James M. Beatty

November 24, 1941 - January 2, 2012

JAMES M. BEATTY, Jr., Major USAF, Ret., 70, of Panama City, FL., formerly of Eau Claire, passed away Tuesday morning at his residence following a brief illness. Born in Butler on Nov. 24, 1941, he was the son of the late James M., Sr. and Sylvia Dunlap Beatty. He was a graduate of Kiski Preparatory Academy at Saltsburg in 1959, and graduated from Grove City College in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. Jim entered the U.S. Air Force in November of 1963, and began a fourteen year career as an F-4 fighter pilot, being honorably discharged with rank of Major in November of 1976. Flying two tours of duty in Viet Nam, he distinguished himself earning the Air Medal, a second with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The latter was earned on March 4, 1966, while taking fire from forty anti-aircraft positions, he completely destroyed an important bridge vital to troop and equipment deployment on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in North Viet Nam. In addition to flying F-4's, he served as a pilot instructor at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. He was a member of the VFW Post 7073 and the American Legion Post 598, both of Parker, and was a life member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Assn. based at Nellis AFB. Jim worked for a number of years as a partner with his brother, Dean Beatty, in the former J.M.Beatty Automotive of Eau Claire. In 1988 he began a long career with McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft (now Martin Aviation) at Tindall AFB in Panama City, FL as a flight simulator instructor, serving until retirement just a few months ago. Again, he distinguished himself as an outstanding instructor with awards from both the USAF and the private sector. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Muscatello Beatty; twin daughters: Natalie Hauck and Nadine Parish, both of Panama City; step-daughter: Lisa Campbell of Butler; step-son: Johnny Fecich of Maryland; several grand and great-grandchildren, stepgrand and step-greatgrandchildren; brother: Dean G. Beatty of Eau Claire; sisters: Gail L. Buzard of Eau Claire and Faye Hermann of Pittsburgh; number of nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 PM Sunday at H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home, Inc., 201 So. Washington St., Eau Claire, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday. Burial will be private. VFW and American Legion of Parker will conduct veterans military honors at 10:45 AM Monday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Moniteau Scholarship Foundation, % Kathy Ferdinandsen, PO Box, West Sunbury, Pa. 16061.