The Honorable James Roy Bean III

Posted on May 4, 2021

Judge James Roy Bean III, 73, passed away on April 27, 2021 at Doctors Memorial Hospital in Perry, FL, following an extended illness. Judge Bean was born January 16, 1948 in Saginaw, Michigan to James Roy Bean Jr. and Rella Mae Cannon Bean. He was a graduate of Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport Michigan where he played several sports, including Football, Basketball, Wresting, and Track. Following High School, he attended and graduated from Michigan State University with an undergraduate in pre-law. He fulfilled his Graduate School Law Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, earning his Juris Doctor. Judge Bean served as the Circuit Judge of Florida’s Third Judicial Circuit for 21 years before his retiring in 2013. Judge Bean began his legal career as a private attorney in Savannah, GA before deciding to sit for the Florida Bar Exam, which he passed. Having passed the Bar Exam, he accepted a position with the Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office where he served for 2 ½ years. In 1977 he accepted the position of Assistant State Attorney with the States Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit in Perry, FL, eventually serving as the Chief Prosecutor until he became District Judge in 1992.

Judge Bean was of the Christian faith and was a member of Evangel Christian Fellowship. Prior to joining Evangel, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for 35 years where he co-chaired the Courage Through Cancer ministry and taught youth Sunday school. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a man of wisdom, compassion, and honor. In his spare time he enjoyed playing golf, reading, and gulf coast fishing. He was preceded in death by; his parents, James and Rella Bean Jr.

He is survived by; his beloved wife of 47 years, Mrs. Kathleen Ann Bean; his treasured son, James Roy Bean IV, of Tallahassee; 2 sisters, MaryAnn Vanpoelvoorde, and husband Leon, and Barbara Curtis, and husband Bernard, all of Fort Myers, FL; a sister-in-law, Mary Ellen McGovern (Phil); 2 brothers-in-law, John Martz (Barbara), and James Martz (Becky); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial service for Judge Bean will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Perry with Rev. Justin Webb and Rev. Larry Neal officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will take place in Pineview Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Bible Society at Heroes.AmericanBible.org. The American Bible Society delivers Bibles to our nations troops and wounded veterans. All arrangements are under the care of Burns Funeral Home of Perry.

Friends may send condolences to the family at www.joepburnsfuneralhomes.com