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James L. (Jim) Beattey, III received his final promotion on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at the age of 91.
A lifelong Indianapolis resident, he attended Broad Ripple High School, graduated from Park Tudor, and later Indiana University. After college, he met, and eventually married Marilyn Nigh of Fairland, IN. They were married for more than 65 years.
He was an accomplished businessman serving as a Director and Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Standard Life Insurance Company of Indiana; Principal, Officer, and Director of Advisers Fund Management Corporation; Vice President and Treasurer of Standard Associates; and President and Director of Lubheirs, Inc.
In 1980, Jim founded Midwest Engineered Products Corporation (now, Advanced Separation Technologies) and alongside his son Jeffery, co-invented the CentraSep®, considered the worldwide gold standard in liquid/solid separation.
He was a dedicated lifelong member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity serving as President of the Lambda Chapter House Corporation, overseeing the funding and construction of a major expansion in 1977. He was named Hoosier Sig of the Year in 1978, and later inducted into the Order of Constantine, the highest award for lifelong service to the fraternity.
Jim is a member and served as an elder at Northminster Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the University Club, the Indiana University Alumni Association, and was formerly a member of the Highland Golf and Country Club, the Klinger Lake Country Club, the American Business Club (past President), the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the Lambs Club, and the National Association of Securities Dealers. He is a Kentucky Colonel and was a business mentor with SCORE.
He loved Big Ten Basketball (especially IU) and his most cherished time was spent at his beloved Klinger Lake near Sturgis, where as a third generation he spent his childhood summers. Along with two of his buddies, he was the first to ever water ski on the lake in 1949. Sharing Klinger Lake with his family has made it their most cherished place, too.
Everyone loved hearing Jim tell stories. His grandchildren would listen with rapt attention, asking questions about his stories, experiences, and adventures – often recording them to preserve every detail.
His unique ability to be welcoming and capture the attention of others made him the life of the party. His friends revered him, his colleagues respected him, and he lit up every room he entered.
While his ‘super-power’ was undoubtedly story-telling, he was a photographer, a maker of stained glass, a mechanic, a carpenter, a furniture maker, and fixer of everything. He was MacGyver before there was a MacGyver.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn Nigh Beattey and their four children James (Jay) L, IV (Julie), Merrie Lynn, Jeff (Paula), and Mollie Smith (Adam).
Known to them as Poppie, he leaves behind 10 grandchildren Jessica (Talmage), Jackie (Perius), Karli, Kolbe, Simon, Lily, Wyatt, Sadie, Luke and Ella (all Smith); and three great-grandchildren; Scarlett, Riley, and Ellie Perius – all of whom he adored and took great pride.
He selflessly and always put others first and made sure his wife and family were cared for in every way. He will be remembered for his kindness, gentle heart, and loving spirit.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 29th, 2023 at Northminster Presbyterian Church starting at 11:00 am. A reception will follow the funeral, at the church, until 2:00 pm.
The service will be livestreamed by the church and available at https://www.northminster-indy.org/
Donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the James L Beattey III Scholarship (fund 4016), Sigma Chi Foundation, 1714 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 (https://sigmachi.org/foundation/?form=Beattey) or the Northminster Presbyterian Church Music Program, 1660 Kessler Blvd. E, Indianapolis, IN 46220 (https://www.northminster-indy.org/about/give/ ).
