same church, at age 13, he was presented the Eagle Scout Award. At age 18, he graduated from Sherman High School.

Jimmy was a member of Sherman Country Club for 50 years. During those years, he served on the board of directors multiple times. He and his brother, Chris, grew up hunting ducks and fishing together as adolescents. Jimmy also started gardening with his father and became well known as a gardening enthusiast, always generously sharing his crop of vegetables with friends and family.

Jimmy was an avid golfer and over the years had memberships at Woodlawn Country Club, Stone Creek Golf Club and Hurricane Creek Country Club. He also enjoyed owning several thoroughbred race horses over the years…loved the racetrack and betting on the horses!
In March 1963, he joined the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Radio Telegraph Operators School. As part of the Marine Amphibious Force, he made the first official landing in Vietnam at DaNang. While in Vietnam, Jimmy was sent to Thailand and Laos due to his extraordinary skill at sending and receiving Morse Code. His top secret clearance made him valuable to all branches of the military. It was said, "No one could send or receive code faster".

He attended Grayson College, North Texas University, and the University of Texas at Austin. In 1968, just short of attaining his degree, he joined A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., an investment firm, in Sherman and became manager in 1975. The next year, Jimmy began managing the A. G. Edwards' Dallas office. Continuing to advance his career, he became a Vice President and later a Senior Vice President while opening and managing several other offices in the Dallas area. Jimmy became acquainted with the Dallas Cowboy's coaches as well as various players who participated with him in many fund-raising endeavors within Grayson County throughout the years. He also wrote the first official retirement plan for the NFL while at A.G. Edwards, becoming the approved investment representative for the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers. Jimmy excelled as a professional Stockbroker and Financial Planner for 46 years, retiring in December 2014.

Jimmy served on the Sherman City Council and the Texoma Regional Planning Commission from 1972 to 1974. He was responsible for lowering the interest rate on the City's Municipal Bonds after traveling to New York and transacting the rating on Sherman's Bonds from Non-Rated to A-Rated by Moody's and Standard &Poors, saving the City substantial money. He also introduced the City Ordinance "No Open Container Law".

Jimmy has always been a community leader. He has supported many national and local charities including Home Hospice of Grayson County and Sherman Ex-Students Association; holding many leadership roles in organizing charity eventsand raising funds for college scholarships. Jimmy had a heart for his alma mater and supported the Sherman Ex Students Association in many ways. He began the HOPE Scholarship program which gives scholarships to students who might not otherwise receive help, he sponsored scholarships to honor persons who had been influential in his life, and funded and sponsored the military honor section in the Ex Students Museum in Sherman. He has served on the board of the Sherman Ex Students Association and received a Distinguished Student honorarium.

His work and dedication to the Grayson County NFL Charity Golf Tournament has benefited many children, youth and young adults in the surrounding area. He was Chairman of the Board and the driving force that helped organize a board of fifty area residents to raise money for local children's charities through the NFL ALUMNI'S Caring for Kids program. Based on its success, the NFL ALUMNI granted a chapter to be formed within Texomaland Area, making it the only chapter ever established outside the cities which have a NFL team. A total of almost $900,000 was distributed to local children's charities, including Air Chapel, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Casa, Crisis Center, Children's Advocacy Center, Denison Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., North Texas Youth Connection, Pottsboro Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Denison, Sherman Boys and Girls Club, Winners for Life and Wishing Well. He has received the America National Medallion Award from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He also generously supports Campus Crusade for Christ and Vietnam Veterans of America.

Jimmy has had many passions in life – but none so dear to his heart as his love for God; his love for his wife of 18 ½ years, LaJean Beale; his love for his family, including those who survive him; his brother, Chris Beale and his wife Kathy; his two nephews: Adam Beale and Chad Beale and his wife Edy; his three children: Michelle Kos, Cameron Beale and his wife Rhonda,and Ashley Hawkins; his step-daughter Erica Babb and her husband Jaeson; his 10 grandchildren: Tanner, Courtney, Megan, Alex, Trinity, Presley, Morganne, Jordan and her husband Kurt, and Kassidy and her husband Arthur, and Sloane; and 3 great grandchildren: Devin, Kayleigh and Brooklyn, who all called him "Papaw"; and his love for his many friends who cherish and admire him.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 10 at the First Baptist Church of Sherman. Dr. Mike Lawson will officiate. Burial will follow at West Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Sherman at 1500 N. Luckett, Sherman, TX 75090. The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.