Ralph Duane Beal

Ralph Duane Beal, 69, of Paris, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, at Paris Regional Medical Center. Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled services for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13th, at East Paris Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Fortenberry officiating. Private burial will follow in Red Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Ralph, the son of Doyle & Marguerite Stout Beal, was born Dec. 29, 1946, in Canton. He graduated from Canton High School and went on to receive his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas Tech University. During his college years he served in the National Guard. He started as a County Extension Agent in Wise County. He then moved to Honey Grove where he was a rancher and opened Southwest Crop Insurance in Honey Grove and remained in agricultural insurance until his death. He had served on the board of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. Ralph was a longtime member of East Paris Baptist Church. He loved Texas Tech sports and was an avid Red Raider fan. His parents preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Kennette Billings Beal, children, Blayne Beal of Lubbock, Brandt Beal of Dallas, Kenton Beal & wife Stephanie of Sherman, Kelsey Beal of Lubbock and Keldon Beal of Lubbock, a grandson, Kreed Beal of Sherman, brother, Rollin Beal & wife Carol of Canton, father-in-law & mother-in-law, Kenneth & Wanda Billings of Paris, brother-in-law, Tim Billings & wife Lisa of Hattiesburg, MS, two nieces and one nephew, Taylor Billings of New York City, NY, Trenton Billings of San Angelo and Rachel Gilbert of Denton along with a multitude of lifelong friends. Casket bearers will be: Freddie Daughtrey, Jay Daughtrey, Clinton Lennon, Phillip Senn, Ronnie Ballard, Gaylon Maddox, Brian Robbins, Arlon Mitchell, Johnny Crawford and Bobby Smallwood. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Red Raider Club supporting Texas Tech Student-Athletics, c/o The Red Raider Club, Box 45055, Lubbock, TX 79409.