Obituaries

Dakota Scot Beal

January 31, 2004 - January 20, 2026

All are invited, in camo, flannels and jeans, to join the family to celebrate Dakota’s life on Friday, January 30, 2026. Visitors are welcome at 9:00am and services will commence promptly at 11:30am at Sharptown Church, 46 Auburn Street, Woodstown, NJ with a luncheon to follow at the Elmer Grange, 535 Daretown Road, Elmer, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Sharptown Church’s Children’s Ministry. In memory of Dakota, your gift will be used to purchase bibles with camouflage covers for the youth. Please visit htlaytonfh.com to leave a note of condolence to Dakota’s family.

Dakota Scott Beal, 21, of Quinton Township went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident following inclement weather.

Raised in Mannington Township and later in Quinton Township, the son of Jolyn Mitchell-Riddle and Andrew Riddle and Jason and Wendy Beal, Dakota was a kind-hearted, easy to love, outdoorsman who had a solid foundation in his faith, accepting the Lord as his Savior at 6 years of age.

The oldest of two children and a graduate of Salem County Vocational Technical School Class of 2022’s Automotive Program. Following high school, Dakota continued to be a dedicated employee to the family business, Central Septic Service. He was honored to have worked alongside his Grampy and Uncles since childhood. Dakota enjoyed spending time with his family and buddies hunting and fishing every chance he got. He was a hard worker, a good listener, and never let up making his sister laugh until they couldn’t breathe with his quiet, but comical remarks. Always making us proud, Dakota was on track to obtain his CDL license, one step closer to being just like his Uncle Buzzy (Cody) who he loved and respected more than ever.

It was an honor to have raised Dakota with a family that provided a solid foundation of unending love and guidance. Surviving and cherishing is memory are his parents, his sister Jacey, his grandparents; Scott and Esther Mitchell, Sue and Gary Beal & Beth and Marty Owens; his great-grandmother Sylvia Mitchell, his aunts and uncles; Cody and Megan Mitchell, Jenna and Jack Seeney, Janine and Kyle Brace, Kellie Mitchell, Sharon Beal, Devon Owens & Justin Owens; his sweetheart of several years Gabriella Reed; and many cousins, extended family and countless friends. As the trumpets sounded, sun shined bright and ducks flew; Dakota joined in heaven, his uncle David Lee Mitchell, cousins Evelynn Mitchell and Hailey Mitchell, great-grandparents David & Marion English, Norman Mitchell & Samuel and Betty Beal, Bruce and Edith Lee and Earnest Sr. and Mary Riddle.