Obituary of James Beale

Beale, James H., was a self-made man in the truest sense of the word. He was born in Oklahoma City to Harold and Patricia Beale and he passed from this life Thursday, December 7 at the age of 77. Jim attended St. Gregory's School in Shawnee and then moved to Tulsa to attend Rogers High School where he was a wrestler and junior class social chairman. He graduated from OSU with a Business degree and worked in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity kitchen to pay his way through school. He was a cheerleader and an SAE there. Jim married Mary McCullough, wife of 39 years and went into the Air Force, serving in the Korean War, but first having to obtain a waiver for admission because of poor eyesight. He returned home to serve in the Oklahoma Air National Guard where he rose to the rank of Major. Jim went to TU for his MBA through an education grant from the military. He first worked several years for PSO in personnel management and then for NRG Oil Co. in a similar position. But his entrepreneurial spirit spurred him onto other business ventures including opening three Tulsa restaurants, Top Dog, then Coney Corner, Frank-n-Stein, and later he provided mass produced sandwiches and foods to Quik Trip stores. He also created a trademarked travel game for children called Doodle Noodle and a communication device for parents called "Tell-A-Mom." But after all of this, he discovered his business niche in building homes, particularly for first-time home buyers through the FHA farm home administration and developing property for housing additions with other partners in Select Homesites. He formed Beale Co. Builders, Inc. and was a lifetime board member of the Tulsa Home Builders' Association, earning the "Spike" and "Spirit" awards for his business success and work for that organization. He was instrumental in establishing the first Home Ownership of Tulsa project, as the major builder in providing homes to low income residents. He built thousands of homes in various additions in Tulsa, Glenpool, Collinsville, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks and Broken Arrow. He later joined Cedar Ridge Country Club to enjoy a good game of golf, his favorite sport. There are many untold stories of his generosity to clients and friends. He coached his daughter Julie's softball team and one of his greatest joys during the past few years has been watching his grandsons play ball. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Bill LaFortune, Julie and Robert Miles and five grandchildren, Jackie, Olivia, Billy, Bailey and Brett. A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Monday, Asbury Methodist Church, Mason Chapel, 6767 S. Mingo. Donations may be made to the Millennium Center through Tulsa Partners, Inc., P.O. Box 2192, Tulsa, 74102 or Habitat for Humanity in Tulsa. Ninde Woodland Chapel - 728-8500 www.ninde.com