Harlo P. Beals, Jr.

October 3, 1926 - July 28, 2014

COOPERSTOWN - Harlo P. Beals, Jr., a native of Cooperstown, passed away Monday morning, July 28, 2014, at Otsego Manor. He was 87.

On October 3, 1926, Harlo was born at The Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, a son of Harlo P. Beals, Sr. and Margaret (Bostwick) Beals. His father had moved the family to Cooperstown in 1923, when he was chosen to be the manager of the Otsego County Farm Bureau Association.

After graduating from Cooperstown High School with the class of 1944, Harlo entered into active service with the United States Army and proudly served his country during World War II.

Following his military service, he attended Cornell University, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1950.

After working for American Chemical, Harlo returned to Cooperstown and joined the McEwan Hardware Company in 1969 as a principal, and was named Secretary of the corporation. He continued with the company following its' affiliation with Ace Hardware, and retired in 1994.


Throughout his life, Harlo lived in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Ithaca, and Canada, yet always considered Cooperstown his true home. A member of the Native Sons of Cooperstown, Harlo was also a member of the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579, the Cooperstown Fire Department, and was a former member of the Rotary Club of Cooperstown.

Harlo's interests included restoring Model A and Model T cars, player pianos, repairing antique clocks and antique wooden boats. He thoroughly enjoyed boating on Otsego Lake.

Harlo is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha Scott Beals, whom he married September 17, 1949, in Ithaca. He is further survived by two sons, Kevin Beals and his wife, Kathie, of Parish, and Stephen Beals and Stacy of Cooperstown; 1 daughter, Susan Beals of Cuyler; two foster daughters, Tina Parks and Dale Hendricks of Cooperstown and Nancy Parshall and her husband, Carl ("Pete"), of Morris; and 12 grandchildren, Kyle Beals and his wife, Brandy, Kory Beals and his wife, Kelly, Gabe Beals, Melanie Bobowski, and her husband, Mattias Wadenstein, Jessica MacKay and her husband, Joshua, Elizabeth Soutar and her husband, Gordon,  Sarah Roberts and her husband, Joseph, Laurie Butts and her husband, John, Carrie Warner and Jamie Parson, Jillian LaBadia and her husband, Joey, and Neil and Christine Parshall. Harlo also enjoyed his 11 great grandchildren, Jackson Beals, Wyatt and Allison Butts, Hailey James, Karli Warner and Madison Parson, Ronin Mooney, Tala MacKay, and Caitlin, Emily and Adam Roberts. Harlo also has a sister-in-law, Ruth Scott, of Trumansburg, and several nieces and nephews.  

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Burton and Robert Beals.

A graveside service will be offered at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2014, in Lakewood Cemetery, with the Rev. Betsy Jay, Chaplain at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, officiating.  

Memorial donations may be directed to the Cooperstown Fire Department, P.O. Box 1, Cooperstown, NY  13326, or to The Rotary Club of Cooperstown for the benefit of the Youth Exchange Program, P.O. Box 993, Cooperstown, NY  13326. 

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.