'He loved his son so much': Family remembers Las Cruces man that died in kayaking accident
Lucas Peerman
LAS CRUCES - Each night, Alec Beaumont would call home to his wife and son in Las Cruces to tell them about his adventures in Michigan.
Beaumont, who was adopted, had recently reconnected with his biological family and moved from Las Cruces to Michigan to get to know them. He would share stories about meeting new cousins and exploring the outdoors, especially a newfound passion — kayaking.
Beaumont's wife of six years, Tandra, and their son, Andree, age 5, still lived in Las Cruces, and were contemplating a move to Michigan.
Alec had picked up the sport of kayaking from his family and "he loved it," Tandra said. "He told me, 'I want to buy a kayak.' And I was like, 'are you crazy?' But he ended up buying one. And he would send videos of him with his family."
Tandra said she and Andree were planning a trip to Michigan in September and one of the agenda items was a kayaking adventure.
Unfortunately, the trip will not happen.
Alec Beaumont, 26, perished in a kayaking accident on June 20.
Beaumont took his newly purchased kayak out to some lakes near the town of Coldwater, in southern Michigan. Late the afternoon, his kayak flipped. Alec didn't resurface. A dive team found his body about 9:30 p.m. in about 20 feet of water in a channel between the South and Cemetery lakes.
Meeting Tandra
Alec was an 18-year-old Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss and Tandra was an ROTC cadet in her last year of high school in Las Cruces. Mutual friends introduced them.
Alec would soon be deployed to Afghanistan, but they talked often and their love for one another blossomed over phone calls and text messages. Alec returned stateside and in 2013 proposed marriage. Tandra said yes.
The Beaumonts were then transferred to Fort Irwin in California, where Andree was born. In 2015, Alec was transferred back to Fort Bliss and the couple lived in Las Cruces. Alec left the Army in 2017.
Meeting his family
In the summer 2017, Tandra said Alec received a call that would change his life.
Alec talked to his biological mom, who had given him up for adoption when he was a toddler. Tandra said Alec at first wasn't sure he wanted to meet his mother. "He told me, 'I don't know how to feel. I'm happy, but I'm scared. Is this for real?'"
But they did eventually meet. And their connection was immediate, and loving, Tandra said.
Earlier this year, Alec decided to move to Michigan to be closer to his family. If all went well, Tandra and Andree would follow.
An 'amazing' father
The Beaumonts were together in April, Tandra said, to celebrate Alec's and Andree's birthdays, which are days apart. She and Andree went to visit Alec in Michigan.
Tandra said Alec was an "amazing" father. "He loved his son so much. He would give the world for him."
The two would go on adventures when together and, while living thousands of miles away, would talk every night on the phone.
The most difficult part of the recent tragedy, Tandra said, is when Andree asks each night when daddy is going to call.
Tandra said she's coordinating with Alec's family and the Veteran's Administration to fly his body back to Las Cruces. Whenever that happens, there will be a funeral and burial, but there's still too many details to work out before dates can be decided.
A Go Fund Me has been set up to help the family with expenses. The photo attached to the fundraising website is one of Alec and Andree. It was taken in April, the last time they were together, Tandra said.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show Alec was adopted as a toddler, not at birth.
Lucas Peerman can be reached at 575-541-5446, lpeerman@lcsun-news.com or @LittleGuyInATie on Twitter.
Sign up for an online subscription to the Las Cruces Sun-News. It's only a few dollars a month.
MORE:
Police identify man who died in Lester Avenue shooting
New Mexico coach wins Haggar Hall of Fame Dad award, $10K prize