Beverley Estelle Heath

She was born in Rangeley, Maine on December 25, 1931 the daughter of the late Richard Oakes and Lois Mason. Beverley’s father was a lumberjack and her mother worked at the Bald Mountain Camps so she was well cared for on the farm where her father’s Aunt Edna lived. At the age of six she moved to the Blanchard Farm in Auburn. At that point in her life she was ready to begin school at East Auburn School. It was there that she met her dear friend Glynis “Mitzi” Smith Lob and they became lifelong friends playing cards every summer at Mitzi and Chet’s camp. Beverley attended Webster School and graduated from Edward Little HS in 1950. While attending Farmington State Teacher’s College she met Albert Heath at a dance at the Rangeley Inn. They moved to Ohio, were married, and had a son, Randall Heath and a daughter, Lynette Heath. After ten years the marriage ended and she and her children came back to Maine. Lois, Beverley’s mother, eventually moved to Lewiston to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She was a waitress at the DeWitt Hotel and Marois Restaurant before retiring and moving to Auburn.

Beverley got a job as the secretary for the Auburn Welfare Director and when he retired in 1964 she became the new Director where she stayed for 12 years and followed that with 22 years as the Lewiston Welfare Director. During that time she served or chaired many local committees and worked to make positive contributions to the Lewiston-Auburn community. She was active in numerous professional groups and always felt she came away with more than she gave. Beverley found that the professional associations enhanced her background and she made many friendships along the way. In the late 1970’s she was named Woman of the Year by the Lewiston-Auburn Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was greatly honored.

Some of Beverley's hobbies included planting flowers around her house as well as Randy and Lyn’s houses, feeding and watching the birds especially the bluebirds at Randy’s house, the farm animals that became her companions, enjoying a “blue bird" sky in Maine, listening to Big Band music, musicals at Maine Music Theater with her daughter and son in law Lyn and Reggie and eventually their four children, going to North Conway with another dear friend and relative Margaret (Blanchard) Berry. Beverley looked forward to an annual summer family vacation at Bailey Island during the 1980’s and 1990’s that included all the grandchildren. The family has a special attachment to Bailey Island and looked forward to a summer vacation crossing the famous Cribstone Bridge to their favorite Island. Bebbie, as she was affectionally called by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved spending summers at the ocean with family. They were very special years. In her later years she reconnected with her Rangeley roots and visited her aunts and cousins on her mother’s side and attended an annual family reunion at the home of her cousin Ken Brackett, his wife Joan and their family. On her father’s side she connected with Uncle Otis Oakes and his wife Edith, cousins Monty Oakes and wife Frances, and Arthur Oakes and wife Evelyn.

Beverley leaves behind a son Randy Heath and partner Christine of Auburn, a daughter Lyn Heath and husband Reggie DeRocher of Auburn, granddaughters Lyndsay Butler and husband Jason of New Hampshire, Jenna DeRocher and partner Brandon of Massachusetts, Ashley Merrill and husband Nick of Auburn, and grandson Keaton DeRocher and partner Allison of Chicago, and six great-grandchildren Reese, Sophia, and Zoey Butler, Mason Cosimini, Eden Merrill, and Lily Merrill.

Beverley’s family would like to extend many thanks to the special staff at Schooner Memory Care and Andwell Hospice for Beverley’s exceptional care, Jennifer, Mercedes, Jessica L, Nakoma, Gretchen, Jessica T, and others. The family would like to extend gratitude for the kindness and guidance provided by everyone. May God bless you all.

Graveside Services honoring Beverley's Life will be celebrated on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. At her request there will not be any visitation. Arrangements by The Fortin & Pinette Group 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway in Lewiston, 784-4023. To share memories and condolences with the Heath Family, please visit www.fortinpinettegrouplewiston.com .