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Philip Beardslee, age 84, of Bonita Springs, Florida, former businessman of Cassopolis, passed to his rest on November 13, 2013 at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs after an illness.
Phil was born December 13, 1928 in Cassopolis, the son of Richard and Vera (Kessler) Beardslee. He grew up in Cassopolis, graduated from Cassopolis High School and attended Michigan State University. On January 5, 1950 in South Bend, he married Patricia McLaughlin; they were married 55 years. To this union three children were born: Billie Jean (Rick) Stephenson of Bonita Springs, FL, John Beardslee, and Sandy (Mike) Richmond of Ft. Wayne. There are nine grandchildren: Michael Mack, Philip Mack, Christopher Stephenson, Douglas Stephenson, Andrew Beardslee, Charlene Beardslee, Jacqueline Wilhite, Alexander Richmond, and Bradley Richmond, and ten great-grandchildren: Caden Mack, Shelby Mack, Colin Mack, Emily Mack, Morgan Mack, Sadie Stephenson, Jackson Wilhite, Claire Wilhite, Makayla Richmond and Macy Richmond. Phil has one brother, Roger Beardslee of Cassopolis.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patricia in August of 2005, his son John in January 2012 and a grandson, Chase Richmond in September of 2010. Phil was a retired Ford dealer, having owned Hayden-Beardslee Ford in Cassopolis for forty years. He was a board member of Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, the First National Bank of Cassopolis, Woodlands Behavioral Health in Cassopolis, a life member of the Masons, and a life member of the Dowagiac Elks Club. He was a member for over forty years of Orchard Hills Country Club in Buchanan and Bonita Bay Country Club in Florida. Other than his family, Phil’s passion was golf, in which he achieved 13 Holes-in One. He also loved fishing, playing black-jack, watching college football and basketball, and the Michigan State Spartans.
A Service of Remembrance will be on December 13, 2013 at 1:00 at the Cassopolis United Methodist Church, 209 South Rowland Street, Cassopolis. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 until the 1:00 service time. Officiating will be Rev. Chuck VanLente, former pastor of the church, now of Grand Rapids. The family requests that memorial donations be made to: Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice, 27200 Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.
Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 West Main St., Edwardsburg, MI 49112-0024.
