Nathan Charles Beatty, 8 years old, born on August 27, 2008 in El Paso, TX, passed away on July 4, 2017 after a long, hard fought battle with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG. DIPG is a terminal, untreatable brain tumor in which 90% of the patients diagnosed with will pass away within the year. Nathan lived and fought bravely for 10 ½ months! Nathan never let his diagnoses affect his positive personality and when told what he had he immediately said “Ok. Let’s kick its butt!” Nathan did just that! He never complained. He never let it slow him down and he remained happy until the very end.
Nathan compiled a list of adventures that he wanted to complete while he was on this earth and managed to complete nearly 95% of it. He met his favorite soccer player, Clint Dempsey, of the Seattle Sounders and scored a goal on him. He became a wizard during his Make-A-Wish trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. He swam with a dolphin named Hutch. He played golf with Patrick Sharp of the Dallas Stars and joined the team in the locker room for their winning celebration in which they honored him with player of the game. He met Jerry Jones at the Dallas Cowboy stadium, who took him over to meet his favorite team the Baltimore Ravens and hang out with their coach, Coach Harbaugh, and his favorite player, Joe Flacco. He went to the Texas Motor Speedway where he rode around with racecar drivers and hung out in the pit. He met his favorite actor, Brendan Fraser, from his favorite movie, The Mummy, who recited lines from the movie with him and took us all to lunch in NYC. He was a tourist in NYC for days, seeing the statue of liberty, museums and Broadway shows. One of his most memorable times was getting to meet his favorite animal, the anteater, and feed and pet her thanks to the Dallas Zoo. While this seems like a lot, these are just a few of the many adventures Nathan accumulated over the last 10 ½ months. He lived life to the fullest! He had an infectious smile and eyelashes for days! He loved laughing and making people laugh with his silly jokes. He loved his Seattle Sounders and playing soccer and loved flying. He wanted to be a pilot since birth, a professional soccer player and a mathematician as well! We asked him one time what he thought the meaning of life was and he responded, “To have fun every day and hopefully make a few friends along the way.” My Nathan, you accomplished that! You had fun every day of your life and made more friends than most do in a lifetime! His motto was NATHAN STRONG and he truly was!
Nathan is survived by his Father, Clint Steven Beatty, and Mother, Tara Lynn Beatty. His older brother, Colin Beatty. Grandparents, Caroline Brieling, Charlie Beatty and Sue Beatty. Great Grandparents, Jane Antonitis, Carol Beatty, Paul and Carole Kleinschmidt. Uncles, Wayne Brieling Jr., Travis Beatty and Uncle/Godfather Mark Beatty. Great Aunt/Godmother, Kelly Rose. Great Uncles, Anthony Antonitis, William Kleinschmidt and Stephen Rose. Cousins, Haylie Brieling and Avery Davis. He is preceded in death by Great Grandparents, Anthony J. Antonitis, Charles Beatty and Mary Brieling. Grandfather, Wayne Brieling and Great Uncle Mike Kleinschmidt.
The family will not be having a funeral, but rather a Celebration of his Life to be announced at a later date. They want to erect a memorial bench and plant a tree in his honor and will have his Celebration then. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating for his memorial plans to: PO Box 902, Glen Rose, TX 76043.