Thomas Earl Beaty

Mr. Thomas Earl Beaty passed away at his home on February 16, 2010. Mr. Beaty was born November 29, 1913. A native of Bradley County; he lived most of his life here, with the exception of a few years in Birmingham, Alabama where he worked at the T.C.I. Plant. Upon returning to Cleveland he worked at DuPont and took over the family farm raising hogs and cattle. Earl bought a John Deere bulldozer to use on the farm and was soon recruited by a neighbor to dig a pond for him and that launched a career in excavation that spanned forty plus years. He was recognized for his expertise in the landscaping business and appeared on the cover of John Deere trade magazine. Earl was invited to their home office to assist in the design of new dozers. Earl worked with some of the well known builders of his time and was honored for his charity by several civic organizations over the years. Earl enjoyed his many friends and had lots of fun at the "liar's tables" around town. Earl celebrated fifty three years of marriage before the loss of his wife Lois (Willie) Beaty in 1988. Earl and Willie owned and operated Earl's Pit Bar-B-Que drive-in on Wildwood Ave. during the late forties and through the fifties. A popular hang-out for the kids; where life-long friendships were formed. Earl said he was blessed to have two wonderful women in his life when he married Donna Anderson Beaty. They took a honeymoon trip to the Grand Canyon and had many good times on week-end trips over the years. Earl was preceded in death by his daughter, Sherry Tunks; parents, Thomas Portman and Bertie Beaty; infant brother, J.D; sister and brother-in-law, Hazel and Burt Biling. Earl is survived by his loving and caring wife, Donna Beaty and stepsons, Steve (Janice) Anderson of Nashville and Dale Anderson of Cleveland and several step grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother, Zenith (Peggy) Beaty; his daughter, Brenda Remine and one grandson, Thomas Vichael Holland; nieces, Carol (Eddie) Corum, Pam (Clyde) Mathews, Gail (Billy) Walker, Beirne' Beaty and nephew, Zeno Beaty and several great and great-great nieces and nephews; Hebert Swetman and family of Tucson, Arizona. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2010 in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with the Reverend Gary Sears and Reverend Frank Evans officiating. Interment will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, February 21, 2010 in the Mt. Olive Church of God Cemetery with Bruce Parton, E. Joe Cannon, Jack Duggan, Howard Mathews, Dennis Parker and Marvin Hickman serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2010 at the funeral home and from 6-7 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the funeral home prior to the service. Memorials may be made to: Mt. Olive Church of God Cemetery Fund, 3522 Harrison Pike W., Cleveland, TN 37311 or to Hospice of Chattanooga, Inc., 4355 Hwy. 58, Suite 101, Chattanooga, TN 37416 We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Beaty family guestbook at www.fikefh.com