James (Ed) Beha

HOCKINGPORT - James Edward (Ed) Beha, 43, of Hockingport, OH passed away at 7:30am on January 17, 2025 at The Laurels in Athens, Ohio. 

Ed was born in Athens, OH on June 26, 1981. He was the son of Teresa Dillie (Alan) Trout of Amesville, OH and Gregory Lewis (Beth) Beha of Glouster, OH. 

In addition to his mother and father, Ed is survived by maternal grandfather, James Paul Dillie; his beloved children, 12-year-old daughter, Eila Jayne Beha, 11-year-old son, Rook Edward Beha; his older brother, Ben (Jess) Beha; and his nieces, Gracie (Noah) McCune, Emily Beha, Lydia (Austin) Wisor, Autumn Beha; nephew, Adler Beha, and youngest niece, Iris Beha. Ed dearly cherished his relationship with all of his nieces and his nephew.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Denzil Edward Beha and Carol Simmons Beha; maternal grandmother, Wilma Morrison Dillie.

Ed grew up in Amesville, OH where he met many of his lifelong friends. He attended Federal Hocking High School where he played football and basketball. He graduated in the class of 1999. 

Ed was deeply passionate about youth sports. Ed’s son, Rook, was very fond of his father’s efforts to always work with him to find better and more efficient and effective ways to improve upon his methods in sports and in life in general. He was likewise always involved in the same capacity with his daughter, Eila’s, cheerleading events and practices. Ed and his close friend, Jimmy Meeks, spent the better part of 8 years managing, maintaining, and improving the Ferndale Park baseball fields in Torch, OH where Ed also coached tee-ball and baseball for many years. There was literally nothing Ed wouldn’t give of himself, not just for his own children, but for any of the children in the greater community.

He will be dearly remembered as a man of large stature with a kind and gentle spirit. Ed was truly larger than life. Ed made friends (usually for life) wherever he went due to his great sense of humor, diligent honesty, incredibly kind and generous nature, but he was also as ornery a fella as one could imagine! He was known as the type of friend that would help you build your house and never ask for a thing in return, except maybe a beer or two and some good conversation! He’d also make a point to make any of his beloved friends the butt of the joke with his unique, witty sense of humor.

Ed was a lifetime member of the Coolville People’s Club where he held the office of Sargent of Arms, again likely due to his much larger than life stature. He was also very well known for being an incredible cook with his smoker, which he affectionately referred to as “Smokey the Barrel”. Ed was ready at the drop of a hat to come to any of his friend’s social gatherings where he generally stole the show by feeding everyone some of the best smoked meats imaginable.

Ed was a man who was highly respected and dearly loved by his community and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at White Funeral Home in Coolville, OH. Burial will follow in the Coolville Cemetery. A meal and fellowship will be held following the graveside service at the Coolville People's Club and all are welcome to attend.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, from 10 A.M. until the time of the service. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Coolville People's Club, at 2747 Third Street, Coolville, OH 45723.

You are invited to sign the online guestbook at ehwfh.com.