On Tuesday, July 9 family and friends gathered for a memorial service of Beauford Wilson, of Hallsville, Mo, who was tragically murdered on June 29 in Morgan County along Big Buffalo Creek where he owned and operated a cattle farm that bred and grew Scottish Highlander cattle.
Beau, as his friends called him, was born in Etowah, Tennessee, a small community in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. He earned a scholarship to the University of Tennessee as the President of the Tennessee FFA. In school he not only studied but played baseball and ran track, plus competing on the Arm Wrestling team. He belonged to the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, majoring in Ag Economics and while in school met his wife that has been Mrs. Wilson for 49 years.
He worked in agricultural sales and eventually located to Hallsville, Missouri. Life slowed down a little and allowed him to spend more time with his family and grandchildren. It was then he first became interested in Highland cows as a hobby.
Beau wasn’t just a beloved family man but also a wonderful friend. He was often seen pulling invasive weeds to prevent them from spreading and could be found at a neighbor’s kitchen table sharing a meal or just talking as if they had known each other all their lives. In the “Tall Tales” celebration of Life many treasured memories were shared.
One long time acquaintance described him as one of the finest men he ever met and how much he enjoyed going on hunting trips with him. He said, “I always laughed when he offered a $100 for a big black snake so he could release it in Tennessee.”
Another man recalled how Beauford had been the guest speaker for a grower’s meeting. He recalled his southern styled speech and stated, “He had everyone in the place laughing. It was a lot of fun.”
After an evening of recalling a very special man everyone left knowing he had left a large hole in many people’s lives when he died. It was evident Beauford Wilson never stopped learning and never stopped loving people.
