'More important than his golf score was his character.' Remembering Waynedale's Deegan Bee

Rachel Karas, The Daily Record
·3 min read
A photo of Deven "Deegan" Bee, with a candle in his memory, sat on a table at the Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church Friday. Waynedale High School, where Bee attended, set up the space at the church to provide "an opportunity for everyone to come together" following Bee's Wednesday death.
A photo of Deven "Deegan" Bee, with a candle in his memory, sat on a table at the Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church Friday. Waynedale High School, where Bee attended, set up the space at the church to provide "an opportunity for everyone to come together" following Bee's Wednesday death.

FREDERICKBURG – Paul Miller said if he had to describe Deven “Deegan” Bee in one word, it would be uncommon.

Bee would have been a junior at Waynedale High School. He had played on the golf team and enjoyed hunting and playing video games.

Bee died Wednesday morning due to impact injuries from a June 5 head-on collision in Medina County.

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Friends, family and others gathered Friday at Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church to share stories and reminisce about how Bee touched their lives.

"He lived his life with a demeanor that was uncommon for kids his age," said Miller, explaining Bee was a mature 16-year-old, yet he knew how to have fun.

As his neighbor, Miller said, he got to watch Bee grow up and saw the way he interacted with others. Always respectful and able to connect with others in kind ways and on a deeper level.

Bee remembered those he met along the way and the stories they shared.

“This is such a bigger thing than our community,” Miller said. “I tell people around here that, all the outpouring you see in this community, is probably only representing 10% of the people (and) lives Deegan has touched.”

A picture of Bee and notepads lined a table in a room near the front of the church where people came, shared memories, consoled each other, wrote notes and words of encouragement that were placed in a jar to be given to Bee's family.

School counselors and others from Southeast Local were on hand, and as some community members left the church, others wandered in during the three-hour gathering.

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Gaven Bee reflects on memories of his brother, Deegan

Even though Deegan Bee enjoyed golf, he was more into hunting, his brother, Gaven, said, adding the pair always found things to bond over such as video games.

When they were little, Gaven Bee remembers playing games like Minecraft together on a big television they had in their basement, occasionally stealing the controller from one another.

Deegan Bee's brother Gaven recounted some of the times he spent with Deegan. He fondly remembers the times they used to play video games together in their parents' basement.
Deegan Bee's brother Gaven recounted some of the times he spent with Deegan. He fondly remembers the times they used to play video games together in their parents' basement.

He recalled a recent kayaking trip he, Deegan and their dad, Jeremy, went on when Deegan got caught behind a tree. Thinking it would be funny, Deegan paddled toward the tree on purpose and had to swim under the water to get passed it.

Memories like that come to mind for Gaven Bee when he thinks of his younger brother.

They went golfing with each other a few times, Gaven Bee said, and as he looks back he wishes they had done it more.

Neighbor shares stories of Bee’s love of golf, coach reflects on his character

Miller shared stories of how Deegan Bee first began golfing after he had recovered from a childhood accident and could no longer play contact sports. He said Bee not only fell in love with the sport but was always pushing himself to get better.

“This little kid would practice for hours in the backyard,” Miller said. “... He would just hit balls, and hit balls, and hit balls. And then he asked me questions. ‘Why does it go to the right? Why did that one go to the left? And he was so curious and wanted to do that and work so hard.”

Note: This story was changed to fix an error. See correction at bottom.

As Bee got better his parents got him a coach and he started playing at larger events. Melinda Budd, the golf coach at Waynedale High School, said she remembers working with Bee back when he was in third or fourth grade.

Melinda Budd, Deegan Bee's golf coach at Waynedale High School, shared stories of how she watched Bee grow as a player and as a person. She said he brought much respect for the game of golf and always showed dignity on and off the course.
Melinda Budd, Deegan Bee's golf coach at Waynedale High School, shared stories of how she watched Bee grow as a player and as a person. She said he brought much respect for the game of golf and always showed dignity on and off the course.

Over the years she knew him, Budd said, she enjoyed watching him grow not only as an athlete but as a person.

“More important than his golf score was his character,” Budd said. “He had so much respect for the game, respect for his playing partners and opponents. The dignity he showed on the course, those are the things that I will remember forever.”

Correction: Melinda Budd is the golf coach at Waynedale High School. Her name was incorrect when this story first published Friday.

Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com   

On Twitter: @RachelKaras3 

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Friends, family share stories of Waynedale High's Deegan Bee