Grant Campbell Besley

Saturday, July 20, 2013
Grant Campbell Besley

Grant Campbell Besley, 71, was born May 26, 1942 and died July 10, 2013 in Taos, N.M. as a result of an airplane accident. He is survived by his wife Joan; is the father of Michael (Julia) Besley, Ann (Ron) Swalwell, Jane (Bill) Sheehan, David Besley and Caroline Besley; grandfather of Rachel and Mikayla Besley, Grant, Sean and Gwen Swalwell and Liam Sheehan; and brother of Rick Besley (Jackie) and Susan Besley Miller (Miles). He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Katherine (Kiddie) Besley. A Joliet, Plainfield and Evergreen, Colo. resident, he spent his childhood in Fort Scott and was a 1960 Joliet Township High school graduate. He was a retired captain from United Airlines in 2003 after 38 years of service. He was a member of many aviation organizations - EAA, AOPA, and ALPA, certified Flight Instructor, FAA Designated Examiner, Civil Air Patrol and Wings of Hope Volunteer flying humanitarian missions to Guatemala to deliver medical supplies. He was instrumental in developing Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs (EAP) at both the airlines and Barrington High School. He was leader of the Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) programs for both the airlines and the medical industry. He was an artist with commissioned work displayed in Colorado and New Mexico, psychologist for CLAIR in Chicago 1976-1978, owner of Barrington Counseling Service 1978-1988. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, July 28, at 2 p.m. at the Taos, N.M. Airport. Local service is to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.