Needles, Calif., farrier Daniel Beasley passed away Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. He was 72.

After majoring in history and physical education at Antelope Valley Junior College in Antelope Valley, Calif., life offered Beasley a fork in the road in 1972. He decided to take the path to become a ranger at Moabi Regional Park in Needles, Calif. He worked as a park ranger for San Bernardino County during his entire career, retiring after 36 years in 2008.

His life changed forever one fateful day in the summer of 1974 when a cute and elusive brunette with the beehive hairdo to end all hairdos spent time at the park that summer with her family. Two months later, Beasley convinced Jenny Adams to elope on Oct. 8, 1974, in Las Vegas, Nev.. As newlyweds, the couple settled into his trailer in Park Moabi. 

Jenny brought along her horse and before long they had several more horses. She loved to barrel race and Dan loved to team rope. They each competed in the Mohave Valley Riding Club, the Mohave County Fair and the Needles Rodeo in the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s.

Dan became the president of the Mohave Valley Riding club during the ’80s and served for many years. In the interest of fundraising for the Needles Rodeo one year, Dan, with the help of his best friend Dave Evans, rode his horse into the Red Dog Saloon on main street in Needles during Rodeo Days and threatened to throw everyone in “jail” who didn’t have a rodeo button. A record setting amount of money was raised that year selling rodeo buttons.

Horses were a pivotal feature in Dan’s life. He was extremely proud of his horses and bred exceptional Appaloosas and then Quarter Horses and Paints. He was a professional farrier and served the tri-state horse community for many decades. He also took in horses to train for people as a side business and was always interested in learning new training techniques.

Dan was an active member of the Needles Seventh-day Adventist church in Needles, California where he served as a deacon and then an elder.

Dan served as a volunteer firefighter for the Park Moabi branch of the Needles Fire Department for more than a decade. He responded to hundreds of medical emergencies, vehicular and boat accidents and wildfires.

Services were held at Needles Seventh-Day Adventist Church for closest family and friends on March 5, 2021.