Welcome to Chastain Funeral Home

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – Richard Essell Bever of West Hollywood, California, passed away on September 28th, 2017 from injuries suffered after being struck by a car. Richard was born in Fremont, California on June 5th, 1963 to Essell and Liz (Ellis) Bever and was raised in Medway, Massachusetts and Denton, Texas. He was a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin and the City College of New York. Richard was an Emmy-nominated producer of independent features including Wish Me Away, G.B.F., Surviving Cliffside, In Memory of My Father, Audrey, and Against the Current. He was passionate about guiding and mentoring others in the industry and was active in the Austin Film Festival and SXSW in Austin, TX and Outfest Film Festival in West Hollywood, CA. He was a smart, talented and funny guy who loved to play practical jokes on others and always had a smile (or goofy expression) on his face. He enjoyed reading, cooking, eating all sorts of foods, gardening, being outdoors, and cats. He was also an avid sports fan and supported the Patriots, Texas Longhorns, the Boston Red Sox and Celtics, and during college basketball season would call his mom to compare tournament brackets. Richard was a warm and loving person and used his strength and ability to overcome his addiction to later help others with theirs. His compassion, humor and creativity touched a great many lives and made the world a better and brighter place. He is forever in our hearts and will be forever missed. Richard is preceded in death by his mother Liz Bever, survived by his father Essell from Flower Mound, TX, his domestic partner Will Scoles of West Hollywood, CA, his sister Dawne Bonds (Bill) from Denton, TX, sister Ann Bever (Patrick Rogers) from Dallas, TX, aunts Marilyn Wright of Orinda, CA and Joan Atchison (Gene) of Mitchell, IN, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and a countless number of friends. A memorial service was held on Saturday, October 14th at 11am at Saint Victor Church in West Hollywood, CA. A family service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, October 19th at Haverly Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, IN followed by a graveside service at Ames Chapel Cemetery in Paoli, IN. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the CRI-Help addiction and drug rehabilitation center in Los Angeles, CA or to an animal rescue foundation of your choice.