James Edward “Jim” Beamer passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Owasso, Oklahoma, at the age of 86 years. He was born September 23, 1937, the son of Rolla L. Beamer and Florence Marie Ullrich Beamer.
Jim graduated from Ottumwa (Iowa) High School in 1955. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in three years from Parsons College in Fairfield Iowa, in 1958. Jim had his first teaching position at age 20, at Albia High School in Albia, Iowa. In 1960 he applied for and received a National Foundation scholarship for the improvement of mathematics and science teachers. He received a master’s degree in mathematics from Notre Dame University in 1961. He taught there for the next two years in Knoxville, Iowa, and Evans Junior High in Ottumwa, Iowa. He transferred to Ottumwa High School replacing C.N. Johnson who was retiring. He was there for three years.
Jim married Alyce Jane Holton which ended in divorce in 1966. They had one daughter, Robyn.
Jim began teaching mathematics at Pershing College in Beatrice, Nebraska, in 1966. In 1967, he married Patsy K. Young, and she and her son, Shane, moved to Beatrice. Jim attended the University of Nebraska while teaching at Pershing College and received his doctorate degree in mathematics education in 1971.
Jim, Patsy, and Shane moved to Saskatoon, Canada, in 1971, where Jim was teaching mathematics and the University of Saskatchewan. Jim obtained a sabbatical from the university in 1978. He and Patsy moved to Eugene, Oregon, where Jim obtained a master’s degree in computers in education.
Jim and Patsy returned to Saskatoon where he resumed teaching duties at the University of Saskatchewan. During the next 25 years, Jim published several articles in the “The Mathematics Teacher”. He was also involved in the development of the math curriculum and supported the conversion to metric system at the provincial level.
Upon retirement in 1995 as a full professor from the University of Saskatchewan, he was awarded Professor Emeritus status.
Jim and Patsy moved to Owasso, Oklahoma, in 1995. Jim accepted a position at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and remained there for the next nine years, retiring in 2005.
He is survived by his wife, Patsy, of 56 years, son Shane Young, daughter, Robyn Monaghan, grandson, Kael Young, granddaughter, Bonnie Singleton, and great grandson, Axel Young, and several nieces and nephews.
Private family inurnment will be held at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Jim’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6660 South Sheridan Road, Suite 202, Tulsa, Oklahoma, or at www.alz.org. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
www.moweryfs.com
