James F. Beatty

James F. Beatty, of Prospect

Founder of the Prospect Boys Club

Inductee of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame

James Folger Beatty, age 88, of Prospect, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, August 18, 2014, in the Good Samaritan Hospice, Cabot.

Born February 2, 1926, in Connoquennessing, he was the son of the late James H. and Grace Clizquennoi Beatty.

He attended the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Prospect, where he loved to serve the Lord with his wife.

Jim proudly served our country in the US Navy during 1945.

We all hold memories of his insurance office on the corner in Prospect, where he started his career in 1954 with the Colonial Life Insurance and retired after 35 years in 1986.  During his work years he became a life member of the Presidents Club where he served on the Presidents Advisory Committee many times.  He always enjoyed his friendship with the different Presidents.   He was a multi winner of the National Colonial Award for his performance and dedication.

Jim will be remembered for his love of sports.  During his younger years he played baseball for Connoquennessing, Evans City, Butler Cubs, West End Bronxs, and the White Oak Springs Church.  He had the opportunity to play minor league baseball for two weeks for the Pittsburgh Pirates in New York.  Jim played three years high school football, and then five years of Butler Cubs semi-pro football team.

In 1953, Mr. Beatty became the proud founder of the Prospect Boys Club, now Prospect Boys and Girls Club, where he wanted to give the community children a place to play and love sports.  As founder, he wanted to be remembered for giving kids the opportunity to play, even when money and times were tough.  He connected his love for kids and sports, and made a lot of the teams and leagues possible for the Prospect area kids.

In 1978, Jim was inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame, where he also served on the committee for years.

He was a member of the United Commercial Travelers Since 1990, and a life member of the NRA.

Survived by his loving wife Naomi Estelle Bicker Beatty, who he married February 15, 1950; his children:  Thomas (Sandra) Beatty of Oregon; Kathryn Mulneix of Butler; Robert (Cindi) Beatty of Red Lion, PA; his grandchildren:  Justin (Tawney) Mulneix, Jason Mulneix, Jacob Mulneix, Leah Beatty, Robert James Beatty, Jr, Jenna Beatty, and his special pet, Banjo.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Jacquelynn Gaiser.

Visitation will be on Thursday, August 21, 2014, from 2-4pm and 6-9pm in the Edward L. Raisley Funeral Home, 387 Main Street, Prospect, PA. 

Funeral service will be on Friday, 11am, in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2251 Prospect Rd, Prospect, with his pastor Rev. Ben Oesterling, officiating.

Interment will be in Crown Hill Cemetery, Prospect.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Prospect Boys and Girls Club, PO Box 462, Prospect, PA 16052.

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