James “Jim” L. Beson

Jim passed away on April 12 after fighting pancreatic cancer for 5 years at his home in Murray, Utah. Jim was born in Claremore Oklahoma to C. William and Mary Beson, the second of 5 children. His life was full of many chapters, a kaleidoscope of astonishing
experiences.

Jim’s early upbringing set a course of love of family, friends, education and the military. He attended Oklahoma Military Academy JC in Claremore graduating Phi Theta Kappa and with honors as outstanding ROTC cadet. Jim then attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Microbiology. He was a member of Lamba Tau and was the Distinguished Military Graduate of his class.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant of armor upon graduation but was reassigned as a regular army officer in the medical service corps. He was assigned to fly DUSTOFF and after completion of training, assigned to the 159th Medical Detachment in Cu Chi, Republic of South Vietnam. There, the love and respect each member of the unit developed for each other endures beyond life and defies words. The DUSTOFF crews serving in Vietnam were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, a rare honor for any person or unit and the only one to be awarded to a US Army unit serving in Vietnam.

Jim was an individual that never stopped learning. After active army service he became an optometrist attending optometry school at the University of Houston graduating in 1976. The plan was to go into practice with his father “Doc Beson” in Claremore which he did for
several years. Always drawn to military service, Jim joined the Oklahoma National Guard serving again with distinction.

A family friend encouraged him to go further with his education. In 1979 he was selected to attend Oklahoma Osteopathic School of Medicine and Surgery in Tulsa. Upon graduation from there, he returned to service in the Regular Army with internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii and then Residency at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC. Because of his military experience he was selected to be Company Commander of the medical company, Second Infantry Division, Korea located on the DMZ between internship and residency.

His first assignment as a newly minted Ophthalmologist to the 5th General Hospital at Bad Cannstatt in Stuttgart Germany was where he met his future wife, Maura, an army quartermaster officer, on a ski trip. During his time in Germany, he was again selected for special assignments due to his military experiences including a special mission to Morocco with the 1st Infantry Division and then Chief medical officer to the ACE mobile force, NATOs organic military arm.

Jim left active duty to further pursue more medical education being selected for a fellowship specializing in Glaucoma with the Houston Eye Associates. Upon graduating from the fellowship in 1990 he moved back to Tulsa to open his own practice. He had remained in the army reserves throughout his fellowship training so when he moved to Tulsa and in the middle of his establishing his practice, his unit was activated for Operation Desert Storm. While his unit never deployed to the Middle East, he decided to reenter the Army on active duty. He was given his duty station of choice, Ft Leavenworth Kansas where he was reunited with Maura.

He picked up his distinguished military career once again serving as the Division Surgeon of the 1st Cavalry Division, Ft Hood, TX, Chief of Ophthalmology, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, Commander, Weed Army Hospital at the National Training Center, Ft Irwin,
CA, where he had 2 additional jobs while he was commanding, Chief Surgeon for the Training center and Chief Medical Observer Controller for the military exercises that took place there. While doing all these jobs, he also completed the requirements for the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA graduating in 1998. Next, he was selected to be the Deputy Commander for Clinical Services at Womack Army Medical Center, Ft Bragg, NC. He was selected early for a second command at Martin Army Hospital, Ft Benning, GA. His next assignment was back to Ft Sam Houston to be the Deputy Commander of Brooke Army Medical Center. This was his last military assignment; he retired on 1 January 2003 at Ft Sam Houston, home of Army medicine and his very first duty station when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of the Medical Service Corps.

Jim went back to work as a civilian contractor at Brooke Army Medical Center as a staff ophthalmologist almost immediately after retiring from the military as Operation Iraqi Freedom was in full swing, pulling many active-duty doctors from the hospital to serve in
military operations. They needed fully qualified specialist to train the ophthalmology residents in the residency program and were grateful to have Jim back. He enjoyed patient care and teaching, not having to worry about meetings as well as other administrative duties. His one year contract turned into multiple years. With some of those earnings, Jim purchased a motor home. Jim and Maura were able to travel to many places across the US to visit our retired military friends.

After leaving San Antonio, Jim worked in private practice for Dr Sharon Richens in St George, Utah. From there, he spent 6 months working in the Navajo Nation at Ft Defiance Indian Health Hospital. Jim then returned to Salt Lake to work for Dr Rachel Benator at Salt Lake Eye Associates and finally, he was selected to fill a staff ophthalmologist position with the Moran Eye Center where he worked until his cancer diagnosis. Dr Randy Olson, head ofthe Moran Eye Center, would always pay Jim the highest of compliments when he would ask during each annual review if he could get 2 or 3 more doctors with Jim’s work ethic. Jim’s leadership style developed through education and experience from junior college, his time in Vietnam, his multiple command and staff assignments honed him into an exemplary leader. He learned early to “lead, don’t follow. ”

His no-nonsense leadership style was balanced with levity and kindness that endeared him to all that served with him. The military instilled a wanderlust in both Maura and Jim and they enjoyed traveling worldwide. Jim taught himself photography. Already familiar the technical aspects of lenses he became a very accomplished photographer. Each trip was thoroughly documented with Jim’s photographs and Maura’s paintings. Together the tended to three English Springer Spaniels, losing their last love, Maggie, in January.

Jim is survived by his wife, Maura, brother Clyde William Beson III (Sherry), sister, Betty (Larry) and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, John and Joe.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to your favorite educational institute or graduating senior.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May, 17th, 2025 from 4-6 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East. Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building.

Graveside service will be held on Friday, May 16th, 2025 at 11 AM, Utah Veterans Memorial Park, 17111 1700 W, Bluffdale.