Obituary for LaVonne M. Beal
LaVonne M. (Gould) Beal, 85, of Waldoboro passed into eternity to be spent with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 15.
She was born in her grandmother’s house to Thurman and Ivy (Manchester) Gould on June 13, 1937.
She grew up in Jonesport with her three brothers and was an honored student, graduating third in her class from Jonesport High School in 1954. She married George Beal on November 19, 1955, and after moving to Friendship, they helped start the United Pentecostal Church where they both were very active. When George was lost at sea in 1966, LaVonne was left a widow to raise her four young sons, Tim, Craig, Nathan, and Merle, ranging in age from seven to two months.
LaVonne worked in the banking, insurance, legal, and newspaper industries throughout her career and was especially proud of her small business “The Home Office,” where she provided bookkeeping and tax preparation services. She retired from the Lincoln County News to care for her mother during Ivy’s last years. She was a lifelong learner, studying and teaching the Bible, reading her many biographies, following national news, and taking university classes (even at age 78!). She also loved to knit and write and spent many hours doing both. LaVonne adored her sons and her grandchildren, who she loved to care for and take on special dates.
LaVonne was an accomplished pianist and lyric soprano vocalist, singing at many weddings, funerals, and church services. She was always singing to her children and grandchildren. Later in life she founded and directed the “Psalm Singers,” a Waldoboro Baptist Church choral group that performed at local churches. She also played the accordion and enjoyed performing in the local band, the “Wing Nuts.” Her love of music was passed on to all four of her sons.
LaVonne attended the United Pentecostal Churches in Jonesport and Friendship and loved going to camp meeting every year in Pea Cove. In recent years she attended the Apostolic Christian Life Center in Thomaston. She was also a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star.
LaVonne was predeceased by her parents and her brothers Thurman Gould, Jr. and Keith Gould. She is survived by her long-time companion George Smith and her sons and their families, Timothy and Rachael Beal and their children Crystal Beal French and Austin Beal; Craig Beal and his children Kendra and Leighton Beal; Nathan and Lori Beal and their children Matthew, Douglas, and Daniel Beal; Merle and Jean Beal and their children Laura Beal and Rebekah Beal Allen; her great-grandchildren Oliver French and Lennon, Wesley, and Lina Beal, and her brother George Gould and wife Denise. She will also be missed by her aunts Florence Smith and Dorothy White, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and Etta Chandler Drisko, her best friend since childhood.
The family would like to thank LaVonne’s companion George and her home caregivers Karen Doughty and Kristin Turcotte, as well as the staff of Woodlands Memory Care, the Emergency Room and Special Care Unit at Pen Bay Medical Center, and the Sussman House for hospice care, all of whom cared for LaVonne so wonderfully in her last days.
Vising hours will be held at Hall’s Funeral Home in Waldoboro on Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Walter Henderson officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sussman House Volunteer Fund, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport, ME 04856.
Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences visit www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
She was born in her grandmother’s house to Thurman and Ivy (Manchester) Gould on June 13, 1937.
She grew up in Jonesport with her three brothers and was an honored student, graduating third in her class from Jonesport High School in 1954. She married George Beal on November 19, 1955, and after moving to Friendship, they helped start the United Pentecostal Church where they both were very active. When George was lost at sea in 1966, LaVonne was left a widow to raise her four young sons, Tim, Craig, Nathan, and Merle, ranging in age from seven to two months.
LaVonne worked in the banking, insurance, legal, and newspaper industries throughout her career and was especially proud of her small business “The Home Office,” where she provided bookkeeping and tax preparation services. She retired from the Lincoln County News to care for her mother during Ivy’s last years. She was a lifelong learner, studying and teaching the Bible, reading her many biographies, following national news, and taking university classes (even at age 78!). She also loved to knit and write and spent many hours doing both. LaVonne adored her sons and her grandchildren, who she loved to care for and take on special dates.
LaVonne was an accomplished pianist and lyric soprano vocalist, singing at many weddings, funerals, and church services. She was always singing to her children and grandchildren. Later in life she founded and directed the “Psalm Singers,” a Waldoboro Baptist Church choral group that performed at local churches. She also played the accordion and enjoyed performing in the local band, the “Wing Nuts.” Her love of music was passed on to all four of her sons.
LaVonne attended the United Pentecostal Churches in Jonesport and Friendship and loved going to camp meeting every year in Pea Cove. In recent years she attended the Apostolic Christian Life Center in Thomaston. She was also a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star.
LaVonne was predeceased by her parents and her brothers Thurman Gould, Jr. and Keith Gould. She is survived by her long-time companion George Smith and her sons and their families, Timothy and Rachael Beal and their children Crystal Beal French and Austin Beal; Craig Beal and his children Kendra and Leighton Beal; Nathan and Lori Beal and their children Matthew, Douglas, and Daniel Beal; Merle and Jean Beal and their children Laura Beal and Rebekah Beal Allen; her great-grandchildren Oliver French and Lennon, Wesley, and Lina Beal, and her brother George Gould and wife Denise. She will also be missed by her aunts Florence Smith and Dorothy White, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and Etta Chandler Drisko, her best friend since childhood.
The family would like to thank LaVonne’s companion George and her home caregivers Karen Doughty and Kristin Turcotte, as well as the staff of Woodlands Memory Care, the Emergency Room and Special Care Unit at Pen Bay Medical Center, and the Sussman House for hospice care, all of whom cared for LaVonne so wonderfully in her last days.
Vising hours will be held at Hall’s Funeral Home in Waldoboro on Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Walter Henderson officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sussman House Volunteer Fund, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport, ME 04856.
Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences visit www.hallfuneralhomes.com.