Dates
W. Hampton Beesley III died peacefully from cancer on Thursday, February 25 at his home in San Angelo, Texas attended by his dogs, children, and wife Bonnie of 52 years. Over his 74 years Hamp nurtured a loving family, helped people of all walks of life through his law practice, supported jazz music and the Arts, traveled the world, and became an admired and beloved community member.
Born in Austin, TX in 1946, he and his family soon moved to San Angelo where Hamp would live out the rest of his days. He became an Eagle Scout, and at age 15 drove a delivery truck for his father’s business, West Texas Frozen Foods. Hamp graduated from Central High School in 1964 and from University of Texas in 1968, with a B.B.A. in accounting. At UT he met his future wife, Bonnie, on a substitute blind date. Hamp served in the Army Reserves from 1968 to 1974 and graduated from University of Texas Law School at Austin in 1972. He then returned to his hometown where he practiced real estate law for over 48 years. From 2017 to 2020 he was voted Best Attorney by the San Angelo Standard Times. To him, everyone who walked into his office was important. He said most of the time his work was “all happy work” because the buyer and seller both walked away happy.
Hamp found great joy in sharing everything he loved with others whether it be travel, food, music, or art. For decades he supported the Arts and artists in San Angelo. He served on the Board of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts for over 20 years. Hamp donated time, money, artworks, and legal aid to help the Museum expand programs for arts education, acquire a major collection of Spanish colonial and Mexican religious art, and develop one of the most important ceramic collections in America. Hamp also served on the Board of the San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council for over 30 years. In 1993, Hamp began chairing the Jazz Committee of the Council, which brought in such renowned musicians as Allan Harris, Maucha Adnet, B.B. King, Wynton Marsalis, and many other award-winning artists.
Hamp loved music and loved to sing showtunes and jazz standards to kids, grandkids, dogs, and anyone within earshot. He loved movies and had an incredible memory for film trivia, dates, and numbers. Great at accents and impersonations, Hamp warmed everyone around him with his humor, his grin, and fun-loving sweetness.
A curious traveler, Hamp explored Maya ruins with his children, rode in the Chase Car in the Pan-American Road Race, fished with buddies all over Mexico, road-tripped through Croatia and Slovenia, and cruised to Alaska. Family trips took him tubing in New Braunfels, skiing in Crested Butte, and sunning in Florida and Port Aransas. Hamp found peace watching the gulf waves, reminiscing on his many family beach trips in Sarasota, Florida. In New York City Hamp loved hitting late-night jazz shows after grabbing drinks at Jimmy’s Corner, catching a play, and enjoying a meal at a celebrated restaurant.
Hamp’s appetite for good food drew him down the street for Saturday hamburgers at T’s, to the Lowake for a Chicken Fry, to Crested Butte’s Soupçon for escargot, to Captiva Island for grouper, to NYC for Carnegie Deli cheesecake and artfully plated fare at Eleven Madison Park. He once ate a whole Peking Duck (and dumplings) by himself in a Hong Kong restaurant as locals looked on. But Hamp loved most sharing a meal with others, with family and friends, old or new. He knew his wines, and was known to share a bottle or two or three to toast and enjoy together.
Hamp loved to host at his home, inviting jazz musicians to backyard afterparties, serving serious eggnog at Christmas parties, bringing guests to his dining room table, and sitting out back talking with friends over Scotch and cigars until the wee hours. He relaxed in his backyard, barbecuing ribs and watching UT football games with dogs nearby. Hamp played tennis with his wife Bonnie in a mixed doubles league and with his kids at Santa Rita Park. He worked out at the gym consistently and loved to play golf Thursdays with “The Dogs” at the San Angelo Country Club.
Hamp said, “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” He filled life to the brim with family, friendship, art, food, laughter, and love and shared his overflowing cup with everyone around him. And being with him made even the bad times good. Hampton Beesley’s loving spirit lives on in us, through us, and beyond.
Hamp is preceded by his parents Wade H. Beesley and Zada M. Beesley and brother Bruce Stratton Beesley of San Angelo. He is survived by his wife Bonnie Bohnn Beesley of San Angelo; children Wade Hampton Beesley IV and Jules Byron Beesley and wife Valerie Ramirez Beesley of Austin, TX; grandsons Luis Buenaventura and Jules Hampton Beesley; brother Andre Gardner Beesley and his wife Jamie of Boerne, TX; sister Sandy Beesley Barnes and her husband William Waldren Barnes; cousins Reece Beesley Small and her husband Don Edward Small of Fort Worth, TX; cousin Worth Stratton Beesley of Granbury, TX; cousin Robin Beesley Mix of Houston, TX; cousin Jack Houston Beelsey Jr. of Palmdale, CA.
We extend our gratitude to all the people who worked hard and late to help Hamp be comfortable at home. A memorial service will be held at a future date when it is safer to gather. Donations may be made in Hamp’s memory to the Mount Carmel Hermits in Christoval, Texas at www.carmelitehermits.org, the SAMFA Collectors Society, and La Gran Familia Orphanage at 2813 Southland Blvd., San Angelo, TX 76904.