Jeffery Beale, Tattoo Artist With Terminal Cancer, Has Painted His Own Coffin

Credit: plymouthherald.co.uk

“It’s strange…that you have to get to this stage to appreciate it,” said Jeffery Beale, 60. Beale was diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer this past May. He’s taken this sad news and flipped it into something positive, deciding to beautify his own coffin.

Beale is an English tattoo artist who’s owned a shop in Plymouth for 20 years. He’s been a tattooer for roughly 35 years.

“All the little tiny things in life you appreciate so much more,” he said. “It’s all the small stuff…I’m really happy, I’ve never been this happy before, it’s brilliant. Life I’m appreciating to the full, it’s like magic.”

Jeffery Beale said that his career as a tattoo artist has been extremely satisfying. He’s “made a little mark on Plymouth,” and that is something anyone can come to appreciate. Giving the gift of permanent artwork on a fellow human is a rewarding experience only a tattoo artist can provide. And now he’s using his skills to create a lasting piece of art for himself.

Plymouth Live reported in July that Jeffery Beale had spent the previous three weeks painting his final place of rest. Jeffery decided that he wanted to paint his own coffin so that he could have a definitive say in how people will remember him.

It’s a beautiful work of art. Jeffery wanted to tell as much of his life story as possible on the coffin, which cost only £50. It’s covered in daffodils, birds, motorcycles and butterflies. The base and the background are black, but everything he’s painted on it is full of life and color. The squared end where his feet will lay does have a skull and crossbones, but also has his birth year (1959) embossed within.

Credit: plymouthherald.co.uk

Who better than Jeffery Beale to describe his ultimate work of art:

I tried to build up some of my life story here on this. I love my bikes and I used to build bikes and ride them and go off on adventures…I’ve done Route 66 and didn’t want to come back…Then I’ve got the shadow when I’m walking the dog down there and the birds, I love birds and wildlife and all that…Then the hedgehog, we’ve got one living out the back in the back garden and there’s me painting there.

A Life Unplanned

Jeffery Beale admits that much of his life was unplanned. He became a professional tattoo artist almost by chance.

“A friend turned up,” Beale said, “[and] owed me a lot of money. But he didn’t have the money, so he gave me a tattoo machine, and I said I’d give it a go.” He started tattooing at home and eventually converted a shed into a makeshift shop.

“I [tatooed] for around five years at home, and [then] thought I’d get a shop and never looked back, ever,” he said. “It’s never been like going to work either, the only reason it’s a job is because you have to pay rent.”

Jeffery left his professional shop last year. But he didn’t want to leave the tattoo industry entirely. “I converted the garage and got the health authority to come and register it,” he said. “I was going to be like semi-retired and continue doing what I love doing.”

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had different ideas. Jeffery Beale just “did not feel right” after roughly two weeks into his semi-retirement. After many medical tests, it was revealed that he had terminal esophageal cancer.

Credit: plymouthherald.co.uk

He said that doctors offered him chemo. But apparently, his cancer is so advanced that it would be a futile effort. As frightening as that sounds, Beale has embraced the entire process.

Cliche, But True

One of the major themes emanating from Jeffery Beale’s story is his focus on the “small things.”

“If people can appreciate the smaller things in life,” he says, “good on them. It will make it so much better for them.”

We hear that sentiment from people with a terminal illness often: “Appreciate the small things.” As trite as it sounds, everyone would be remiss in not acknowledging that fact. Jeffery Beale has accepted his fate. But he has not let that idea negatively affect his final time on our planet.

Jeffery Beale has embraced his cancer diagnosis. This is an extraordinarily difficult idea for most people to contemplate or even understand. But it can be very beneficial during a person’s final days. He’s using the time he has left to do something he loves. And if it’s decorating his own coffin, who is anyone to say that is bizarre or weird? Jeffery is living his final time on earth as he wants, and that is something we should wish for all of our loved ones.

You can watch an interview with Jeffery Beale below.