Today's Featured Biography

 
Bitsy Janes Beel

After EHS, & receiving a BS’64 in English & Library Science from ASTC/UCA in Conway, I returned to El Dorado only once, for my wedding, & 2 weddings of my best friends, in the church of our youth, First Baptist, to Henry Beel, from Batesville. (My family had moved to FL while I was in college.)
After getting married, I immediately became a Jr. High Librarian for 2 years in Jacksonville, & then taught HS English for 2 years in Kennett, Missouri. We then moved to Dallas, where I worked as a Technical Editor/Writer at Texas Instruments on N. Central Expressway & Henry was a Quality Engineer, using his Math degree & later to receive his MBA & Executive MBA.
In ’73, Henry accepted a position in Pittsburgh with Westinghouse Power Corp. in its Nuclear Division, and we moved to Pittsburgh where we remained for 17 years, raising 2 children & loving the Iron Curtail & Bradshaw days with the Steelers. It was hard to beat FOUR Super Bowl parties with Steeler fans waving yellow towels! While in Pittsburgh, I taught English for a brief period, but quickly turned to Real Estate, where I could control my hours & not miss my children's athletic & social events. Yes, I was even the Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and the Regional GS Cookie Chairman, where an 18-wheeler unloaded & filled my garage with Girl Scout cookies! Wouldn’t you know that would be the year when a parent confiscated $500 of her daughter’s GS cookie money! While in Pittsburgh, I enjoyed bridge clubs, indoor tennis & hand-ball leagues at the Pittsburgh Racquet Club, along with freezing camping trips, water skiing, cross-country skiing at Seven Springs Resort, and dramatic attempts at downhill. (Hear me laughing?) Golfing didn't suit me, although I loved the scenic courses & riding along when my husband played! I have always been involved in church, whether it be choir, Women's Ministries, or teaching SS.

In ’89, we were transferred with Westinghouse to the Orlando area where we remained until retirement in 2009 & continue to live now, having endured 3 mighty hurricanes in a row one year, having no electricity for 11 days with 98* heat & humidity. No hotels were to be had because everyone from south Florida had advanced North! We since have our home wired with generator provisions!
When our life became our own upon Henry's retirement, we have toured all of the U.S. and Canada extensively in our motor home, enjoying every mile and minute! We were accompanied by our 2 Golden Retrievers at the time, but are now down to one. Lindy is a precious spoiled brat of a pet! We have NO interest in ever traveling by plane again. Henry is a "2 Million Miler" just on one airline, so that gives a clue as to why he has no interest in air travel, plus the reality of flying in today’s world. I was able to choose international destinations when I wanted to accompany him, and all were great experiences. Costa Rica, Germany, & England were probably my most enjoyed travels and I had the opportunity to visit the Queen’s china factory, Royal Crown Derby, and a huge outdoor yard sale up in the Midlands, where I spotted several antique goodies that I lugged home! The rain forest of Costa Rica AND Puerto Rica were other sites that I particularly enjoyed, along with the coffee fields south of Mexico City and the 3 large volcanoes in that area.

Our son, Todd (’67), is a career Christian Foreign Missionary, stationed in Asia, after having been a Pastor of a church in the Chicago area & a Captain in the Army Reserve. He and wife, Anne, both Baylor grads, have given us 3 grandchildren. After Baylor, Todd went on to get his Masters & Doctoral degrees in seminary. He & Anne built their home in the TX Hill Country near Canyon Lake (Fischer), and we visit them as often as they come Stateside.

Our daughter, Melissa (’70) and husband, Dave, a Biologist with FL Fish & Wildlife, live 35 miles from us, and although she is a Baylor/UCF grad, remains a stay-at-home Mom to their 3 children, but does manage to teach Pre-K to little people in a private school in the mornings, along with teaching a few select piano students.

We have a total of 6 grandchildren, 5 granddaughters & 1 grandson, ages presently (in 2015), from 13 - 23, with the oldest granddaughter gotten married almost 2 years ago, immediately after her college graduation.

We continue to enjoy boating & fishing, but have given up a ski boat for a pontoon in Florida. The pontoon sets us higher in the water than the gators’ eyes!!

Since my days at EHS, I’ve had my bumps & bruises along the way, as all have, but I'm thankful for the road traveled.

In the Autumn of our lives, I am disheartened to see the passing of several of our beloved class members, but I realize we are living on borrowed time from this point, so if I don't see you again this side of heaven, it is comforting to know that we will meet again, eventually. For this reward that God promises those who believe in Him, we can all be thankful & look forward to one day visiting together again as long lost Wildcats!

Blessings to each of you,
Bitsy

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