FARMINGTON, Maine – Maurice W. Beals died peacefully with family and friends around him on November 15, 2017, at his home in Farmington.
He is survived by his two sons, Rev. Jeffrey Beals and wife, Yvonne, of Madison, Terrance M. Beals and wife, Karen, of Kent, Washington; four grandchildren, Jessica Johanson and husband, Kristopher, of Tacoma, Washington, Harmony Haynes and husband, Samuel, of Anson, Heather Beals Adams and her husband, John, of Augusta, Georgia and Justin Beals and wife, Wina, of Fife, Washington; seven great-grandchildren, Caleb and Isaiah Haynes, Noah, Elliana, Maxwell Johanson, Emmalyn Beals, and Jace Adams; one sister, Mary (Beals) Kunz of West Hartford, Connecticut, as well as several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Maurice was born on the family farm in Blaine, Maine, on September 13, 1926, the youngest son of Archie and Ellen (Brown) Beals. He was predeceased by his wife, Ethel E. (Downey) Beals, first wife, Jacqueline (McClay) Beals, his brothers and sisters. After graduating from Aroostook Central Institute, he served his country in the U.S. Army at the end of WWII. He taught fire arms training to Army recruits for combat until such time he was old enough to be deployed to the Philippines as an MP as part of a peace keeping unit.
He was a graduate of the University of Maine Educational system, attending both Farmington and Orono Campuses where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Education; whereupon he began his teaching career in Fort Kent, teaching History and Driver’s Education. He also coached Basketball and the Riflery Club. He served his country as a Civil Servant as a U.S. Customs Officer from 1967 to1989 at the Bridgewater gate until his retirement at the age of 62. During his service, he also served as a Fire Arms Instructor teaching Maine State Police pistol shooting and competed in many Fire Arms Competitions. He was a member of and served in many capacities of church ministry at the First Free Baptist Church in Blaine.
In later years he moved to Madison to live with his family, attending Calvary Pentecostal Church, Lakewood Campus, until he was no longer able to attend. He was an outdoorsman and avid sportsman, enjoying the great Maine woods hunting, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, and raising silver fox. He loved playing horseshoes and competed in tournaments, playing pool, bowling in winter months with friends in Presque Isle and later in Skowhegan. In the summer he loved to be on the greens at the Mars Hill Country Club or at Loon’s Cove Golf Course in Skowhegan.
Our family would like to give special thanks to those who supported and cared for our dad at home, and most especially Woodlands Memory Care in Rockland and Farmington for the wonderful care provided these past few months.
A celebration of life service will be held on December 16, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Pentecostal Church, Lakewood Campus, 378 Lakewood Road in Madison, with the Rev. Jeffrey Beals officiating. Cremation services were provided by the caring people of Giberson Funeral Home, Madison. A graveside service will be scheduled in the summer at Tapley Cemetery in Blaine, Maine.
