Arthur L. Beaver

Arthur L. Beaver, lovingly known as Mr. Ott, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2012. Born on a farm in rural Union County on April 6, 1916 son of the late Luther and Effie Griffin Beaver, Mr. Ott remained an active resident of the Sandy Ridge community for 96 years. The family will receive friends Saturday, August 11, 2012 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC 28112. Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Sunday, August 12, 2012 at Sandy Ridge Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. As a young man, Mr. Ott proudly served in World War II as a shipyard welding crew foreman in Baltimore, MD. Upon returning home he worked in the Bleachery, as a route bread man and also as a carpenter. His last job was managing the hardware section of J. Walter Helms Woodworking, a position he held for 14 years until he was 91 years old. A lover of the outdoors, Mr. Ott was an avid gardener and enjoyed building birdhouses and bird feeders for family and friends. He was a loyal member of Sandy Ridge Baptist Church for over 50 years. He demonstrated his faith and love of music as a member of the church choir. Will Rogers once said, I never met a man I didn't like. That could very well be said of Mr. Ott. He loved everyone, and they loved him. Family and friends will surely miss his positive attitude and the jokes he shared. But the main thing people will remember about this sweet, genuine and gentle man was his honesty, kindness and love for his family, friends and church. Surviving are his children, Sandra (Terry) McReynolds of Monroe and Ken (Dinah) Beaver of Canton, Ga., grandchild, Carrie Lynn (Bryan) Dumford and great grandchildren, Jacob and Joshua, also of Canton, Ga. Mr. Ott was predeceased by his loving wife of 58 years, Grace Laney Beaver, brothers, Luther, Jr. and Carl and sisters, Alma and Ruth. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Union County, 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110 or Sandy Ridge Baptist Church, 1106 Sandy Ridge Rd. W, Monroe, NC 28112. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Published online on August 9, 2012 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .