Alvin Dale Beavers, age 92, of Arnold, Missouri, passed away on January 26, 2026.
Alvin was born on October 2, 1933, in Teresita, Missouri, on the backside of his grandparents’ property, to Jessie Robert Beavers and Reva Alice Hopkins. He was raised with very little during the Great Depression and World War II, in a time when work was expected and nothing came easy. As a teenager, he labored in timber, shined shoes, and learned early how to survive through grit and effort. Those years shaped a man who was resilient, resourceful, and quietly strong.
Before leaving to serve his country, Alvin worked the Kansas wheat harvest, performing demanding seasonal labor. At just 17 years old, with his mother’s signature, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly went to Korea (1950-1953). He served in a combat zone, attained the rank of Corporal, and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Campaign Stars, as well as the United Nations Service Medal. His military service was a lifelong source of quiet pride and honor.
After returning home, Alvin worked at Steak ’n Shake, where he met Joyce Marie Duncan. They married just three months later, beginning a partnership that would last 39 years. On May 21, 1954, they were married in Cleburne, Arkansas, and together raised three children. Joyce preceded him in death in 1993, and Alvin carried his love for her for the rest of his life.
Alvin spent the bulk of his career driving trucks of all kinds, eventually becoming a proud owner-operator, hauling freight coast to coast. Known on the CB radio as “Lucky 7,” he seemed to know every road in America and could drive or fix just about anything with an engine. He also worked in automotive plants and was a proud Teamster, earning respect through reliability, skill, and work ethic. His professionalism earned him Driver of the Year honors multiple times with Tollie Freightways, an achievement he valued deeply.
Alvin loved God and lived an honorable life rooted in faith, generosity, and responsibility. He faithfully supported his church and gave to many others in need, often without recognition. He loved to fish and shared that love with his children, passing down patience, time together, and simple joy. He was also a great pool player, a skill he enjoyed.
Through discipline, faith, and perseverance, Alvin broke the cycle of poverty and addiction, leaving behind a legacy of stability, integrity, and example for future generations. Alvin lived simply, worked hard, loved deeply, and asked for little. His life stands as proof that where you start does not determine where you finish.
Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joyce; his grandson Keith Harmon; his brothers Chaplin, William, Lyle, and Charles; his sisters Evelyn Waggoner and Elene Michel; and his half-brothers Clinton and Kenneth Thomas.
He is survived by his children, Karen Harmon and her husband Kevin, Roger Beavers and his wife Dana (nee Brewer), and Michael Wayne Beavers; along with extended family, friends, and all who knew him across the many miles and years of his life.
Services: Visitation on Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 10:00 AM until the service at 11:00 AM Kutis South County Chapel (5255 Lemay Ferry Road). Interment Sandy Baptist Church Cemetery with Military Honors.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank You for the life of Alvin Beavers —
for steady hands, honest work, and a heart shaped by faith.
Receive him now into Your eternal care,
where there is rest from labor and peace without end.
May we who remain walk forward strengthened by his example,
until we are reunited in Your presence.
Amen.