JEFFREY BEARDSLEY, USMC, 1947-1968, FAMILY REACHING OUT

During my recent trip, I received an email from the sister of our deceased classmate Jeff Beardsley.  She had been googling around and found us and wondered if anyone still remembers her brother.  I just had a chance today to contact her again and "chat" on email and she has given me permission to tell about their family and to solicit contact from anyone who remembers Jeff - she is very interested in reconnecting.  I am going to paraphrase her messages to me:  They lived on Culloden Road, in Kirkwood for 10 years.  Christine was 12 when she and her parents moved to York, PA after his KHS graduation. This is one reason we always had trouble finding him, and then finding out about his death in Viet Nam.  Jeff went to school at Cape Girardeau (SEMO) for a couple of years before joining the Marines, Camp LeJeune then Nam, and is buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery. Their parents then moved to the Indianapolis area where her Mom currently resides, Christine lives in Fishers, IN, a suburb of Indianapolis.  Several people have told me over the years that the Jeff Beardsley on the Viet Nam Wall was not our classmate, but I did the research and knew it was, he's been in our In Memoriam list for some time; it was puzzling to others because he isn't listed as living in MO or Kirkwood.

I told Christine I didn't know Jeff at KHS, other than by sight and maybe had a class with him.  I DO remember how handsome he was, gorgeous skin!  Christine: "I can't tell you what a joy it is to contact someone who knew Jeff even a little bit.  My parents and I moved to York, PA when I was 12 so I really did not know or maybe don't remember Jeff's friends other than a girl who lived in our neighborhood who I used to call "Bradley lady" when she TP'd our house.  Jeff's girlfriend was Cheri Graves, [KHS66] and after Jeff was killed she moved to Denton Texas.  I graduated from High school in York then my parents moved to Carmel, IN. I went to Wilson College, Purdue and graduated from Indiana University. Jeff liked motorcycles and his Corvette which my father kept until 2 years ago even though we moved several times.  That Corvette was always in the garage and my Dad wore Jeff's leather jacket until he passed away a year and half ago.

Jeff was my only sibling, I was 16 when he was killed in 1968. As with all families of fallen veterans, especially in senseless wars such as Viet Nam, Jeff's death pretty much destroyed my family.  

I have three children, Jeffrey, Lisa and Stefanie and four young grandsons, Ethan 7, Alex 5, Davis 4, and Lincoln 5 months; my husband passed away ten years ago.  I work as an artist doing Raku fired ceramics and show at various art fairs in the Midwest and at some galleries.

I would be thrilled if you would give my email address out to anyone that might want it. I have always hoped to contact people who knew Jeff.  Though he has been gone a very long time it only seems like yesterday to me.

Christine Davis"

In searching through our 1965 Buzz Book, I only find one other student on their street, Sue Orten, KHS66.  Cheri Graves was also in that class.  I know many of our KHS65 mates know students in other classes, so if anyone knows the current whereabouts of either of these two gals, perhaps you'd share the info with Christine, or ask them to contact her.  I'll see what I can scare up too.  If any of our KHS65 members were friends with or even knew Jeff, lived in their neighborhood or if any of you Marines ran into Jeff in the service, please contact Christine.  Actually, I didn't want to post her email address due to spam, but if I spell it out, that shouldn't be a danger, she is at crisd1254 at aol dot com.  Here is a photo of Christine. 

Now that I know where Jeff is buried, I'll visit his grave when I get to go to Gettysburg.  I have two ancestors, one Army of the Potomac and one Confederate, who served there, but I've never been.  Although we visited 5 Civil War battlefields on our recent trip, we didn't get to Gettysburg...it's on my bucket list for sure.  It is so very satisfying when we are found by relatives of our classmates or others in our past lives through the internet.  I am so glad Christine reached out to us and hope some of you can reach out to her.