Obituary
Morris ‘Joe’ Beavers died peacefully in Altoona, Florida on October 11, 2016 at the age of 92.
Joe is survived by his wife of 71 years, Marjorie ‘Midge’ Huber Beavers; their three children, Tom (Ellen) Beavers of Pagosa Springs, CO, Carol (Bill) Skolfield of Ten Mile, TN and Marge (Bill) Preuss of Sandpoint, ID; six grandsons, and one great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Ruth Stout and Laverne Schulze.
Joe was born August 20, 1924 in Avoca, IN to Smith and Mabel Beavers. He attended Shields High School, Seymour, IN, entered the US Army in the Field Artillery Division, later attending University of Wisconsin as part of the ASTP Signal Corps. Following WWII, he attended Purdue University, graduating in 1949 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He married Marjorie ‘Midge’ Huber, his high school sweetheart in 1945. They moved to Chattanooga, TN to begin his career at Chattanooga Electric Power Board, followed by a move to Knoxville, TN with McGraw-Edison, and then to Cleveland, TN where he ended his career as General Manager, Cleveland Utilities. His children proudly remember him as an active participant in Cleveland’s growth in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He served as president of the Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Central Service Association, Tennessee Electric Power Association, Ocoee Council Boy Scouts of America, and First Lutheran Church. He was listed in Who’s
Who in Finance and Industry. He served on the Chamber’s Economic Development Council and Board of Directors for the seven-state Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, American Red Cross, and Junior Achievement. He continued to be involved with his community after retirement as Communications Coordinator.
Joe was an accomplished designer and woodworker, making the family’s first powerboat and canoe, designing his primary residence in Knoxville and Cleveland and building a family cabin on Chickamauga Lake. He was a licensed amateur radio operator for many years. He embraced new technologies. He also enjoyed Sunday drives into the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, camping, boating and photography.
The family held a small memorial service in Tavares, FL on October 15, 2016.
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