Rev. John Curtis Beatty

John C. Beatty entered this world on April 18, 1939 as the son of Rev. Alfred and Elsie Beatty. He was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana and was the youngest with three siblings Bonnie, Francis and Jim. John was raised in southern Indiana where most farmed and basketball was king. He attended Patoka High School in a graduating class of fifteen students and reminisced of the gym being packed for basketball games, just like in the movie Hoosiers.

John did not want to follow in his father's footsteps. He wanted to move out and "make big money." But when in Junior High in a bad place in Indiana, he had a conversion experience where he accepted Jesus Christ. Soon afterwards, he went forward in church and knelt in prayer. A few years later in his sophomore year in high school, he felt called into the ministry to preach, having a brief vision. Prayer was always important to John.

Altogether he served as a pastor in the Methodist Church in southern Indiana for thirty-eight years. Of those years, he was a pastor in various churches and ended his career serving three years as the Direct Superintendent in New Albany, Indiana. Although a pastor, he didn't hesitate to buy his first car in 1964: a sporty red Mustang.

A the age of thirty-five, John met our mom, Ann, in an elevator at a Faith at Work Conference at Indiana University. He read her nametag, and the relationship took off. They wrote letters and drove halfway between Indiana and Chicago to spend time together. One year later on July 13, 1974, they were married. His biggest prayer was to have a family, and he got a built-in family of three teenage step-children. In 2002, John and Ann retired to Monument, Colorado.

John had three step-children: David, Doug and Martha O'Connor.

Four step-grandchildren: Tim and Kerry O'Connor, Lindsay Sundgren and Michael Petersen and two great grandchildren: Jackson Michael and Maddie Deborah Sundgren. John was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Beatty, step-son David Petersen and grandson Michael Petersen.

John's favorite scriptures:

Philippians 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Jeremiah 20:9

"Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.' But His word was in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not."

Burial will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Castle Rock, Colorado.

If you would like make a donation in memory of John, he was passionate about Wycliffe Bible Translators. Donations may be made to www.wycliffe.org.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 6th at Jackson Creek Senior Living at 2:00 pm.