Obituary of Ellouise Beal

JONESPORT - On March 4, 2014, Ellouise Beal passed away, quickly and peacefully, at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, departing the love of her earthly family for the place prepared for her in heaven. She was born Aug. 16, 1920, in Addison, to Ralph Lawrence and Althea Barstow (Joy) Brown. Ellouise graduated from Jonesport High School in 1937. She then completed a year of study at Washington State Normal School (now the University of Maine at Machias). In 1939 she married Lyman Odell Beal and began her family. After his untimely death at age 40, she worked at a local sardine factory and then returned to UMM to complete her teaching degree while also teaching. Ellouise taught in South Addison, Jonesboro, and Jonesport with a strong focus on reading. Her retirement at age 72 was brief. She soon returned to Jonesport Elementary for a stint as an Ed. Tech. Her final assignment was as a fourth grade substitute teacher for her ill daughter, Mary Sue. She reluctantly retired at 80 years of age, still wishing she could be in the classroom. Ellouise was very devoted to her family. Over the years to take care of her large family, she also worked summers. She helped cook, clean, and do laundry at the nursing home in Jonesport, worked at the blueberry factory, and even tried raking blueberries on Popple Hill until her shirt got caught in the winnowing machine! After Ellouise had raised her nine children, her focus turned to the care of her aging parents. She was not afraid of work or sacrifice. Ellouise loved having a good time. She loved doing Fourth of July floats and dressing up in crazy outfits. She loved the Beals Historical Society variety shows and local music. She had a special affinity for the Molly B Polka Party on TV and loved dancing at her grandchildren's weddings. Ellouise was a very generous, unselfish person whose home was always open to neighborhood children. She was brave, she was independent, and she was strong. As she often reminded us, she "could carry a child under each arm and easily climb the rocks at the beach, jumping from one rock to another!" Our mother insisted on being active and worked almost to the end of her life doing her own laundry and cleaning. We thank you, Mama, for giving us each other, for giving us so much love and support, and for bringing us up right. In addition to her parents and her husband, Ellouise was predeceased by her sister, Barbara; her brother, Buster; her daughter, Mary Sue; and great-granddaughters, Elissa and Pala. She is survived by her sister, Betty and her husband, John; her son, Michael and his wife, Jeanne; her daughter, Connie and her husband, Ronald; her son, Lyman Jr. and his wife, Cathy; her son-in-law, Russell; her son, Stephen and his wife, Claire; her daughter, Pam; her daughter, Candy and her husband, Guy; her daughter, Gail and her husband, Zev; and her daughter, Shelly and her husband, Michael. Ellouise is survived by 24 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Another great-grandchild and great-great-grandchild are on the way. A few days before she passed away, she was working on a list of all her grandchildren. She loved them dearly and looked forward to their visits. We are comforted by the knowledge that our mother was blessed over her lifetime by many faithful and abiding friendships and are so very grateful to all these friends. At Ellouise's request, there will be no funeral service. The family will share in a celebration of her life in the spring. Those who wish may donate in her memory to the Ralph Lawrence Brown Scholarship Fund at Jonesport-Beals High School, 180 Snare Creek Road, Jonesport, ME 04649; Beals Historical Society, P.O. Box 280, Beals, ME 04611; or to a charity or organization of their choice. - See more at: