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BEAN -- Richard Gates (Dick) Bean, Sr. of Roswell, New Mexico died peacefully the afternoon of Sunday, November 1, 2009 at the age of 90 while watching the Dallas Cowboys football game. A life-long resident of Roswell, New Mexico, Mr. Bean was born on the family farm to the late Robert Perry Bean, Jr. and Verda Lee Gates Bean on December 1, 1918. In his youth, Mr. Bean had an extensive paper route throughout Roswell and was a master tennis player. He also served as the fingerprint technician for his father who was the Sheriff of Chaves County. Mr. Bean graduated from Roswell High School in 1936. In 1942, he graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He then attended the University of Arizona School of Law, graduating second in the class of 1946. Mr. Bean then returned to Roswell to begin his sixty-three year practice of law, first in the field of family law and then later in estate planning and trusts. Mr. Bean was elected to two terms as the Roswell City Attorney in 1952 and 1954 and served as the president of the Chaves County Bar Association in 1953 and 1954. He also served on the School Board from 1959 through 1965 and served as a County Commissioner of Chaves County from 1974 to 1976. In 1995, at the age of 76, Mr. Bean was elected the Chaves County Probate Court Judge, serving two consecutive four-year terms. Mr. Bean was fondly known as "Mr. Democrat" in Chaves County. Mr. Bean was a member of the Chaves County Bar Association and was active in the Roswell Sertoma Club for more than 60 years, receiving the "Service to Mankind" award in the 1970s. He served on the boards of the Roswell Humane Society and the Roswell Boys Club. Mr. Bean also collected vintage cars and was an active member of the Valley Vintage Antique Car Club. Mr. Bean is survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha Winder Bean; and their children, son Richard Gates Bean, Jr. and his wife Lynda of Harker Heights, Texas; and daughter Martha Lee Bean of Allen, Texas. He also is survived by his three grandsons, Richard Gates Bean, III, Taylor Rhea Bean, and Morgan Alexander Bean, all of Harker Heights, Texas; Mr. Bean also is survived by four nephews, R. Perry Bean, IV and his wife Sue of Midlothian, Texas, William W. (Tad) Osborn and his wife Kim of Roswell, New Mexico, John Winder and his wife Patti of Pullman, Washington, and Jim Winder and his wife Katrina of Hillsboro, New Mexico; Mr. Bean also is survived by four nieces, Patricia Bean Mason and her husband Ben of Taos, New Mexico, Janet "Enid" Osborn-Schneidemen and her husband Jay of Santa Barbara, California, Louise Long of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Nancy Winder-Mitthof and her husband Axel of Viola, Idaho. Also surviving Mr. Bean are his sister-in-law Hermie Childs Bean Davis of Midlothian, Texas; and his adopted son J. T Bowyer, his wife Iris and daughter Lindsey of Harker Heights, Texas Mr. Bean was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Perry Bean, III; and his nephew Richard Terry Bean. Pallbearers are J. T. Bowyer, William W. (Tad) Osborn, Ben Mason, Kenny Forrest, Greg Eiffert and Parker Eiffert. Honorary Pallbearers are Senator Timothy Z. Jennings, Tom Jennings, Robert Chewning, Morgan Nelson, Lowell Davina, Joe Phillips, Lowell Hughes, Stan Santheson, James P. Johns, Tim Whalen, Charles Chewning, John Bonds and all members of the Chaves County Bar Association. Services for Richard Gates (Dick) Bean will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Roswell, New Mexico. Interment will immediately follow the services at South Park Cemetery in Roswell. Preceding the services, family and friends are invited to a luncheon at 12:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. All funeral arrangements are being handled by LaGrone Funeral Chapel in Roswell, New Mexico. Flowers may be sent to LaGrone's Funeral Home or to the First United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be sent to either the Cowboy Bell Scholarship Fund at the First United Methodist Church in Roswell, New Mexico or to the Roswell Humane Society.
        Published on: Thu November 05, 2009