Michael John Beatty

Michael John Beatty, 71, of Crawfordville, passed away on June15, 2024. My dad was like a tortoise, hardworking, honest, and with a single-minded ability to stick to a routine. His schedule changed for no person, weather pattern, illness, desperate plea, or reason. He woke up every morning at 2:30 for work. He did not have to do this, it was completely voluntary and to the chagrin of all his poor slingers stuck meeting him well before the sun even had a chance to shine. He would work his tail off every day and when he came home, the radio was on and he had 15 minutes to feed the cow before she started bellowing. 30 minutes later, the whole kitchen was taken over for feeding his puppies even if someone was in there actively cooking. The next two hours were spent rigorously putzing around and drinking beers while listening to his radio at deafening volumes. 6:30 was the start of dinner so of course he disappeared to take off his boots, go to the bathroom, fill the dogs water bowl, and do a million other tasks that couldn't possibly have been done at any other point. Halfway through dinner it was time to let the dogs out to "Run! Play! Do what dogs do! Dig holes!!" Bed by 7:30. Rinse and repeat! On the rare occasions he could be convinced to take a vacation, he had a blast. He loved eating, going to the beach, eating, pretending to fish, eating, taking the dogs for sunset runs, eating, using his hat and sunglasses to cover up the fact he had fallen asleep in chairs, and of course good meals with friends and family. His favorite activities involved sitting out in his garden drinking whatever beer was on sale that week at Winn-Dixie, taking the dogs for a ride in any vehicle that wasn't his so he didn't have to clean out the hair, complaining about people not doing laundry correctly, staging revolts at work about safety meetings, and leaving every single door/gate/windows he passed by wide open. He is survived by his 6 dogs, Benjamin, Emma, Alex, Slinky, Elsa, and Lark, Molly the cow, and Llola the llama. Oh, and I guess his human family too. He took his radio with him, since no one appreciated his taste and frequency in loud music. My mom had 19 months of peace up in Heaven without him and he showed up to see her on June 15, impressively only one day late for their wedding anniversary. I know both of them are looking down on me, upset that I'm not rolling out of bed until 7:30 AM when their days would be half over by then. Everyone that has reached out to me after hearing of his passing has said the same thing. He was a Good Guy. He worked so hard, he gave his all, he was always there to help a friend or customer in need, and he was so funny. He always made you laugh. Even when he drove you crazy sometimes, his positivity and ability to just keep trucking along was admirable and contagious. He just couldn't imagine things not working out in the end, so he didn't and went wholeheartedly into each new day. In lieu of flowers, please either send a donation to Wakulla Animal Services where his soul mate, Jackie, was adopted from or Florida Wild Mammal Association which took over his home life and property for the past 29 years. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, July 7, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Family Funeral Home-Harvey Young Chapel. Skip and Trey Young, along with Paula and Kimberly are assisting the family with arrangements. 850-926-5919, www.familyfhc.com

Michael John Beatty

November 25, 1952 - June 15, 2024