March 4, 1940 ~ August 27, 2023
Joseph Robert Beers, 83, of Harrison, TN passed away Sunday, August 27, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born in Lima, Ohio to the late Judson Pattison Beers and Mary Viola Shively Beers on March 4, 1940. He grew up on a farm in Wapakoneta and served in the Army in Korea. He then farmed his parents farm and his own farm, and then joined G.A. Wintzer & Son, also in Wapakoneta. He then drove a delivery truck for Wonder Bread, before beginning his career in sales and sales management at Moore Business Forms. His career involved moves to 8 different locations, including, Lima and Findley, Ohio; Livonia and Lake Orion, Michigan, Indianapolis, Indiana, St. Louis, Missouri, Houston Texas, and latterly, Chattanooga Tennessee starting in 1989. Joe was a Christian, strong in his faith, a “Jesus was a liberal” Christian, “whatever you did for the least of these, you did unto me.” He was a Christian in the truest sense. His favorite verse was Romans 8:28, “All things work together for those who love the lord.” He never wore his beliefs on his sleeve. In fact, he found those who took every opportunity to tell you were a Christian offensive. He simply lived it through his actions. He was proud of his growth as a believer over the years. He used his faith to help others and people adored Joe for his giving, loving personality.
Joe looked for, and usually found the good in everyone he met. People responded to him, and these last weeks’ illustrated that. Nurses, staff at the hospital, hospice, neighbors, friends, everyone he encountered loved him, because he was always focused on the other person and their needs. Even when he was facing his own personal difficulties, he remained focused on others, and he got that love back from people.
He was one of the smartest, most well read people you’d ever come across. As someone once said, a man’s mind is like a library, and when a man dies, especially a man like Joe, it’s like a great library burning to the ground. He also, restored antique toy and pedal tractors, as well as antique garden tractors. He was a student of history and politics and always had great insights to share with others.
“Beyond the grave, the good will be rewarded as they never were in life; there must be a place, where the souls of the just are kept, awaiting their final resurrection and vindication. We cannot understand these matters, but we believe that God is just and that even after death we are, as we always have been in his hands.” So as we think about Joe, and the people that were lucky enough to know him, this passage from the Book of Wisdom seems to fit.
He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Charlie Beers, Wanda Warren and Grace Barnes.
Survivors include his Wife, Linda Faye Beers, Son, Brian Beers, Daughter, Kerri (Brad) Harrison, and Son, Scott (Kristen) Sharp, Daughter, Angelique (Darren) Ivey, three Grandchildren, Luke Sharp, Georgia Sharp and Hannah Ivey; first wife, Karen Sue Beers, mother of Brian Beers and Kerri Harrison.
To share condolences with the Beers family and view live webcasting of the funeral visit www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.
Funeral service will be held Friday, September 1, 2023, at 12:00 Noon in the South Crest Chapel.
Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1:30 pm with Military Honors provided by the US Army and the American Legion Post 95.
The family will receive friends Friday from 10:00 am until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, Rossville, GA.
Funeral Home in Charge
