Obituary of Joel Scott Beaton

Joel Scott Beaton June 20th, 1958 - September 29th, 2023 On the twentieth of June, 1958 at 8:22pm, Joel Scott Beaton entered this world. In his sixty-five years of life, Joel made time for lots of things- music, photography, reading, taking care of his plants, and making memories with his family whom he loved dearly. There wasn't much he couldn't do. Over the years, he became a jack of all trades, completing many projects in and out of the house. He was a master tile setter whose work was featured in Fine Home Building magazine and graces many homes in the Ithaca area, as well as the route 89 bridge over the Cayuga Inlet where he installed custom tile of local waterfalls. He also did all the custom tile work for the Mackenzie-Child's facilities in Aurora and New York City. His name was known by many as being the best in the business. His careful attention to detail carried over into every area of his life, including his deck building. He built many a deck, but the ones he built at camp were our favorites. They saw many nights of dancing and stargazing. He also did some other pretty exceptional things like building a massive treehouse for his daughter, crafting a "boat" of sorts for the lake at camp, and doing various projects around the house including some beautiful landscaping. He never hesitated to lend a hand to his loved ones and he quite literally would give you the shirt off of his back. Music was an integral part of his life and it began at a young age. One of his favorite stories to tell was of how he brought the Jeff Beck album, Wired, to show and tell at school. He boasted of how his classmates and even teacher were in awe of this cutting edge sound! He made music with many people and was part of several bands- Beckin, Le Rock, Heckle and Jeckle, and Uptown Revue, where he met his wife Marcie. The two went on to create Barbie and The Rockers, who were quite popular in Ithaca back in the day. He also had quite a few fun nights sitting in with his friends and playing for the band Rukus. He and Marcie spent thirty-eight beautiful years making music together. Though they faced trials, their mutual love of music was a glue of sorts, the common bond that held them together through it all. They passed that love on to their children, who they loved jamming with! Along with a love of music, Joel was also very fond of nature. He loved watching the seasons pass, going for long walks and hikes, and soaking up sun. During the summer, there was always a project being completed and during the winter, you could always count on him shoveling or snow blowing your sidewalk and driveway. His love of nature is captured in many a beautifully composed photo, taken with the most thoughtful intent. He would stop in the middle of the road to take a picture of a sunflower field, or stop you in the middle of your sentence to capture your face when he thought the light was just right. We are ever grateful to have so many moments captured by his beautiful hands and through his eyes. You can't mention his photography without mentioning the large body of work he has amassed in the real estate arena. His drone work and videography, as well as photography skills are well respected in the real estate community. Once again, his careful attention to detail and his eye for the beauty in this world was evident in every photo he took. He is predeceased by his loving mother Elizabeth; and mother in-law Judith Horton. He leaves behind a large and wonderful family- his father Gary and siblings, Gary (Debbie), Alec (Cindy), Todd (Sheila), Sherri (Ronnie), Kelly (Mike), Jodi (Tad). His wife Marcie, children, Corinne, Dakota (Wenyan), Cassady (Ciara), Sarah (Jeremiah), as well as his grandchildren, many cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by everyone he knew. He left us at 1:09pm on the twenty-ninth of September, 2023 and though we may never get to see his big, gentle bear hands play guitar again or meet his kind gaze anymore, he lives on. Through our love for him and for one another, through the many memories he has captured for us, through the sounds of the music he created, we will get to experience Joel's love and legacy for the rest of our lives. We love you, Joel. Family and friends are invited to visit the Barber Funeral Home, 413 S. Main St., in Horseheads on Thursday, October 5th from 4-7pm. Joel's Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 6th 2023 at 10am at St. Mary Our Mother Catholic Church, 816 West Broad St., in Horseheads. Committal and interment prayers will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Newfield, NY. Joel had a great love of arts and music and loved instilling that in others. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to arts and music programs locally or to a charitable organization of your choice.