Las Vegas shooting victim: Jack Beaton, Bakersfield, California

Snippets of his life as a husband, father and friend fill Jack Beaton’s “remembering” Facebook page.

“Jack was one of the cool kids that we all looked up to,” a childhood neighbor wrote. Another said: “Growing up, Jack Beaton made me strong. I wish more men were like him.”

Two of his childhood friends agree: Beaton was a standout man.

Beaton, 54, of Bakersfield, California, was killed shielding his wife from gunfire at the Route 91 Harvest festival last week, his mother-in-law confirmed. He leaves behind his wife, Laurie, 49, and two children: Jake, 20, and Delaney, 19.

Beaton and his wife were in Las Vegas celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary.

“The way he looked at Laurie, he adored her,” said Kristy Shanley, who met Beaton in high school. Shanley dated and married Beaton’s best friend, who served as his best man in his wedding to Laurie.

“The day he married Laurie, it was just so special to me, because my son was their ring bearer,” Shanley remembered. “The light in Jack’s eyes looking at his bride was immeasurable.”

He shared his loving personality with friends, too, Shanley said. At a memorial for Beaton Saturday at his favorite Bakersfield restaurant, Wool Growers — where Beaton liked to order the pickled tongue — person after person stood and declared themselves Jack’s closest friend.

“Apparently, we’re all Jack’s best friend.”

Like John Welcher, Beaton’s classmate at Kern Valley High School in Lake Isabella, California. The two were captains of their high school football team, fished together in the summers and, as they got older, found commonalities as professional sports fans.

“We texted all the time, and it was normally over football. Both Steelers fans,” he said.

A family friend wrote a blog post to commemorate Beaton’s life.

“He enjoyed camping, often in Pismo Beach with friends and family … ” wrote Karen Sallee, whose account was confirmed by Beaton’s mother-in-law, Lauraine Cook.

“He would stop what he was doing, pull down the tailgate of his truck and enjoy a beer with a friend, many evenings with my son after work. Jeff will miss these times with his buddy,” Sallee wrote.

Beaton’s last moment was on top of Laurie’s body as soon as shots rang out.

“She described it as a bear hug,” Shanley said. “He laid his entire body on her and he became heavy.”

Contact Jessie Bekker at jbekker@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Follow @jessiebekks on Twitter.