Francis Edward Beebe, 72, of 782 West Cross Road died Friday at North Adams Regional Hospital shortly after being admitted. Born in North Adams on July 11, 1931, son of Edward Henry Beebe and Charlotte A. Thayer Palmer Beebe Ariel, he attended schools there.

An Army veteran of the Korean War, he served as a corporal with the 133rd Medical Detachment from 1952 until his honorable discharge in 1954.He was awarded several medals, including the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Mr. Beebe was a coating manager with the former Photech Corp. in Williamstown, retiring in 1989 after 26 years of service. He also had worked at the former Windsor Print Works in North Adams. An avid hunter, fisherman and gardener, he sold vegetables from his yard and at the North Adams farmers' market.

His first wife, the former Jeannette G. Duby, died in 1967. He and his wife, the former Dorothy K. Harris, were married Feb. 27, 1970, in First Baptist Church in Bennington, Vt. Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, Francis E. Beebe Jr. of Schenectady, N.Y., Thomas A. Beebe of West Stockbridge and David J. Beebe of Clarksburg; three daughters, Catherine Beebe-Gaspardi of Cheshire, Sherry L. Beebe of Northampton and Victoria Sophia of Dalton; a brother, Earl Palmer of Adams; a sister, Stella Bastion of Pownal, Vt., and 12 grandchildren.  Survivors include several nieces and nephews. A brother and sister, Harold Palmer and Marion McConnell, are deceased.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Francis Edward Beebe, who died Dec. 5, 2003, will be Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 12:30 at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial, celebrated at 1:30 at St. Anthony of Padua Church by the Rev. Daniel J. O'Hear, pastor. Burial will be in the family plot in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours will be Monday from 3 to 7 at the funeral home.