Michael Ray Beeny

Michael Ray Beeny, 72, of Cove, Utah passed away peacefully in the home he loved Thursday, October 29, 2015 after spending the day with his wife. He was preparing to go to the Cache Valley Hunter Education Center to attend the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Archery Practice as a coach. He was in the middle of doing the things he loved to do, with the people he loved to do them with: just the way he would have wanted to go.

Michael is preceded in death by his parents, O.L. (Oris Lamont) Beeny and “Penny” Rayola Johnson Beeny. He is survived by his wife Claudia Livingston Beeny, son Lance (Pam) Beeny, daughter Jennifer Whiting (Lance) Parker, grandchildren Tara Beeny, Havila Whiting (Mike) Nelson, Devon Beeny, Riley Whiting, Mirae Whiting, foster son Cord Julson, brother Dennis (Paulette) Beeny, and sisters Chris (Gary) Denhalter, and Diane (Paul) Brinkerhoff, two miniature schnauzers, five chickens, two peafowl, and over a hundred wild turkeys that he has fed every winter for the last fifteen years, starting when there were only six of them in the flock. He also leaves behind many other loving family members, and hundreds of friends, some of whom began as customers, employees, competitors, or team members.

For over 30 years Mike ran Pit Stop Foreign Cars at a few different locations in Salt Lake, Utah, first with his partner John Baxter, and later as sole owner. If measuring success only by profit and loss on a ledger, he wasn’t the greatest businessman. He frequently commented that he lost a little bit on every deal, but tried to make it up in volume. If you measure instead by treating people fairly, raising kids who learned how to work hard for what they want, and satisfied customers and employees who became life-long friends (many of both became de facto family members), then he was a phenomenal success. You just had to accept that every job started with sweeping the floor, and the job was not complete until the floor was swept again.

Mike had lifelong passions for sports and the outdoors. This began hunting and fishing with his Grandpa Ben and playing youth baseball with his brother Dennis. It continued during his school years by hunting every chance he got, running track and playing football at West High School (Salt Lake), and playing football at the University of Utah. As an adult in the Salt Lake area, he threw himself passionately into several hobbies, spending years building and competitively racing sports cars (S.C.C.A. and Mini-stock), and becoming an accomplished fly-tier and fly fisher. Mike first learned to ice skate in his thirties, then played senior league hockey for a couple of decades including stints on teams with his father O.L., his brother-in-law Kent Livingston, and his son Lance. All during these years he went on countless camping, backpacking, hunting, and fishing trips with friends and family, eventually focusing his attention back on an interest from his youth – engaging in archery hunting and competitive archery.

As much as he enjoyed competing in almost any activity, Mike was always eager to help others explore their interests and improve their skills regardless of gender. Along the way he helped many beginning outdoors people, developing athletes, and worked on lots of other people’s race cars. He coached youth hockey and Hillcrest High School (Salt Lake) hockey and loved being a leader of cub scouts and boy scouts. Upon retiring to Cache Valley, Mike volunteered with Cache Archer’s youth archery program, becoming a coach with the JOAD program, the Utah State University Archery Club, YHEC (Youth Hunter Education Challenge), and helping numerous other competitive archers throughout the country. Many affectionately called him “Grandpa.” People he coached in hockey and archery over the years participated in their respective U.S. Olympic Development Programs, won State titles, competed at  college and professional levels, and medaled in many state, national, and international tournaments. And regularly they made Mike very proud of personal growth and accomplishments that had nothing to do with the sports in which they competed.

Often people mentored by Mike would years later find the solution to a difficult situation in a completely unrelated endeavor in one of his oft repeated sayings, such as “The right tool for the job,” “Don’t encourage bad behavior,” or “The best time to stop a fight is before someone throws the first punch.” And when things were starting to go really poorly, it was always a good time for “Let’s stop and think about this for a minute.”

Two things that Mike always valued highly in himself, was glad to find in others, and always happy to share, were honesty and a good story. Interestingly enough, he did not always feel it was critical for those two things to share company. His wife Claudia called him on that once, observing that as honest as he always strived to be, some of his stories seemed to change and perhaps even grow a little with each retelling. Without missing a beat Mike replied, “That’s why I call them stories.” In lieu of flowers, please take time to share a favorite story with someone you love.

Services will be Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 12:00 noon at the Richmond Stake Center, 135 West Main, Richmond, Utah. A viewing will be held Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at the stake center and Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. also at the stake center. Interment will be nearby in the Richmond Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Webb Funeral Home in Preston. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com