Charles "Chuck" Vernon Beckham

Charles Vernon “Chuck” Beckham, 90 of Copperas Cove, Texas, formerly of Nacogdoches, Texas, passed away October 11, 2021. He was born September 18, 1931 in Austin, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 9:00am until service time on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at White Rock Cemetery in Shelby County.

Chuck was the only son of Elvah Knox Beckham and Gladys Mae Meadows Beckham.

He met his bride-to-be in Bryan after being introduced by their biology teacher.  He joined the Navy in 1950, and served 4 years during the Korean Conflict, where he served aboard the USS Gardiner's Bay.  While home on leave, he and Dee were married on May 28, 1952. They had 4 children. He attended Hardin Simmons University. He worked for the State of Texas for 23 years before moving to Nacogdoches, where he and Dee had their own ceramic business. He then worked for Brookshire Brothers and then went to work for Laird Funeral Home in Nacogdoches.

Chuck had a green thumb and loved growing flowers. Irises and day lilies were some of his favorites. He also loved to read & work jigsaw puzzles and play Phase 10. For many years he collected die cast metal vintage fire trucks.  His love of fire trucks grew from years of being a volunteer fireman in Bastrop.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Amanda “Dee”; his youngest daughter, Kathryn Tull; his sisters, Dorothy Wray Bing and Gail Kent.

He is survived by his son, Tim Beckham & wife, Daphne; daughters, Dottie Smith; and Vanessa Gustafson; sister, Carolyn Wiggins & husband W.K.; brother-in-law, Van Nelson Sr. & wife, Carolyn; 9 grandchildren , 24 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews & nieces, friends & loved ones.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charles "Chuck" Vernon Beckham, please visit our floral store.