Beatrice May Rawn

She grew up in Atikokan, one of six McLeod siblings and as a teenager managed the household for her father. In November 1937, she married Lloyd Rawn, a park superintendent for the Department of Lands and Forests. The newlyweds arrived at their home inside Quetico Park, having traveled by horse and sleigh over frozen lakes. During their stay in the park, they welcomed three sons into their family. Each birth or medical emergency required a trip by caboose into Port Arthur. In 1948, Fort Frances became their permanent home.

Widowed in 1968, Bea continued to work at the Fort Frances Public Library. She was pleased to serve the public and in the years before bar codes and the internet, she would memorize members’ card numbers. She often turned for information to her favourite resource, the World Book Encyclopedia. After her retirement in 1982 she learned to curl and appreciated the new curling rink with her teammates.

During her lifetime she enjoyed curling, bridge, bingo, bowling, casino trips and playing cards at the sister Kennedy Center. For many years she was a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program and an active member in the Order of the Eastern Star, the United Church Afternoon Women’s Group, and the hospital Auxiliary. Not only would Bea fish and hunt with her sons and grandchildren but she was always busy completing crafts projects, making afghans, knitting gifts, preserving pickles and baking desserts. Her butter tarts were favored by her grandchildren.

Bea was proud of these grandchildren, attending their hockey games and performances and would travel miles to witness their graduations and weddings. For years she hosted family gatherings at her cabin on Bad Vermillion Lake.

Bea was a remarkable woman and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her three sons, Harold (Myrna), Roy (Sheryl), and Bruce (Evelyn), six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

At Bea’s request, there will be no ceremony and a private burial will take place with just the family present.

In memoriam donations may be made to the charity of your own choice in care of Green Funeral Home, Box 427, Fort Frances, Ontario P9A 3M8

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com