Dorothy May Beardsley

She was born on September 25, 1929 in Bellwood, Illinois, the youngest of three daughters of Hulda and Arthur Nelson. Despite being born shortly after the beginning of The Great Depression, her father always had a job. She remembers walking with her sisters to pay the rent with strict instructions not to lose the money. During high school her parents had the opportunity to purchase her grandparent’s house, so they relocated to West Chicago where a number of their extended family also resided.

At the West Chicago High School, she met the love of her life, Keith Beardsley. Following graduation, she became a stenographer in the purchasing department of the Chicago and North Western Railway System (CNW). Upon Keith’s honorable discharge from the Army following his service in Korea, they were married in 1953. She continued working until their first daughter, Diane, was born in 1954. Their second daughter, Linda, was born in 1957.

Necessitated by job transfers, the family moved to Vancouver, Washington in 1966 and then Fullerton, California in 1967 where Keith and Dorothy remained for the rest of their earthly lives.  Shortly after their arrival in Fullerton, Dorothy became an assistant Girl Scout leader so Linda could join the Girl Scout troop. The family joined Christ Lutheran Church and Dorothy participated in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Altar Guild and various Bible studies. She also served a term as the financial secretary of the church. This position entailed counting the weekly offerings and depositing them into the bank. Just like the monthly rent checks, she was always anxious to get that deposit to the bank. One Christmas season her friend who worked at the Sears credit central encouraged her to apply for a temporary holiday job. She enjoyed it so much she worked there for 10 years.

In their retirement, Keith and Dorothy enjoyed a weekly movie or play and eating out more as Dorothy was never really fond of cooking. They also traveled, most frequently to Illinois to visit relatives and friends. They walked outside for exercise and at the malls, where Dorothy enjoyed shopping, especially for shoes and purses while Keith waited patiently for her. She also spent lots of time visiting in person or on the phone with her sisters, cousins and friends.  She maintained friendships that dated as far back as her school and CNW days.

She was predeceased by Keith, her husband of 63 years and her sisters, Marion Bruce, Eleanor Wheeland, and brother in law, Charles Wheeland.  She is survived by her daughters, Diane and Linda, in-laws Edward Bruce and Gretchen and Donald Taylor and seven nieces and nephews and three cousins.

Though she will be missed immensely, her daughters are overjoyed she has reached her heavenly home and take comfort in knowing they will all be reunited someday in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church in Brea.