WILMINGTON — Cleo Howard Beatty died peacefully on October 15, 2024, at The Commons at Brightmore, in Wilmington, NC, at the age of 96 (just 7 days shy of her 97th birthday). She was born Cleo May Howard on October 22, 1927, the oldest daughter of the eight children of Alexander Nixon Howard and Lena Autry Howard in Hampstead, NC.
Cleo grew up and worked on the family farm throughout her school years in Hampstead, NC. Upon graduation from Topsail High School in 1944, she and her cousin Doris traveled to Washington, DC to become clerks with the FBI.
While working at the FBI, Cleo met Robert (Bob) M. Beatty, whom she married on the 17th of July, 1948. Cleo and Bob began their married life in Washington, DC. Steve, the oldest son, was born in Washington, DC. After several transfers, the family settled in Pittsburg, PA where Randy and Mark were born. In 1956 her family moved to Charlotte, NC where they built a house and made their forever home. She was active in her sons’ lives and school events. Here she raised her three boys until they finished school, graduated, and moved on to start their own lives.
While living in Charlotte, Cleo cultivated a sphere of very close friends who would remain her friends for the rest of her life. She also opened the family home to her younger brother Hugh and sister Diane to help them start their adult lives. Her family attended Belmont Park Methodist Church. The family loved to travel and she organized many family trips which included cross country visits to National Parks from North Carolina to California.
In 2001, Bob and Cleo moved back to Hampstead, NC, to the farm on which Cleo grew up and built a house which would become the center of family activities for her later years. Cleo attended Topsail Presbyterian Church and settled into a quiet life. Cleo was a skilled seamstress and enjoyed gardening, photography , dancing and reading. Her home was the gathering place for family and friends and she was happiest in her kitchen cooking. She also enjoyed traveling to Europe and Asia with Bob.
Cleo was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Lena; brothers Lawerence, Bill and Nixon; sister Julia; and her husband of 73 years, Bob.
She is survived by her three sons, Steve (Susan) of Seattle, WA; Randy (Nancy) of Charleston, SC; and Mark (Roxanne) of Taylorsville, NC; her 5 adoring grandchildren, Marshall (Adrienne) Beatty of Wilmington, NC; Christina Beatty (John Sabino) and Kemberly Beatty (Daniel Kenis) of Seattle, WA; Laura (Joshua) Walton of Cary, NC; and Kris Beatty of Mebane, NC. Cleo is also survived by 6 great grandchildren, Davis and Anna Beatty (Marshall and Adrienne); Kerowyn Beatty-Sabino (Christy and John); Benjamin and Jake (Laura and Joshua); and Samuel Beatty-Kenis (Kemberly and Daniel).
Cleo is survived by 3 of her siblings, sister Diane Askins (David) and brothers Hugh Franklin Howard and Donald (Marita) Howard, all of Hampstead, NC.
The family wishes to thank Cleo’s devoted caregiver, Barbara Thimmes, without whom we could not have managed. We would also like to thank the staff at The Commons at Brightmore where Cleo spent her final years.
A Graveside Service will be held for Cleo at Topsail Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 2:00PM. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the church after the service.
