I was born June 2, 1932 to Vivian Inez & Roy Beeson. At the family home in Sand Springs, OK. My father was an electrician at Sinclair Refinery in Sand Springs.
I was the 3rd child of 4 children – I had 3 brothers. All are deceased.
I went to school in Sand Springs and graduated from Charles Page High School in June 1950. I met James Gastineau shortly after graduation. He was going to college at OK A&M (OSU). His dad owned a cattle business and wanted him to quit college and help with the family business. Then Jim was drafted into the Army. His dad hired me as a secretary all throughout the time he was in the Army. Jim and I dated during this time. His dad spoiled me rotten.
Jim’s time in the Army was up in April 1952 and we were married April 29, 1952. We bought a new house in Tulsa. We were so happy! We became parents of 2 children, Marilyn Sue (Suzy) and Phillip Dean.
We bought our airplane to make Jim’s business easier to travel. We had many wonderful trips and vacations in our plane (unless when we had bumpy air and one kid or the other would throw-up!)
Jim was on a business trip going to Marfa, Texas when he was killed in our plane on August 11, 1967. The kids and I lived in our same home until the children went to Junior High. During all this time I was very active in church and school activities. Then we moved to 31st and Memorial in Tulsa and lived there until the kids went to college.
Then I moved to Oologah to a house overlooking the lake. I loved it there! I joined the Oologah United Methodist Church (OUMC) in the 70’s. I have always loved my Oologah church and its’ people. I moved to the Baptist Village of Owasso on April 1st, 2003. The Lord guided me here and I am so happy here!
I worked at First Methodist Church for 8 years as lead pre-school teacher. Then I worked at
Burgess Norton in Claremore as Final Audit for 17 years. I retired in November of 1995.
My main goal, after Jim died, was to raise my children in church and to make sure they were well taken care of.
Phillip moved to Las Vegas in the 80’s and worked several jobs (Delta Airlines, Loan Officer at a Bank, and others. He was killed in an intersection in Suneslin in September 1999. He was a wonderful son.
Suzy was killed in September 2002 in a Oologah intersection one mile from my house. She
always worked in nursing all her adult life. She was married 13 months and lived in Liberty,
MO. She was coming to visit me before going on to Tulsa when she was killed at a stop sign. She was a precious daughter.
