Derek Ray Beasley

Derek was born December 12, 1966 in Newport News, VA and lived there until relocating to Florida in the early 1990’s. He graduated from Warwick High School and Huffman Aviation Flight Training School, where he obtained his pilot’s license.

Derek worked in Purchasing for several mining/industrial equipment companies during his life including: Outotec (USA), Sy-Klone International and most recently, Southern Ionics Minerals, LLC.

Having an enduring love of adventure, Derek traveled all over the world and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and sports. He grew up playing baseball from an early age with his lifelong best friends, Brad Vincent and Carl Carver. His love of playing baseball, softball and flag football continued throughout his life and he considered his teammates, (most of whom he played with on multiple teams spanning 20+ years) his second family.

No one ever met Derek and left without making a new friend. Charming, laid back and fun - Derek loved to joke and to make people laugh. He quickly made friends wherever he went. His outgoing nature and friendliness touched the lives of friends and family alike.

With so many interests and talents, Derek excelled at many things, but above all, his greatest achievement was being an amazing father to his daughter, Charlotte Gail. Derek’s happiest moments were spent sharing those things that he loved with his little girl. Whether it was sharing his love of the outdoors by taking her on nature walks to catch lizards, sharing his love of sports by taking her to Jacksonville Jaguar’s football and Suns baseball games or taking her to the zoo to share his love for animals, Derek gifted everything in his life that gave him joy to his beloved daughter. All the things that Derek loved so much in life, his kindness, his laughter and his adventurous spirit will never be gone – they live on in her.

Derek is survived by his daughter Charlotte Gail Beasley, mother Gail Lacey, father and step-mother Dick and Mary Beasley, sister and brother in-law Stephanie and Jimmy Latham and nephew JT Latham; uncle, Ray Siler of Robbinsville, NC; step-sister, Kim Herrin and nephew, Quinton King.

A Celebration of Derek's Life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 20th in Newport News, VA at Peninsula Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that any donations be made to the Jacksonville Humane Society in honor of Derek.