Jean Beasley, the revered sea turtle advocate who transformed a mother’s grief into a globally recognized conservation mission, has died at the age of 90. Her passing on December 2, 2025, was confirmed by The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, the organization she founded.
- Who: Jean Beasley, celebrated founder of North Carolina’s first sea turtle hospital.
- Age: 90 years old.
- Cause: The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
- The Promise: Her life’s work began after her daughter, Karen, died of leukemia in 1991, asking her mother to “do something good for sea turtles.”
- Impact: Her programs safeguarded over 3,000 nests and led to the rescue of more than 1,600 injured or sick sea turtles.
A Promise Forged in Grief
Jean Beasley’s extraordinary journey began not with a passion for conservation, but with a promise made from a place of profound loss. In 1991, her daughter Karen passed away from leukemia at just 29. Her final request—”Do something good for sea turtles”—became the guiding principle for the rest of Jean’s life. She returned to the beaches they once walked together, not to mourn, but to fulfill a sacred duty.
An Unforgettable Legacy
What started with a clipboard and pre-dawn walks on Topsail Island grew into a beacon of hope for marine life. Faced with injured turtles and no place to treat them, Beasley founded the first sea turtle hospital in North Carolina. From a cramped 900-square-foot building, she launched what would become The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, now a state-of-the-art 13,000-square-foot facility. Her efforts have directly resulted in over 245,000 hatchlings reaching the ocean and given over 1,600 turtles a second chance at life.
A Wave of Inspiration
While specific tributes are just beginning to emerge, Beasley’s impact is measured in the generations she inspired. She transformed the tragic sight of injured turtles into a powerful educational tool, teaching thousands of visitors and volunteers that individual action can heal a damaged world. Her message was unwavering: the harm these animals face is our doing, and the responsibility to help them survive is ours. The cheering crowds that gathered to watch her release rehabilitated turtles back into the sea stand as a testament to a promise beautifully, and powerfully, kept.
Image Referance: https://www.butlernature.com/2025/12/03/jean-beasley-grieving-mother-turned-sea-turtle-advocate-died-on-december-2-2025-aged-90/