Bernard F. Beaulier
BEAULIER, Bernard F., 75, PORTAGE LAKE, February 23, 2015. A memorial service and dinner is planned for June. Arrangements are under the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
PORTAGE LAKE – Bernard F. Beaulier gently crossed over to begin his journey upward to his heavenly castle on February 23, 2015, from his home in Portage Lake. He was born on April 4, 1939, the eldest son of Henry and Ida Celia Beaulier. 
Bernard graduated from Ashland High School in 1956. Like many of his generation, Bernard served his country in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1962. After his honorable discharge, he spent several years in Connecticut working as a machinist and as a Mopar mechanic. In 1969, he moved to Texas with his real diamond, Barbara. They married a year later and settled in Humble, TX, for the next thirty years.
Bernard worked as a mechanic at Northline Dodge, at Northtown Corvette with his brother, Darrell, and ultimately at Hydril Technology Center as a CNC operator. By displaying a solid work ethic, an attention to detail and a can-do attitude, he was hired to be a Plant Manager for Hydril’s Warri, Nigeria facility in 1992. For the next eight years, he spent his spare time designing and fabricating many of the in-house tools and parts necessary to operate the plant. His effort to improve pipe threading resulted in a patented design. He also created a loan program for his employees to allow them to borrow money (funded by a portion of Bernard’s income) with no interest attached, for any emergency and personal expenditures his employees might need. After retiring in 2000, Bernard and Barbara returned to Portage Lake, ME.
We would be remiss if we didn’t share what made him special to us beyond, of course, being a whiz with construction, fabrication, repairing, engineering and for whistling / humming while he tinkered.
Bernard was a humble spirit, easy natured and a gentle being. As a dedicated father and grandfather, he would span any distance to support his children and grandchildren. He loved Sunday drives in unplanned directions trying to prove all roads lead to a Dairy Queen. While he loved all types of food, Bernard never met a berry (straw, blue or rasp) that he wouldn’t devour with a spoon full of sugar and a little milk. He also made the best pancakes and fried potatoes.
Bernard was genetically responsible for his children’s lead feet and sense of adventure, but he was the only one in the family to challenge Chevy modeled cars to a race from a stop light. He was delighted when he taught his eldest grandsons how to drive a Jeep, even if they couldn’t reach the pedals. He specially thrived at scaring his sons-in-law with his off-road and off-off-road four wheel driving in the North Maine Woods. He also instructed us all in the greatly successful Wish Royal fishing technique. We learned the lyrics of “True Blue Bill” from our perches on the bathroom counter top as we joined our voices to his and sung along “I shaved my beard and mustache the morning I was born.”
He will be deeply missed by his wife as her knight in shining armor and by his children and grandsons as a master of rummy, a specialist of silly humor and dry wit, and for his profound love for each one of them.
Bernard lived up to his name as he courageously, fiercely and as bravely as a bear fought his battle with cancer for eight years, defying expectations with headstrong tenacity until the end. We would like to thank Dr. Arjun Sood for remembering our father, not as a file, but as a person and making every effort to make sure our father was comfortable and had access to the best treatment available.
Bernard is survived by his wife of 44 years, Barbara; his daughter, Angel Zakharia, her husband, Jack, and their son Noah, of Cypress, TX; his daughter, Tiki Swetlick, her husband, Troy, and their son, Caleb, of Magnolia,TX; and his son, Henry and Henry’s son, Kyle, of Portage Lake, ME. He is also survived by his mother, Ida Celia; by three brothers and three sisters; his sister-in-law, Brenda Clark of Stetson, ME; numerous nieces and nephews; and his fishing buddy, Ivan Fletcher, of Mars Hill.
He was predeceased by his father, Henry Beaulier; and his parents-in-law, Earl and Eliza Lint.
A memorial service and dinner is planned for June. Services in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
