Garnet Lucille Beam, 87, of Xenia, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, July 23, 2017, at her residence. She was born March 22, 1930, in Xenia, the daughter of Fred and Ethel Walden Jack. She was a member of Xenia Nazarene Church.  She was a 1948 graduate of Xenia Central High School and married Marvin Beam on July 23, 1949. Garnet loved her life as a farmer's wife at 1209 Hook Road for 35 years. After her three oldest children were all in school, she earned her education degree from Central State University in 1967 and enjoyed teaching at Arrowood Elementary and Nazarene Kiddie Kollege. Her "bonus" baby born in 1968 required some adjustment to her teaching career, but she continued her active volunteer ministry in her church. Hundreds of boys & girls sat under Garnet's ministry in Sunday School and Children's Church and remember her godly influence. In the late1980's she volunteered to teach the Promise Class—a group of adults with special needs. She poured her life into these "kids," teaching, visiting, feeding, and loving them unconditionally. She volunteered at Greene Memorial Hospital for 17 years, mostly in the coffee shop. In her retirement years she found new joy as a janitor at Xenia City Hall. She was an auxiliary member of the Gideons International and served with her husband on the Southwestern Ohio District Church of the Nazarene. Garnet also supported the Nazarene Health Ministries in Papua New Guinea as a short-term volunteer on seven different occasions. Her life was characterized by service to God and His church, as well as her community.

Garnet is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Becky (Rev. Michael) Hancock, Xenia, and Kathy (Dr. James) Radcliffe, Kudjip, Papua  New Guinea;  two sons and daughters-in-law, Dave (Debbie) Beam and Scott (Angie) Beam, all of Xenia;  fourteen grandchildren,  Dr. Brannon (Gloria) Hancock, Marion, IN, Katherine (Wayne) Mathis, Nashville, TN,  and Nathan (Brian) Hancock, New York, NY, Dr. Benjamin (Dr. Katherine) Radcliffe, Kudjip, PNG, Rebekah (Dr. Joel) Potter, Anchorage, AK, Timothy (Bethany) Radcliffe,  Mount Vernon, OH, Priscilla (Wyatt) Mills, Portland, OR, Josiah Radcliffe, Nampa, ID, and Lydia Radcliffe, Kudjip, PNG, Sarah (Travis) Kinnison, Xenia, and Rachel (Joe) Dean, Cedarville, OH, Olivia (Isaiah) Dean, Chloe Beam, and Garrett Beam, all of Xenia; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Middleton, Wilmington, OH, and Mary Lee Amlin, Xenia; numerous nieces and nephews; and many close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marvin R. Beam, on September 28, 1996, three sisters, Betty Schweibold, Dorothy Ward, and Janice VanHorn, and by a brother, James C. Jack. Garnet will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, July 26, at Xenia Nazarene Church, 1204 W. Second St., Xenia, with Rev. Michael Hancock and Pastor Mark Atherton officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, July 25, at the church. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Xenia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Xenia Nazarene Church for the 2018 Papua New Guinea Mission Trip, 1204 W. Second St, Xenia, OH, 45385, in her memory. Condolences may be made to the family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com .