James Beeler

  |   

JAMES BEELER James E. Beeler, the Las Vegas Coffee Man, dies at age 70. Sept. 19, 2011, Jim of Las Vegas, passed away peacefully at home, just four days short of his 71st birthday. Jim was born in Springfield, Mo., but moved to Nevada in 1941 with his family. They lived in one of the "Tent Cities" outside of Boulder City, across from Railroad Pass Casino, then moved to McKeeversville as the family looked for work on the Dam. Eventually, the family moved into one of the "six companies" houses in Boulder City, where he grew up. After graduating from Boulder City High School in 1958, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a submariner on a Trident missile sub, the USS Growler for four years. During his Navy tour, he married Sandra Tobler of Boulder City, with whom he had two daughters. Returning to Las Vegas, he went to work for Duncan Foods. This began his career in the coffee business. The company changed hands and names many times throughout the years, such as: Huggins foods, Coca Cola foods, Maryland Club foods, Proctor & Gamble and lastly Superior Coffee. Jim, the "coffee man," was always the one you came to for your coffee needs. Coffee wasn't his only noteworthy accomplishment. His other love, the great outdoors which included horses and the cowboy way. As a member of the wild horse association, he served as president for four years. Jim's love of the outdoors, continued as he purchased 2.5 acres at the end of a dirt road, just outside of Las Vegas and bought horses, chickens and ducks on his own mini ranch. Over the next few years, the ranch saw peacocks, cows, burros and pigs. Being closely tied to nature, Jim went on various hunting and camping trips with his family and friends throughout the years. He was known by all as "One Shot." Jim was also an avid golfer who enjoyed a round of golf in any city he traveled. Following his divorce, Jim married Joan Way. Following a bout with cancer, Joan succumbed to the disease in 1999. Jim reconnected with former Boulder City classmate, Sherry Franceschi and they became companions throughout the rest of his life. They enjoyed traveling to exotic places and entertaining friends and family. Jim is survived by his life companion, Sherry Franceschi; his daughters, Debbra (Bob) Matthews of Las Vegas, Joan (Al) Yates of Carson City; stepchildren, Chad (Randi) Butler of Las Vegas, and Wendy (Mark) Learn of Virginia; grandchildren, Sandra Beeler, Robert (Christine) Matthews Jr., April LeBlanc, Jamie LeBlanc, James Yates and Evan Learn; great-grandchildren, Kristen Harmony Orth, Melody Ann and Tomi Jade LeBlanc; sisters, Anna Mae Ritter of Springfield, Mo., Dottie Erwin of Auburn, Ind., Loraine Axup of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kim Beeler of Linclon, Neb.; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life is pending.