Joseph Paul Beeson Sr. went to be with the Lord in the early morning of Friday, June 5, 2015, at his home in Hoopa, which he built with his own hands. He was surrounded by his children and wife at the time, and went peacefully in his sleep after a lengthy battle with cancer. At the age of 78, he fought to the very end like a warrior … a Hupa Warrior.

Joseph was born on May 15, 1937, at the old Indian Hospital in Hoopa to Marilouise Masten Beeson and Ernest “Ernie” Beeson Sr. While in the nursery, Joe met for the first time, his life love to be, and surviving wife of 58 years, Audry May Carpenter Beeson. Audry’s mother, Mary Carpenter, and Marilouise Beeson shared a room together while they gave birth to Joe and Audry during that time in May 1937.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Ernest “Ernie” Beeson Sr. and Marilouise Masten Beeson; his brothers: David Beeson, Ernest “Ernie Bird” Beeson Jr., William “Puggy” Gray; his sister: Lorrie Sanderson; his Grandparents David and Ada Baldwin Masten; Arnold and Bessie Beeson; his uncles: Paul Masten Sr., Cecil “Snag” Masten, Harold Masten, Leonard “Duke” Masten Sr. and David Masten; his four aunts: Imogene “Toots” Wolfinbarger, Mildred “Millie” Gray, Edith “Edie” Gray and Ada Mae “Bubbles” LaValle.

Joe is survived by his wife Audry May Beeson, daughters Julie Beeson Stewart and husband Rick, Patricia Beeson St. Denis, and son Joseph “Joe Joe” Beeson Jr. and his wife Catrina; his grandchildren; Trisha and Luis Cisneros, Joel and Victoria Beeson, Joseph “Joey” Beeson III, and Richard Stewart III; his great-grand children; Jocelyn and Audriana Cisneros; his brothers and sisters; Diane and Harold “Lucky” Reed, Lois and Don Perkins, Donna Parker and Clyde Moon, Arnold “Arnie” Beeson, and Kathleen and David Casebier.

As a young child, Joe lived in the Branscomb and Fieldbrook areas and several other locations over the years while his parents followed the logging industry. They soon returned to Hoopa and ran E.A. Beeson Logging while Joe attended Hoopa Elementary School. Joe learned at a young age the definition of hard work. As the eldest child of ten, Joe filled in at home for his father who worked long hours in the woods. Joe tended the farm animals, collected and split firewood, hunted and fished for meat for the family, collected fruits and mushrooms, mended fence and cut hay for the cattle. Most of this was done in the early morning hours before school, where he played three or four sports and often stayed after school into the late evening for practice. Joe maintained CSF recognition throughout high school.

Joe also made time to celebrate his culture, and attended the Jump, Brush and White Deer Skin dances regularly. Joe was mentored in the traditions of fishing, hunting and gathering not only by his father Ernie, but also by his uncle Harold and uncle Duke. Some of Joe’s favorite past times growing up were setting net, hooking eels at the mouth of the Klamath, running a trigger net during high waters, picking abalone in Fort Bragg, hunting deer, and gathering mushrooms.

Joe also had a love of sports, where he began to show off his abilities at Hoopa Valley High School. At 5’ 7”, Joe was small in stature, however made up for it with speed, determination, and hard work. In basketball, Joe was one of Hoopa’s leading scorers and assists. In football, Joe played running back, middle line backer, and free safety. He had the ability to “hit his opponents with speed and torpedo like impacts” were often descriptions of his tackles. Joe was inducted into the Times-Standard Team of the Century in 1999 for his accomplishments as Defensive Back at Hoopa High School in 1954.

Joe’s forte was the game of baseball. His speed as an outfielder foiled many “would-be” base hits. His arm threw many out at home plate, because he often rocketed the ball over the cutoff fielder straight to the catcher. He was described as a natural in baseball.

Late into his sophomore year of high school, Joe would again encounter his love to be, Audry Carpenter. Joe courted Audry, who lived all the way up South Fork Mountain at the Carpenter Ranch in Salyer. Their first date was a trip to the Brush dances in Hoopa. Audry’s father, Walter Carpenter, was not too pleased with his daughter returning at 6 a.m. the next morning … Joe and Audry went on to fall in love, and graduated High School in 1955. They were the first graduating class to have commencement ceremonies in the new high school facilities.

Both went on to attend Humboldt State College, where Joe played football and baseball. In the summer of 1956, Joe and Audry were married, and their first daughter, Julie, was born in November 1957. Joe worked summers for his father’s logging business, and Audry elected to drop out of college in order to support the small family with additional income she earned pulling on the green chain at Carolina-Cal. plywood mill.

Joe’s talents in sports once again made him a valuable asset to his football and baseball teams for the Humboldt Lumberjacks. Joe had many highlights as a football player for Humboldt State, but his most memorable was his team traveling to Hilo, Hawaii to play football. In baseball, he again excelled as a hitter and outfielder. He ended his college baseball career with a batting average over .300. Joe is the only Hoopa tribal member ever to be inducted into HSU sports Hall of Fame – not just once but twice, for accomplishments in football and baseball. His photos and plaques, and team accomplishments are all on display in the HSU campus wall of fame.

After graduating Humboldt State College, Joe had a desire to return to the Hoopa Valley and teach the youth. While at Hoopa Valley High School, Joe taught everything from the sciences to physical education. Over his 37 years of teaching he also held the titles of Athletic Director, Coach and Principal. His passion was coaching sports where he led numerous football and baseball teams to league championships and North Coast section championships. He was dedicated to his students and their successes. His students knew him as Mr. Beeson or just simply “Coach.”

Joe was a man of great integrity and uncommon character. His presence garnered respect. He was meticulous in his ways and diligent at his every endeavor. His sense of humor and desire to tease caused a great raucous wherever he went. Joe spent 3 ½ years building his home, working long hours on weekends, after school and summer vacations. He had an uncompromising work ethic. At home (off the field), Joe was a loving, gentle, family man; on the field, he was an intense competitor. Many years ago, Joe chose our Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, bringing much comfort to his family and giving him a sense of peace.

In his adult years, Joe played baseball for local town teams, furthering his lifelong college friendships with so many teammates. Joe and Audry had two more children, Pattie and Joe Joe; all three children are six years apart. Audry always joked about putting one child in Kindergarten and having another. Joe was honored to be a Grand Marshall for Hoopa’s Sovereign Day celebration. Joe had many hobbies which included; enormous gardens and orchard, camping, fishing, hunting, raising chickens, gold mining, collecting sports memorabilia, and following the successes of local sports stars. He also had immense passion for his San Francisco teams, the 49ers and Giants. He never missed a game on TV or radio. Even during his battles with cancer and undergoing long hours of chemotherapy, he would listen to the games on the radio in his car between Eureka and Hoopa.

His true love, however, was his wife Audry. While working full-time as well, Audry kept the family life stable and helped Joe process all the crops and bounty. Audry also ran their businesses over the years, Audry’s Department Store, Joe’s Deli, and Cup of Joe coffee shop. Joe and Audry had a secret…..even during the most heated disagreements, they would steal glances of one another across the room as if they had first met, falling in love all over again. Their marriage was truly meant for eternity.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at 11 a.m., at the Hoopa Valley Neighborhood Facilities (11900 CA-96, Hoopa, CA. 95546). A private viewing for close family and friends will be held at 10:00 a.m. the same day. Graveside services will be at the Hoopa Tribal Cemetery, with a potluck reception following at the Hoopa Tribal Fire House, Highway 96, across from the high school football field.

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The above obituary was submitted by Joseph Beeson’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.