Brent Beam Obituary

Brent Adair Beam was born May 27, 1953. He won the final race, sailing swiftly and peacefully on October 12, 2025. His lifetime between those two days was filled with challenge, adventure, hard work, and love.
Brent was blessed to live a meaningful life, enjoying the things that made him, his family, and friends happy. He worked hard and played hard. Brent liked to go fast, running marathons in his youth, skiing down black diamond slopes, racing his Catalina, and waterskiing with his friends. He was happiest outdoors, on grand adventures traveling the world, hiking near home, and on quiet evenings by the firepit. His recent fly-fishing trip to Montana, just a few days ago, must surely have given Brent time to reflect. "A good day of fly fishing is more than catching fish. It's about a connection with the river, the land, and the rhythm of nature." Good music, fine wine, the challenge of making a great deal, were some of life's pleasures for Brent.
Brent was devoted to his wife, Susan Sanders Beam. He enjoyed working to provide beautiful homes for them to share, security and endless love. They traveled together, sailed together, and raised their beautiful black labs, Sadie and Bear, together. That love filled forty years with joy.
He also loved countless friends who found Brent to be a generous, dependable, skilled, and humorous man, ready for fun at a moment's notice. He was captain of the ship, host at the party, salesman with the deal, and someone they could trust. He enjoyed competitions, regattas on Lake Guntersville, tennis matches at Huntsville Athletic Club, and hours at home and with friends watching Alabama football!
Brent joined Computer Systems Technology in 1993 and brought an entire computer sales team to Computer Systems Technology (CST). He became an integral part of the company known as CST Microsystems. He led and grew an effective team of salespeople, incorporating creative sales incentives to help individuals grow professionally and to further build the commercial segment of CST.
At the same time, he supported the business staff, treating every person with kindness and respect. He valued everyone, no matter the role, and made sure they knew how their contributions to the team mattered. Brent injected fun and positivity in the workplace and went out of his way to reward and recognize hard work and a job well done.
He was a great leader, a savvy businessman, a helpful mentor, and a kind and generous person. He was committed to excellence internally and externally, making sure that customers' requirements were not just met, but exceeded expectations. He remained with CST until it was acquired by SAIC in 2003, at which time he retired.
Following his official retirement, Brent became an entrepreneur who continued the quest for a great deal, trading luxury cars and boats, making real estate transactions, sod farming and much more.
Brent was met at the Gates of Heaven by his faithful companion, Bear, a black lab who had been waiting for him at the Rainbow Bridge. Brent loved animals and in his early life cared for horses, rode bulls and broncos bareback. He, along with Susan, was an active volunteer for Helping Animals Without Shelter (HAWS).
He is survived by his wife, Susan Sanders Beam and their precious lab, Sadie; his brother, Dayne (Diane) Beam; sisters, Tarin Majure and Darling Bailes-Bonjo (Michael Bonjo); sister-in-law, Linda Sanders; nieces and nephews, Bryn, Brian, Truett, Josh, Cassady Rose, Sam, Ashford, and Hazel; and many, many friends who will miss his quick wit and confident devotion. Brent's mother and stepfather, Shirley and Ted Bailes preceded his passing.

A fisherman's prayer for Brent…
God, grant that you may live to fish until your dying day. And when it comes to your last cast, We then most humbly pray: When in the Lord's safe landing net, and peacefully asleep, That in His mercy you be judged as good enough to keep. We are confident that Brent Beam was a man most definitely good enough to keep
A celebration of Brent Beam's wonderful life will be forthcoming. Anchors hold the ship, not the spirit. Fair winds and following seas to a man we all loved.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Helping Animals Without Shelter (HAWS) a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization here in Madison County. www.hawshelp.com