Obituary of Evelyn Beaman
It is with deep sadness that the family of Evelyn Dorothy Jean Beaman announce her passing which occurred at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Born in Lower Millstream, NB on April 6, 1936, she was a daughter of the late William and Grace (Kierstead) Smith.
Evelyn and her second husband, Gerald moved to Elgin in 1978. Elgin remained her community for the rest of her life. Evelyn had a kind and generous nature that she shared freely within her family and community. She was an active member of the First Elgin Baptist church where she sang in the choir and a lifetime member of the Women’s Institute.
She had many interests and hobbies including reading, quilting, gardening, thrift shopping, bird watching, cooking and preserving and of course spending time with family and friends. She was always happy to have company or to chat on the phone.
Over the course of her life Evelyn worked at a variety of different jobs. She worked as a mother’s aide, a room attendant at the Pine Cone, a plant worker at Canada Packers and as a custodian at Sussex Elementary School from which she retired in 1992.
Before Red Green taught us to fix anything with duct tape Evelyn was the shoe goo Queen. If she couldn’t fix it with shoe goo it probably couldn’t be fixed. She used shoe goo to repair shoes of course, but also the radiator hose on her tractor, her kitchen sink plumbing, the front step. She had such faith in the reparative value of shoe goo that she gave it everyone.
She loved a game of dominoes or cards and an occasional trip to the casino, or a good 4wheeler trip.
Evelyn is survived by her sons: Howard Cummings (Tammy) of Millstream, NB, Jeff Cummings (Francine) of Moncton, NB; her stepson, Leslie Beaman of Elgin, NB; her daughters: Georgina Cummings of Snider Mountain, NB, Audrey McFarland (Andrew) of Sussex Corner, Brenda Dyer (Stephen) of Collina, NB, Cindy Nichols (Rick) of Collina, NB; her stepdaughters: Jackie Cahill (Michael) of Summerside, PEI, Melinda Beaman of Fredericton, NB; her 25 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and her 11 great great grandchildren, all whom she adored; and her brother, Murray Smith of Toronto, ON. Evelyn is also survived by many nieces and nephews
Besides her parents, Evelyn was predeceased by her loving husband, Gerald Beaman; her brothers: Lawrence, James, Charlie (in infancy), Lloyd, Merrit (“Cook”), and Charlie; her sisters: Marge, Violet, Liz, Linda; and her grandchildren, Amy and William.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176) from where a celebration of Evelyn’s life will take place on Thursday, September 19 at 2:00pm from the Wallace Community Chapel.
Donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart & Stroke Association or a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family. Donations and personal condolences to the family may be made through www.wallacefuneralhome.com