Jerry Beatty

Jerry Beatty was born September 4, 1935, in Fresno, California, and was the middle child of Warren and Ruby (Kincheloe) Beatty.  He passed away due to complications associated with cancer on June 25, 2025. 

Jerry attended local schools and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1953. After high school, he studied engineering at Fresno State College and upon graduation he was employed at North America Aviation.  He also worked at Aerojet Corporation and United Technologies before joining Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, where he spent most of his career.  He was a mechanical design engineer, CAD/CAM administrator, and eventual group leader until his retirement in 1993.

After retirement, Jerry and his wife, Raquel, moved to Beaver Lake, Arkansas and then later to Canon City, Colorado where they have lived since 1999.

Always an active outdoorsman, he spent his youth mountaineering and fishing with his cousins in the Sierras and nearby mountains around Fresno. As a loving husband and father, he enjoyed hunting and boating with his family.  His hunting dogs, Patches and Earl, held a special place in his heart. 

He introduced his family to snow skiing, which was a favorite winter activity. Upon retirement he spent many years with the Canonland Walkers, hiking trails throughout the southwest, including an ascent of Mt. Whitney in California.

Jerry had many other talents including gardening, stain glass art, raising chickens, turkeys, and horses. He was also an avid woodworker, creating and crafting furniture for his family and friends. His pizza paddles and cutting boards were treasured gifts.  He was an enthusiastic wood carver and enjoyed his weekly sessions with his friends.

As he always stated, “A family that plays together, stays together”.  In addition to boating and skiing, he ensured his family lived by that motto with memorable family vacations spent jet skiing on Beaver Lake and fishing trips to Alaska.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Raquel (Ohe); his children, Christopher (Katherine) Beatty and Janna (Curt) Mitchke; and his grandchildren, Mark, Thomas, Brianna, and Teagann. He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Ruby; his brother, Don; his sister, Bernadine; his son, Matthew; and his grandchild, Luke.

He enjoyed life and will always be remembered as one who was there to help others whenever needed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church in Canon City on July 9, 2025 at 10:30. A reception/luncheon will be held after the service.

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