Joshua James Beckwith, 17

CLAYTON - Joshua James Beckwith, of Clayton, passed away at home Thursday, March 13, 2008. He was 17.

Joshua was born Jan. 9, 1991, in Dover, the son of Mark Daniel Beckwith of Howell, N.J., and Carol Smith Horn with whom he lived.

He was a junior in Smyrna High School.

Joshua was a member of the Young Waterfowlers Program in Smyrna and Ducks Unlimited.

He was an avid hunter who could blow a duck and goose call better than most callers with much more experience.

Joshua also enjoyed hot rods, tinkering with engines, riding ATVs, wrestling, cooking, NASCAR, card tricks, paintball, boxing, soccer, making people laugh and spending time with his family and friends.

Joshua and his family also helped sponsor the annual Whitehall Neck Sportsman's Club Dinner.

In addition to his mother and father, he is survived by his stepfather, Tom Horn, with whom he lived; his stepmother, Melissa Beckwith of Howell; two stepsisters, Carly Beckwith of Howell and Cathy Horn of Rehoboth Beach; a stepbrother, Brett Beckwith of Howell; his paternal grandfather, Jeff Gibson of Palmyra, N.J.; his paternal great-grandparents, Lorraine and Phil Gingras of Bushnell, Fla.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 p.m. Wednesday in St. Polycarp Roman Catholic Church, 135 Ransom Lane, Smyrna.

Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 S. Main St., Smyrna.

Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Mental Health Association of Delaware for the Survivors of the Suicide Support Group, 1813 N. Franklin St., Wilmington, DE 19802.