Rev. Jerrold Foster Beaumont, PhD, age 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at Chelsea Retirement Community.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan on January 23, 1926, son of Francis Wellington Beaumont and Clara Winifred (Pett), he and his family moved to Canada in 1936 where he completed elementary and high school. Jerrold enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 to be trained as a pilot. He served on active duty until the end of WWII, at which time he was transferred to Reserve and served until 1950; he then returned to the US and volunteered in the USAF (Auxiliary) with the grade of Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel.
Jerrold studied Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan, and he was employed in various levels of management in the auto industry. He was accepted for seminary studies at the Diocese of Michigan School of Theology, ordained to the Diaconate in 1973, and ordained Priest in 1975. For 25 years, Jerrold served several rural churches in the Diocese of Michigan, primarily at St. Barnabas, Chelsea, during which he founded Faith in Action and acted as its President for 20 years. Father Jerry, as everyone knew him, completed studies and attained a PhD in Family Counseling, and then became affiliated with the Episcopal Counseling Center of the Diocese of Central Florida, serving as Assistant at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Cocoa, Florida. He moved to Cape Canaveral, Florida in 2000, returning to Chelsea in 2011.
He is survived by his daughter, Susan (Eric) Radgowski, son, Douglas (Wendy) Beaumont; second wife, Amy (McDonald); granddaughter, Julie (Dave) DeVries, and grandson, Alexander Beaumont; as well as many friends. Jerrold was preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie (Hesman) in 2014, and oldest his son, Gordon Foster Beaumont in 1978. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, December 9, 2019, 1:00 p.m., at St. James Episcopal Church, 3279 Broad St., Dexter, Michigan. Visitation will be held at the church, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Father Jerry would like to be remembered as someone who dearly loved the Lord and strived to serve Him by serving others.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Jerrold’s name to Faith in Action, the Arbor Hospice Foundation, or St. James Episcopal Church, Dexter. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
