Beade Northcut

Beade O’Brien Northcut, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully during his sleep on August 27, 2022. Visitation with the family will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30 at Pecan Grove Funeral Home in Robinson. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31 at Bethel Methodist Church in Robinson, with Rev. Jerry Freedman officiating.
Beade was born in Brady, TX on October 29, 1934, to Bead Monroe Northcut and Thelma O’Brien Northcut. Beade’s childhood was spent taming the Wild West. He spent his time at his home in Pecos, Texas or at one of the family ranches. He learned the meaning of hard work helping his Granddad O’Brien and his Uncle Jack O’Brien on the O’Brien ranches in West Texas, Colorado and Montana.
Beade graduated with honors from Pecos High School in 1953. He then attended Texas Technological College – now Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He graduated from Tech in May 1959 earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering.
During Beade’s last years at Tech, he began working for the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) as a student trainee. Upon graduation, he was hired as a full-time employee and began a career that would span over 31 years. Beade was a Registered Professional Engineer and a Registered Professional Land Surveyor. It was in Lubbock that he met the love of his life, Darlene Talley. Beade and Darlene were married in Lubbock on November 10, 1960. He worked in the Lubbock area until he was transferred to Van Horn, where they began their crisscross adventures around the state.
Beade and Darlene’s first six years of marriage were filled with birthing babies and moving. Their first child, Cheryle, was born in 1961, David in 1962, Mark in 1963, and Kristi in 1966. The family moved a dozen times all over West Texas before moving to Robinson in 1974.
Beade retired from the SCS on a Friday in 1989 and began working for the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board the next Monday. His second career lasted 10 years and he retired again in December 1999. As his final career, he worked as a private land surveyor until 2014 when Darlene declared that he was finished working.
Beade loved his family, but he also loved his country. He enlisted in the National Guard at the age of 18 and later completed Officer Candidate School in the Army Reserve. He retired from the military as a Lt. Colonel on his 60th birthday. Beade served on the Board of Directors of the Heart O’ Texas Federal Credit Union for approximately 38 years. He was also active in the Robinson’s Lion Club and the Robinson High School Band Boosters.
Beade watched each of his children graduate from Robinson High School as well as Texas Tech University. He also had the honor of welcoming ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren into his legacy. Beade and Darlene were blessed to have the opportunity to travel near and far, but always together. They especially enjoyed celebrating many anniversaries with friends and family in Branson. Beade was able to enjoy his last visit to Branson with family and friends in May 2022.
While his earthly accomplishments were numerous, Beade’s greatest legacy was his faith. He was a devoted disciple of Christ and lived his life as an active and living testimony of God’s work in his life. His greatest gift to his family was the absolute certainty of his eternal salvation. Beade stepped into the gates of heaven on August 27, 2022. His earthly remains will be placed next to Darlene near the family ranch in Shep, TX but his final resting place is in the arms of his Savior and Lord. He was preceded to Heaven by his wife of 59 years, Darlene, his parents Bead and Thelma and his sister, Becky Maxwell. Beade’s legacy continues through his four children Cheryle Tyson and husband Bob, David Northcut and wife Claire, Mark Northcut, Kristi Johnson and husband Russell. He is also survived by his ten grandchildren Stephen Northcut and wife Rhea, Nicolas Northcut, Cliff Johnson, Armand Northcut, Jake Johnson, Shannon Northcut, Willem Northcut, Mari Kate McLaughlin and husband Jackson, Jack Tyson and Lars Northcut. Beade had two great granddaughters, Eleanor and Alexandra Northcut. He is also survived by his church family from Bethel Methodist Church in Robinson and dear friends and extended family from across the state.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be directed to Mission Waco, 1315 N. 15th Street, Waco, Texas 76707, (254) 753-4900, the Salvation Army-Waco, P.O. Box 268, Waco, Texas 76703 or Bethel Methodist Church of Robinson, 104 South Old Robinson Road, Robinson, Texas 76706, 254-662-3913.