Harold Dean Beeman passed away on June 11, 2026 at the age of 88. Born in Punkin Center, Texas on October 3, 1937, Dean lived in Wichita Falls and Duncan, Oklahoma, before settling in Odessa at the age of 12 where he lived the remainder of his life.

Dean graduated from Odessa High School in 1955 and headed to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University. Not long after, he returned home to help his father run the family business, Basin Machine & Mfg. Co., Inc. What began as helping soon became leading, and through decades of oil booms and oil busts, Dean kept the doors open with grit, loyalty, and sheer determination. He eventually closed the business in 2024, marking the end of a long and hardworking era.

In his younger years, Dean lived life with a spark, racing cars, riding motorcycles, fishing, and hunting. As time went on, his passions grew to include traveling, collecting cars, and tinkering with them just enough to keep them humming. He loved time spent with family and friends, and he found community in the Flatlanders Ski Club and the Oil Burners Car Club, where he made memories on countless trips. And of course, he was known far and wide for his iconic train whistle, a signature sound he happily performed anytime someone asked.

Dean’s life was marked by deep connections and a winding journey through love and family. He was married four times, and from those early chapters came three daughters, Laurie, Diana, and his youngest, Deann from his second marriage. His third marriage brought companionship, and his fourth, a lasting partnership of 27 years until his wife’s passing in 2014. In his later years, he shared his days with his girlfriend, Lois, who was by his side at the time of his passing. His story was full, complex, and deeply human, shaped by the people he loved along the way.

Dean leaves behind his girlfriend, Lois Tri of Odessa/Lubbock. His daughter, Laurie Kuhlwein and her husband Mike of Dallas. His daughter Deann Welch and her husband Todd of Midland. He was so loved by his grandchildren, Daniel and Daren DeFrain of Dallas, Tiffany Hanauer and husband Brent of Midland, Carissa Gressett and husband Jeff of Midland, Everett Wenzel of Dallas, Ethan Welch and wife Madison of Midland and Justus Wenzel of Austin. Five great grandchildren and 3 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Archie Beeman, his mother Marilyn Beeman, his sister Sue Kirk, his wife Mary Beeman and his daughter Diana Wenzel.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Wednesday, June 17th at 5pm at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Odessa with services following on Friday, June 19th at 3:00pm as we come together to honor the life of Dean Beeman. He was a steady presence in this world, a man who loved deeply, worked hard, and lived with quiet strength.

His legacy of hard work and devotion lives on in his family and the people who knew him, learned from him, and loved him. Every story shared, every memory held close, and every life he touched will continue to carry a piece of him forward.