Vearl Beck

Vearl Beck passed from this life on Wednesday October 17th at his home in Erin Springs at ninety years of age after a seven-year battle with heart disease. Vearl was born on November 19, 1916, south of Lindsay as the first of three sons born to John Henry and Eppie Lurah Beck. He was a Lindsay High School graduate where he excelled in baseball with his brother Cleo. Vearl and Maxine James were married for sixty-seven years after aving married at Pauls Valley on August 3, 1940. Through the years Vearl and Maxine worked as a team in farming and cattle operations. In the last seven years of life, Maxine took care of Vearl at home. He continued to be the gentle, good man in his final days as he had been in his earlier healthy years. During the early years of marriage, Vearl and Maxine made a living by farming and working for other people. During the first year of marriage, Vearl earned one-and one-half dollars a day and was paid seven and one-half dollars each Saturday. At one point, Vearl and Maxine were given a sucker crop of broomcorn by Mr. Burford for their own to work for which they cut, threshed, and baled nine bales of broomcorn. This was the beginning as Burr Lindsey sold him a broomcorn seeder and Frank Scroggins made him a "broomcorn boss". A twenty-year career began of leading an average of one hundred broomcorn "johnnies" (those who cut corn) throughout southern Garvin County putting up broomcorn for area farmers, primarily in the Purdy area. Local farm families and students at the High School proved to be his best workers as he could size up one?s ability to work by interviewing them one on one. Vearl was well known and respected for his leadership ability with his employees as he treated them in an understanding and compassionate manner. He had a genuine concern about the welfare of those around him. Maxine was a major force behind his efforts in the work place as she would get the water wagon ready each morning at five a.m. in order for him to get an early start on the hot summer mornings. As the end of the twenty years working broomcorn approached and the end of broomcorn in the Lindsay area was in sight, Vearl began a custom hay business in which he cut and baled area farmers? hay utilizing a machine that had recently been developed called a "hay swather" that he bought from Houston Standridge. He had one of the first hay swathers in the area and was sought after by many to put up their hay. After several years of working for other people in broomcorn and hay, Vearl began to cut back to take care of his cattle and own farming operations in a successful venture that he continued until he could not do it any longer. Vearl never retired, but his body did give out. Vearl enjoyed visiting with friends and family and telling tales of his days in the broomcorn fields. He was especially proud to be his grand-daughter, Whitney?s taxi service as he would often pick her up at her activities. A special joy that Vearl had was attending Whitney?s piano and dance recitals. Vearl was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry and Eppie Lurah Beck. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Elmer Cleo and Bobby Lee Beck. Vearl is survived by his wife, Maxine, of the home. He is also survived by his son Danny Vearl and wife, Valerie and grand-daughter, Whitney of Lindsay. Other grand-children include Daniel Bakewell of Mustang, Jon and Jennifer Bakewell of Piedmont, and Cari and Blaise James, Savannah James, Eden James, and Jaden James. Vearl is survived by his sister-in-law, Earlene Beck, and brother-in-law, Ray Newby. Surviving nephews are Douglas Beck, James Ray Newby, Mickey Newby, Ron Newby, and Kevin Newby. He is also survived by two nieces, Carolyn Beck and Annette Smith. Services for Vearl will be on Friday October 19, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Lindsay, OK. Interment will be at the Purdy Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the directio

Vearl Beck

November 19, 1916 - October 17, 2007

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