Beck, J. B. "Bernie"

prominent Ottawa county Oklahoma pioneer and an associate in the lead and zinc mining company which bore his family's name, died at his home, 5 E Street northwest, at 7:50 p.m. Monday, following a heart attack. Born in Afton Oklahoma when it was still Indian Territory, Beck, age 61, was active in the operation of the Beck Mining and Royalty Company with his late brothers, George W. Beck, Charles A. Beck, and Walter Beck, since 1916. The firm was recognized as one of the oldest and most prosperous Tri-State district lead and zinc ore producers. Bernie, as he was familiarly known here, devoted much of his time to the supervision of the company's extensive real estate holdings, including several large farms. The Beck Mining and Royalty Company played a major role in the location of the B. F. Goodrich Company's tire manufacturing plant here. Land on which the plant was constructed in 1945 was controlled by the Beck Company as were many other northwest acreage into which Miami has expanded. Survivors include four sisters, Miss Lucille Beck and Miss Mable Beck, both of the home; Mrs. Paul Wilks of Tulsa Oklahoma and Mrs. Bess Watkins of Kansas City Missouri. Funeral services will be conducted in the family home at 2 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Harry W. Curtis, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate. Pallbearers will be Ben Owens, Dave Ogden, Ed Lee, John R. Wallace, L. A. Wetzel and Salem Almegourd. Burial will be in G.A.R. cemetery at Miami, under direction of the Cooper funeral home.