Richard Wayne Beavers (known to many as Dick) – dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend – passed away from Alzheimer’s in Memory Care at MorningStar Senior Living in Parker, Colorado on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Dick was born to Wayne and Flora Beavers in Evanston, WY on August 9, 1944. As a child, he grew up in Gypsum, CO. His family, including his younger sister, Barbara, eventually moved to Denver where he attended George Washington High School.
While attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO where he received his bachelor’s degree in History, Dick met the love of his life, Mary Ann. They married on July 15, 1967. They lived a short time in Maryland, VA while Dick served in the U.S. Army before returning to Denver.
Shortly after getting married, Dick was inducted into the U.S. Army on August 3, 1967. He attended basic training at Fort Campbell, KY and ultimately was assigned to serve as part of a two-man military history detachment (Major Miles D. Waldron and Dick) during the Vietnam War. He served in the U.S Army from 1967-1969 and was honorably discharged on August 1, 1973.
Upon returning to Denver, Dick and Mary Ann lived on Green Mountain in Lakewood where Dick received his master’s degree in History from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He then started his 44-year career in the engineering and construction industry with Sterns-Rogers. While he wasn’t an engineer, Dick held several roles over those 44 years and survived several mergers and acquisitions along the way.
Eventually Dick and Mary Ann moved south of Denver to Centennial where they welcomed their first and only child, Kathryn, on October 8, 1978. After Mary Ann was told she would not be able to have children, Kathryn became their miracle child. Dick and his daughter shared a very special bond – a bond that carried an entire lifetime – a bond that will be missed, but never forgotten as they were definitely two peas in a pod.
Being a grandpa came natural to him. Any time the opportunity came to take his grandson (Aiden) to the park or playground he jumped on it. Going for walks, playing in the back yard, having him spend the night at their house, building Legos together, he loved Aiden so much.
Through his 78 years, Dick enjoyed running, hiking, bicycling, skiing, snowshoeing, swimming, photography and jeeping in Southwestern Colorado. He loved being active, being outdoors – he loved being in the mountains. He loved the mountains so much that he successfully climbed all 54 “Fourteeners” and several of them more than once (he ultimately shared his passion of mountain climbing with his son-in-law, Ryan, by taking him on his first ever climb up Grays and Torreys). He participated in Ride the Rockies two years in a row. His love for running continued for most of his life – too many races to count – only stopping because his body couldn’t do it anymore. Even though he couldn’t run towards the end, he was constantly moving – always walking, he couldn’t sit still.
Dick was devoted to his family, friends, health and work. He was the most generous man and would do anything for anyone, no questions asked. He was truly grateful for everything he had in life. He was a very happy person, always smiling. He loved to joke around – he loved to laugh and loved to make others laugh. His laughter was contagious. Fortunately, his sense of humor, his selfless heart, his love for life and his smile and laugh carried him all the way through. He will be dearly missed.
Dick is survived by his daughter Kathryn (Ryan) Dole; his grandson, Aiden Dole; and his uncle and aunt Don and Linda Cox.
A memorial service and celebration of life for Dick will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 10:00am at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary in Littleton (6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerchapelhill.com for the Beavers family.
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