Richard Michael Beckley

Richard Michael Beckley, 54, of Knoxville Tennessee, passed away June 21,2023, after a brief illness. Rick was born February 2, 1969, in Canton, Ohio to Richard Beckley and Nancy Ott, and later lived in Jacksonville, Florida and Baltimore, Maryland. He was a graduate of Seymour High School in Seymour, Tennessee and received a B.S. in logistics and supply chain management and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Rick was actively self-employed as a marketing consultant and software project manager, with previous positions held at Terraine Inc. and Nestle Inc.

Quick of wit and soft of heart, Rick never knew a stranger and constantly strove to use his professional and personal gifts in service to others. He was a self-taught handyman and could fix any basic electrical or plumbing issue - whether you wanted him to or not. He could build fires, mat and frame pictures, make and refinish furniture, passionately debate issues at the drop of a hat - then switch arguments for fun, repair cars, crack awful jokes, and shop like a fiend, especially for his little nieces. Rick was all this and so very much more. He was well-loved and he will be well-missed.

Rick was preceded in death by his father, Richard H. Beckley; grandparents, Homer and Catherine Beckley and Gottlieb and Marie Ott. He is survived by wife, Mary Copeland Beckley; mother, Nancy Ott McCranie; aunt, Linda Petit; cousins, Kevin Ott (Amy) and son, Kyle; Keith Ott (Andrea) and children Zachery, Andrea, and Dawson; numerous other relatives, nieces, nephews and two furry companions, Harley and Winnie. He also leaves behind a horde of special long-time friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Narrow Ridge Natural Burial Preserve or to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley.

A visitation for Richard will be held Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 1:00pm with a memorial service to follow at 2pm at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Beckley family.