Rev. Cletus Blaine Beights' Obituary
Rev. Cletus Blaine Beights, age 90, of Dallas, Texas passed peacefully to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. His family whom he loved dearly, his faith in Jesus Christ, and his church home were the foundations of his life.Cletus was born on September 15, 1927, in Hermleigh, Texas to Henry and Ida May Beights. He graduated from Loraine Texas High School, earned a BA from McMurry College, Abilene Texas and a MA degree from Scarrett College in Nashville Tennessee. Afterwards he attended 2 years at Perkins School of Theology at SMU in Dallas Texas.Cletus surrendered to God’s call to the Ministry and received his license to preach in the Methodist Church in 1947. He was ordained a Deacon in 1953 and received his Elders ordination in 1955. He was the founding minister of St. Paul Methodist Church in Midland Texas in 1955. He remained there for seven years leaving a new church building and over 600 members.In 1962, God called him to be a full time evangelist and worked in local churches. Until his official retirement, he served as an associate minister in larger churches working to bring Jesus Christ’s love to others and ministering those into the church. In his words, “God blessed my ministry with over 7500 joining the churches while I served God”.He officially retired from the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1989. However in retirement he worked as an associate pastor for another 15 years. His last church was at Polk United Methodist Church in Amarillo Texas. There he worked with senior church members and enjoyed visiting those in the hospital and at their homes.Cletus enjoyed traveling and would bring others along with him. He truly enjoyed taking two trips to Israel. He loved warm weather and loved living in Texas.In his words, he was a true vegetarian and loved his red beans. Cletus would tell stories of encouraging hospital patients he visited “to be sure to eat their red beans.” He was the most loving, caring, kind and gentle spirited man and was always full of gratitude.He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Dodson Beights, his parents Henry and Ida May Beights, and two sisters Maxine Heathcott and Mary Landfried.Survivors include his four children Marilyn Pace and husband John, Carolyn Garrett and husband Randy, Sherilyn Selz and husband Mark, Gaylon Beights and wife Angela and stepdaughter Vikki Moore and husband Steve. Fifteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. One sister Ruby Faye Taylor and husband Bill from Jacksonville, Florida.Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am Thursday, December 28, 2017 at First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Texas.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Caring Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Richardson, in honor of Cletus Beights.
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