Fay Gallion Beck

Fay Gallion Beck, 79, retired educator and resident of Foster Chapel Road, died Friday, October 12, 2012 at Metropolitan Nashville Hospital. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols. Family services and interment will be private. Memorials are suggested to Windhorse Sanctuary, c/o Bobbie Gibson Ferguson, 18400 NW 150th Street, Williston, Florida 32696 or PAWS of Maury County, 1233 Mapleash Avenue, Columbia 38401. Notes of condolence may be extended at oakesandnichols.com. Born June 5, 1933 in Bonnertown, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late G. Lynn Gallion and Audrey Norwood Gallion. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education (with great honors) in 1962 from the University of North Alabama; a Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education in 1969; and did additional studies in 1982 toward certification as an Education Specialist, also at the University of North Alabama. Her teaching career began at Blake Elementary School in Sheffield, Alabama in 1962. From 1964 - 1980, she taught at Gilbert Elementary School in Florence, Alabama; was elected Conservation Educator of the Year in 1979; and served as co-chairman for the accreditation committee in 1972. From 1980 - 1986, she taught at Hibbett School, also in Florence and coached the girls' basketball team. She was recognized as Alabama Conservation Educator of the Year in 1979; Teacher of the Year 1985-1986; served on the Alabama State Textbook Committee; helped establish a nature trail for Hibbett School; and conducted and attended numerous workshops and seminars on education and conservation for the State of Alabama, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Alabama Forestry Commission. Mrs. Beck was recognized and well-known as an outstanding educator in the science and conservation fields. Mrs. Beck once wrote: "My philosophy of teaching science is to create "a sense of wonder. I look on myself as an architect, a facilitator...who makes the school a place of experience to develop their natural curiosity. Science lends itself well to being taught in numerous ways, therefore, I feel it is also important to touch, pat, hug, and smile at students as well." Her professional associations include Kappa Delta Pi, honorary education society; Alpha Delta Kappa, honorary teachers' sorority; Alabama Wildflower Society; Audubon Society; Florence Education Association; Alabama Education Association; National Education Association; Alabama Science Teachers' Association; National Science Teachers' Association. Mrs. Beck was also a member of the Garden Club of Alabama and sponsored Junior Garden Clubs, conducted flower shows and contests for junior gardeners, and was an honorary member of Betta Garden Club of Florence. She was a member of Anderson Bend Church of Christ. Since her retirement, she has enjoyed collecting old books about nature, cultivating a wildflower garden, reading, nature study, and being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For the past eighteen years, she and Mr. Beck have delivered meals to shut-ins in Maury County for the Meals-On-Wheels Program. When asked how she wished to be remembered, she wrote: "with a smile, loving to play rook, quilting and giving them away, especially to newborns; as having a gentle, quiet spirit." She is survived by her husband, Victor C. Beck, Sr., whom she married in 1995; sons, Thomas "Skip" (Cathy) Beck of Leadville, Colorado and Michael (Molly) Beck of Portland, Maine; step-children, Teresa (John Tomlinson) Beck of Columbia, Linda Beck of Nashville, Dr. Victor C. (Tricia) Beck, Jr. of Columbia, Steve (Carol) Beck of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, and Barry Beck of Nashville; grandchildren, Zachary, Makali, Roxanne, Riley, Amanda, Gabrielle, and Hunter Beck; step-grandchildren, Vic, III and Adam Beck, Liz Wiggs, Jason White, and Zach White; great-granddaughter, Hanna Shepard; step-great-grandchildren, Lilli, Charlie, Jack, Henry, John, Wyatt, and Bennett Beck, Bella, Chloe, and Benjamin White; sister-in-law, Nancy Gallion; brothers-in-law, Willie C. Beck, William (Sandy) Beck, Marshall (Shelby) Beck, and Jerry (Laura) Beck. She was preceded in death by her first husband, T. J. Beck in 1989; brother, Ray Gallion; sisters-in-law, Gerry Ray, Mallene White, Jannice Wynn, and Dot Beck; and brothers-in-law, Neal Beck, George White, and Ed Ray.