Benjamin David Beam, dedicated husband, fabulous father and Poppy, loving son and brother, died peacefully at his home on November 11, 2015.  While we may have lost our finest shepherd, he is now with the greatest shepherd. Born June 9, 1957, in Manteca, California, Ben attended grade school at Modesto Adventist Academy then graduated from East Union High School.  Ben went to San Joaquin Delta College and then on to Fresno State to earn his Bachelor’s degree before completing  his Master’s Degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  Ben taught at Denair High School before his college teaching career began at Lassen College. He instituted a rodeo and livestock judging team there, and began traveling the state and nation competing with passion and commitment.  In 1994, he came back to his roots and alma mater at San Joaquin Delta College, teaching agriculture and building livestock judging teams of young and talented individuals.
   Ben was a devoted and dedicated husband to his wife Terri for 29 years. To his four children Lacey, Andrew, Casey, and Shaylynn, and his daughter-in-law Chelsea, he displayed consummate strength, love, and courage.  His adored granddaughter Brenyn Lynn was everything he ever dreamed of wrapped up in a beautiful package of vitality, expression, and blonde curls.
   Ben was a good boy and an even better man to his parents Merwin and Annette Beam and to his sisters; Shonna Beam and Tammy Brooks.
   He is preceded in death by his little brother, Andrew Scott. He has scores of nieces and nephews, cousins and in-laws, and aunts and uncles who loved and respected him dearly. To his friends, colleagues, students, and the livestock industry, Ben represented unmatched loyalty, love, professionalism, compassion, and expertise.  Ben’s love of cooking, of livestock and horses, of fishing and hunting, and of knife-making and leather work, touched the corners of our country. He loved to gently guide and impart his wisdom in quiet but authoritative ways. Ben is and will continue to be the finest example of someone who will outlive his life.
   P.L.Fry & Son is honored to be serving the Beam family. A celebration of life memorial will be held at  the Escalon Covenant Church, on Saturday, November 21, at 11a.m.
   In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the   Bank of the West, C/O Ben Beam Educational Benefit Fund, 1633 1st St., in Escalon, CA 95320

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, November 17, 2015