SGT, U.S. Marine Corps, VIET NAM

Rev. Ritchie Beaver was born February 2, 1953, at Tahlequah. He died May 22, 1993, on the Mossomin Reserve in Saskatchewan, Canada, where he was serving as a missionary. A song service was held at Merritt Funeral Home in Eufaula on May 28 and funeral services were held May 29 at the First Baptist Church of Eufaula. Officiating were Rev. Raymond Beaver, Rev. Richard Pickup and Rev. Jimmy Anderson. Pallbearers were Robert James, Byar Beaver, Terry Osecap, Peter Oseca and Glon Davis. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Merritt Funeral Home, Eufaula, with the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard conducting military rites.

He had graduated from Eufaula where he excelled in academics and athletics. He participated in track, English, speech and drama. He was a finalist in the state competition in original oratory. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1971 to 1974 and was a platoon honorman. He was baptized by the late Rev. William Kelley on June 3, 1961, licensed to preach by the Central Baptist Church in Oklahoma City on October 1, 1984, and was ordained into the ministry in 1989 by Okfuskee Baptist, his home church. He and his wife were volunteers of New Hope Baptist in Banner, OK, where he served as interim pastor, before going into mission work in Canada.

He was married on May 16, 1979, to the former Molline Davis in a ceremony performed by Rev. George Jesse at Spring Baptist in Sasakwa. She survives. His other survivors include his son, John Beaver and daughter Tusa Jane Beaver, both of Cochin, Saskatchewan, Canada; his parents, Rev. Raymond and Hattie Beaver of Eufaula; three brothers, Robert Beaver of Texas, and James Beaver and Byar Beaver, both of Eufaula; and a host of other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his brother, Solomon Mitchell Beaver.

Contributor: Dion Francis