- Mr. Richard Lewis "Beaver T" Johnston of Heber Springs, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, July 31, 2003, at Heber Springs. Born October 8, 1946, in Heber Springs, Beaver was 56 years of age.
He was the son of Mildred Maxine (Lewis) Johnston and the late James Raymond Johnston. Beaver was a descendent of General Albert Sidney Johnston, who led in the Civil War. Beaver served his country, his church, and his community. In 1972, he received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy.
He served as a veteran's service officer, probation officer, and deputy sheriff of Cleburne County.
He held many church callings including youth minister, Sunday School teacher, worship team member, and assistant in jail and prison ministry.
A lifetime resident of Heber Springs, Beaver served on the School Board, City Council, Optimist Club, and F.O.P. He owned the local skating rink, "Beaver T's Skateland", and he coached soccer, baseball, basketball, and football teams. Beaver was talented musician and writer. From a young age, he played drums and sang in bands, including the "T-birds" and "Retreads". He played for church bands, toured, and recorded "Save the Last Dance", (Flat-tail Records). Beaver was an accomplished author, publishing the children's book "A Beaver's Tale" in 1980.
Beaver "never met a stranger". He enjoyed meeting people and had many friends of all ages and walks of life. He was kind, compassionate, and always willing to help. Beaver was a loving father and grandfather. He was always "there" to listen and advise. He taught his children to love the Lord and serve others. He would spend hours talking and playing with the children. He was a father, a friend, a hero. He once wrote "I figure when I get as old as I'll ever be, I'll be as young as I want to be."
Beaver was preceded in death by his father, James Raymond Johnston, and by one brother, Jim Johnston. He is survived by: two sons, Josh Johnston and his wife, Jennifer, of Hopewell, AR and Will Johnston of Hopewell, AR two daughters, April Kapu and her husband, Paul, of Nashville, TN and Summer Johnston of Austin, Texas his mother, Mildred Maxine Johnston of Heber Springs, AR one sister, Jamie Warren and her husband, James, of Little Rock, AR, and their children, James and David, and five grandchildren, Paul, Nicole, John, Gabriel, and Jacob. Beaver is also survived by other relatives and his many friends.
CAUSE OF DEATH: Struck by a car as he was crossing street.
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1946 - 2003 (56 years)
