EASTON, Maine — Beulah Sarah (Scribner) Marquis, 92, passed away on December 14, 2017, at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill. She was born on August 1, 1925, the fourth of Frank Kinghorn and Katherine Gertrude (Clark) Scribner of Kingman, Maine.
Perhaps it was her first childhood experiences that made it hard for her to sit still, for when she was a little over two weeks old the family loaded in the old Model T and moved to Easton, Maine, where Frank would set up shop as a potato buyer for W.H. Martin. The family stayed in a few houses in the village of Easton until finally purchasing the home on the West Ridge Road. It was here Beulah would spend the rest of her life.
Beulah’s childhood was a happy one with many adventurous hours spent with neighborhood friends. She and Beryl Dodge Henderson were always up to something… this continued until Beryl moved to Oklahoma a few years ago. She was also an avid ski racer at the Easton winter carnival and had numerous blue ribbons to prove her claims.
She learned to drive while delivering tax bills with her father who was the Easton town treasurer and tax collector through most of the 1930s and early 1940s.
During this time, she met her future husband, Benoit S. Marquis, of Winterville, Maine, while he was working for Luman Mahany.
After graduating Easton High School in 1943 she gained employment with the Army Air base in Presque Isle. Later she would work for USDA with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. She retired as the office manager in 1982 with 38 years of credible service.
In the early months of 1959, Beulah sought out medical advice from Dr. Robert Somerville for some issues she was having. She was quite stunned to learn she did indeed have a tumor, but it was going to have arms and legs! So, at 34 years of age with twelve years of marriage in the books, she and Ben were having a baby! In 1959, this was very unusual for someone to have their first child at thirty-four. Beulah took a little time off, then resumed work. She was a ground breaker as a working mother. The little baby was at home in the care of Grammie Gertie.
Upon her retirement Beulah set about rebuilding her flower beds and helping to raise her grandchildren, Sarah and Brandon. She and Ben did some traveling. Unfortunately, Ben was diagnosed with cancer in April of 1985. Beulah stood by his side until cancer finally won the battle in October of 1992. Though heartbroken, she soldiered on, finding new activities to fill her days. Eventually, she met a true gentleman at bingo. She and Armand Duplessis spent many days traveling the backroads of Aroostook discussing the many farmers they had served during their careers. Unfortunately, she lost Armand to heart disease in 2006.
Beulah was a woman of many talents. She was an exceptional seamstress spending countless hours remaking or creating clothes for her nieces as well as an exceptional cook who always served delicious meals. She also knit and enjoyed working with ceramics.
Though she was not an emotionally expressive person you had no doubt she loved you. Actions always spoke louder than words. She always demonstrated her love.
Left to mourn her passing are Richard and Anne Scribner, Kevin and Cindy Marquis; grandchildren, Sarah Marquis and Brandon and Rachael Marquis; greatgrandchildren, Alexis, Ben and Lilah Pelkey; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves special friends, Beryl Henderson, Suzanne Adams, Doug Flanagan, Holly Barrieau and Ronnie Mitchell.
A time to celebrate Beulah’s life was held on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at the United Baptist Church of Easton. Burial will be in the spring at Fairmont Cemetery in Presque Isle with Rev. Greg Jackson, officiating.
The family respectfully asks that, in lieu of flowers, anyone who wishes to make donations in her memory do so to The United Baptist Church of Easton Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 245, Easton, Maine, or to The Little School Restoration at P.O. Box 274, Easton, ME 04740. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com
