Gaylon Neil Beasley

Gaylon Neil Beasley, 86, of Brighton, passed away peacefully at home of natural causes with his loved ones by his side on November 1, 2024 at 10 p.m.  

He was born on February 24, 1938 in Covington at his childhood home on Douglas Street and spent his childhood watching western cinema, playing cowboys and Indians and shooting marbles with friends.  While attending Byars Hall High School, he played a variety of sports, including track, basketball, football and baseball; he enjoyed baseball the most.  A dedicated artist, he earned an M.A. in education in 1961 while playing baseball at Memphis State University.

Teaching art for over thirty years at Oakhaven High School, he inspired hundreds of students to pursue excellence while creating lifelong relationships, all of which he cherished.

As a historian and member of the Tipton County Historical Society, and after years of research, archaeological expeditions and countless interviews, Gaylon authored True Tales of Tipton,  a historical book that accurately depicted the unique stories of Tipton County, Tennessee's earliest settlers along with the heritage of the area, preserving our local history for generations to come.  First published in 1981, there was a long line of people eager to meet Gaylon at his book signing event.  This meant at great deal to him.  His book was reprinted in 2007 due to its great success and copies are still being regularly sold around the world to this day.

Being a history buff, his favorite pastime was metal detecting with friends at Civil War battlegrounds and forts as well as nearby creeks collecting and appreciating the history of the items discovered.  Gaylon's other hobbies included collecting vintage, handmade and rare marbles as well as studying his family's genealogy.

A Christian, he possessed wit, a comforting sense of humor and a compassion for those who surrounded him.  He was selfless in everything he did.  Raising his three grandchildren and providing for them by himself while in his seventies, he was a father to them and always put their safety, happiness and success above his own retirement and ambitions.  He had a very high standard of character epitomizing humbleness, cleanliness of the tongue and Godly living.

He is preceded in death by his father, Melvin Forrest Beasley; his mother, Berxie Dycus Beasley; his wife, Claudette Pitts Beasley; his son, Bryan Neil Beasley and his sister, Mary Francis Beasley. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Boswell; his granddaughters, Brianna Copley and Allyssa Beasley; his great granddaughter, Addison Copley and his grandson, Reagan Beasley and his wife Ivy, who were his loving caregivers and who were with him in his last moments. 

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 on Wednesday, November 6 at the Clopton Cemetery in Brighton.  The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6 at the Covington Funeral Home.