Jedd Alan Beasley, 59, of Freeman, MO passed peacefully March 22, 2017 at his home, surrounded by family and friends. Graveside services were held Saturday, April 1, 2017 in Freeman Cemetery. Contributions to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64137.

Jedd was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania on June 19, 1957. He grew up in Grandview, MO, where he graduated from Grandview High School in 1975. He worked for and ran Beasley Tow, the family business, for over 15 years doing anything and everything that needed to be done from childhood. He had an aptitude for mechanical work and head for numbers, being only a half semester away from a CPA (that he didn't complete because he hated theorems). Jedd was never afraid to get dirty and would work hard at the family business. Being 6' 6" and built like a linebacker was very helpful in his many pursuits. While taking one of his "junkyard" dogs to the vet, he met Melissa Haler who finally agreed to marry him in 1989 after a long courtship and maximum effort by Jedd to win her over. The Beasleys lived in Grandview until 1992.

Jedd and Melissa moved to their farm in Cass County over 25 years ago, where Jedd quickly became a sought-after wise man in the local community. He was self-employed as what most people would consider a jack-of-all-trades, but he was much more than that. Jedd was somebody you could trust and rely upon for anything. He was well loved and many people considered him to be a best friend. Jedd never met a stranger. He was as comfortable talking to a policeman as he was talking to a gang of bikers, a pastor, a doctor, or the ladies at the bank. He was one of those rare men who treated everybody the same and only judged people based on his direct experience with them. Over time, Jedd became the communications hub for a huge circle of friends and acquaintances. His shop on the farm (and sometimes the corner store) was "the" meeting place where you might run in to anybody and everybody. He connected people. If you needed something - call Jedd.

Jedd made a living working at jobs that most people would avoid because they are such hard and dirty work. Yes, he ran the farm and raised cattle, but that was only a fraction of his day. He was always up before dawn. He and his crew would plow snow, mow grass, and do bobcat work for several businesses, large and small. He had contracts with various cities to do maintenance work and nuisance abatement. He and the guys would clear vacant lots, clean out abandoned properties, tow away cars, etc. Once he even climbed on a horse with a lariat to chase down some escaped buffalo on the River Oaks Golf Course. His friend, Georgia, got him hooked on training dogs to do police and drug work. They used the dogs to support the local police departments and to inspect federal facilities for contraband; even working for a while as a police officer. He invested in and operated many businesses including a gun store and pet supply shop. He managed rental properties. Jedd did many things in many different disciplines, but "jack of all trades" just doesn't seem to cover it. "Redneck Renaissance Man" might be more accurate.

Jedd was just Jedd. He had his own style and way of doing things and wasn't really interested in what anybody else thought of him. He wore a uniform work shirt of some kind almost every day. He probably felt naked without a patch that said "JEDD" stitched over his left pocket. If you saw him in a suit, it was because Melissa insisted he wear it to a wedding or somebody forced him to put it on at gun point. Combed hair? Optional most of the time. Jedd loved animals - which came in handy when Melissa would bring home anything with 4 legs (or some odd number or no legs). There might be 5 dogs, 6 cats, a sheep, a sick squirrel, or the odd lizard inside the house at any one time, with many more somewhere on the property. Sure you might have heard Jedd complain about the behavior of this dog or that cat, but he had the same critter in his lap petting it when you weren't looking. He loved animals to the extent that he requested the ashes of his two favorite German shepherds - "Satan" who he owned when he met Melissa and his police dog "Quinton" - be buried with him.

Jedd and Melissa were never blessed with children, but Jedd loved children and was everybody's favorite uncle. He would also go out of his way to help and teach other people's kids. You didn't have to worry about your kids getting bored during parties at the Beasley farm, because the great big kid that lived there would keep them entertained. He was also a big brother and surrogate father to more people than we will ever know.

Jedd finally lost his fight with pancreatic cancer. He was originally given 30 days to get his affairs in order, but Jedd was stubborn and battled for over 19 months. Jedd was a true Christian and had a strong faith in God and country. God bless friends and family.

Jedd was preceded in death by his father, John O. Beasley, and his mother-in-law, Jeannine Kathleen "Kathie" Haler ("the mother of his heart"). He is survived by his wife, Melissa K. (Haler) Beasley of Freeman, MO; his mother, Shirley Althea (Arner) Beasley, KCMO; two brothers Brett Owen Beasley (wife Sherri) Freeman, MO, and Scott Arner Beasley, KCMO; nieces and nephews, Amy LeAnn (Beasley) Weixeldorfer, Chad Owen Beasley, Michelle Kathleen (Hinebaugh) Hood, Christopher Alan Hinebaugh, Isaac Raymond Hindman, Elizabeth Marguerite (Hindman) Willis, Kathleen Grace Hindman, and 8 great nephews.