Townson-Rose Funeral Home

Obituary for Sheldon Beaster


06/01/1939 - 11/24/2018


Sheldon, 79, passed away on November 24 peacefully at home. Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, he was the youngest of four children born to Ida Schirmacher Beaster and Paul Beaster. As a child, he enjoyed spending time at an uncle's dairy farm where he developed a deep and abiding love for farming. As a teenager, he worked for Stam Boat Works, which fueled his love for boating and fishing.

He joined the Army in 1956 at age 17 and soon found himself stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska. In June of 1960, he saw a pretty girl on a ladder at the Alaska State Fair, and he made her, Leslie Landford, his bride just 2 months later. Their children were born in Anchorage, and the family moved to Leslie's home state of Massachusetts in 1968.

Sheldon then went to work for Pickering Oil and rose to the position of Vice President of Sales after a few, short years. During this time, he restored a 36' cabin cruiser that he captained down the Merrimack River and into the Atlantic. Unfortunately, the Atlantic terrified his family. He, then, built a small sailboat that his children loved to sail with him on area lakes. Sheldon served as president of the PTA at South Hampton Elementary in New Hampshire where they lived. He also helped write and starred in the PTA's fundraising comedy, "Nuts and Butts." Always the funny man, he and his cast mates brought down the house with laughter.

Following another dream, Sheldon and Leslie moved to New Sharon, Maine, in 1975 and purchased a 125 acre working veal farm. They enlarged the operation from 1 to 3 veal barns and were happy and successful farmers for 5 years before warmer climes called to them.

In 1981, the Beasters moved to Brandon, Florida, and Sheldon returned to the oil industry working for J.H. Williams Oil for 3 years. However, wanderlust set in, and after a vacation to western North Carolina, they settled in Murphy in 1984; Sheldon established S&L Auto Parts, which their son, Paul, now owns.

Sheldon never met a stranger and loved to entertain all with his stories and jokes. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; he will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister, and his infant son, Paul Wayne. He is survived by his sister, Beverly of Waukesha, WI; his wife, Leslie; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Chuck Allen of Franklin; his son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Tracy (Shields) of Murphy, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and their children.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Townson-Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Murphy. The family will receive friends from1-2 pm at the chapel. Rev. Steve Ware will officiate. Military rites will be conducted by the VFW Post 10222, Joe Miller Elkin American Legion Post #96, D.A.V. Chapter #73, American Legion Post #532 of Hayesville and VFW Post #6812.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hurlburt Johnson Friendship Homeless Shelter at P.O. Box 422, Murphy, NC 28906.

Townson-Rose Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.


You may send tributes to the family at www.townson-rose.com


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