Donald Richard Beeson, Sr.

Notes:

D. R. Beeson, Sr. was born May 3, 1881 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. In 1900 Beeson attended Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania where he specialized in mathematics. He left college after two years when his funds ran low. Beeson began work as a draftsman for United States Steel in Gary, West Virginia. With his background in mathematics and drafting and his natural ability to draw, Beeson decided on architecture and completed a correspondence course in the subject.

In 1905, Beeson moved to Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia in order to work with George L. Carter, who was consolidating railroads and coal companies in south central Appalachia to form the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway. He remained in Bristol until 1912 when he moved to Johnson City, Tennessee to open his architectural practice.

Donald married Elma Lillian Rankin on 31 Aug 1915 in , Greene County, Tennessee, . Elma (daughter of Prof. Thomas Samuel Rankin and Mary Isabel Coile) was born on 8 May 1889 in , Greene County, Tennessee, ; died on 7 Jan 1979 in , Washington County, Tennessee, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Reuben Young Ellison on 3 Sep 1946. Reuben was born on 14 Nov 1907 in , Pickens County, South Carolina, ; died on 21 Mar 1991 in , Orange County, Florida, . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Donald married Helen Lois Still on 19 Dec 1950 in , Washington County, Tennessee, . Helen (daughter of Frank Barrett Still and Ida Mae Bolling) was born on 12 Aug 1926 in Wise County, , , Virginia; died on 5 Sep 2009. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: John Frederick Helms. John was born on 7 Apr 1919 in , , Wisconsin, ; died on 18 Nov 2014. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

JOHNSON CITY - Janet Ann “Jann” Gouge, age 64, passed away at home in October of 2022. Jann was born on April 17, 1958 and was a lifelong resident of Johnson City.

Jann graduated from Science Hill High School and the University of Tennessee. Jann was a Special Education teacher who served as a resource math teacher at Science Hill High School and Liberty Bell Middle School. She had a gift for working with students who were sometimes the hardest to reach. It was her desire to see them succeed. She also served as a home bound teacher before she retired.

She loved all things Scottish and enjoyed researching her family heritage as a Rankin descendant as well as participating in Scottish fiddling with her mother, Ann Gouge. It was a dream come true for her to visit Scotland and Northern Ireland with the Appalachian Studies program at ETSU. She also served a brief time as a missionary to Venezuela working with students and developing a program for urban teenagers.

As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, she loved UT football and basketball. Jann was an accomplished photographer who enjoyed documenting family and life. She was an avid reader as evidenced by the hundreds of books which decorated her home.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Johnson City for many years, and also Fountain of Life Church of Washington County.

Jann was preceded in death by her parents, Ann Beeson Gouge and Gerry C. Gouge.

She is survived by many cousins, including: Rick Beeson, Ann Caroline Bean, Mary Beth Poliak, and David Ellison. The family is very grateful for the many years of friendship and kindness shown to Jann by Renee Pitts and Steven Tester.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.