Don was born on Dec. 27, 1931 in Belmont, to Annie Maier Beaty and Fred W. Beaty. He grew up in Belmont where he earned his Eagle Scout award at the age of 14, and was active in the First Methodist Church. Don graduated from Belmont High School in 1950 and earned Commencement Awards for "Best High School Citizen," "Bible," and "Quill and Scroll." He was also state Beta Club president his senior year. He remained close with his high school classmates through the years. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1954 from Duke University with majors in English Literature and History. Honors at Duke included being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Who's Who, and into Omicron Delta Kappa (men's national leadership honorary fraternity). During his time at Duke, Don also served as president of the Western North Carolina Conference Methodist Youth Fellowship. At the close of his senior year, Don received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, an award honoring a male and female graduating senior whose character embodied the qualities of selflessness, generosity of service, nobility of character, integrity, and deep spirituality. The following statement was read at the time of the award presentation: "Because of his unselfish and effective contributions to his university, his community, his church-especially in recognition of his exemplary leadership of young people by word and deed, of his worthwhile contributions to the student body through the Young Men's Christian Association and the Men's Student Government Association, of his generous use of his musical abilities, and of his dedication of his many talents to God and to the Church, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award is presented to Fred Donald Beaty." Don received his Master of Divinity Degree from Duke in 1957 and was student body president his senior year. Don married the love of his life, Emily Nan Grier, on June 18, 1955 and they had a wonderful and loving life together. Don and Emily celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 18, 2005 with a reception at Central United Methodist Church in Concord, with many family and friends in attendance, including most of the members of their wedding party and friends from the churches he had served. Don had a profound and lasting impact on the lives and faith of many people through his more than 40 years of service as a United Methodist minister in the Western North Carolina Conference. Don served the following United Methodist churches during his career: Fair View United Methodist Church, Mount Mourne; Plaza UMC, Charlotte; West Bend UMC, Asheboro; Bethel UMC, Greensboro; Sedgefield Lakes UMC and Hickory Grove UMC, Greensboro; Madison UMC, Madison; Weddington UMC, Weddington; Cokesbury UMC, Charlotte; Central UMC, Concord; and Boger City UMC, Lincolnton. Don was also an active member of the conference, serving as chairman of the Board of Global Ministries and as president of the Conference Brotherhood/Sisterhood. Following his retirement in 1997, Don served 2 interim pastorates at Bethpage UMC, Kannapolis and at Milford Hills UMC, Salisbury. Don is survived by his wife of 53 years, Emily Grier Beaty of Concord, son, Rufus F. Beaty and his wife, Beth, of Greenville, S.C., daughter, Susan Beaty Hamner and her husband, Mark, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and son, Harold Grier Beaty and his wife, Laura, of Winston-Salem. Don shared much love, joy and laughter with all of his grandchildren and imparted important life lessons to each of them: Ben and Chris Hamner of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Grace and Julia Beaty of Greenville, S.C. and Emily and Thomas Beaty of Winston-Salem. Don is also survived by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Beaty Bowen of Belmont, and his brother, R. Carroll Beaty and his wife, Margaret of Richlands, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Source: The Independent-Tribune, June 1, 2009, Concord, NC