Beatrice Lee Fowler Dudley

Born: December 21, 1913

Place of Birth: Zalma, MO

Death: June 20, 2012

Place of Death: Chaffee, MO

Lived 98 years, 5 months, 30 days.

Beatrice Dudley

Thursday, June 21, 2012

CHAFFEE -- Beatrice Lee Dudley, 98, died June 20, 2012, at the Chaffee Nursing Center.

Born Dec. 21, 1913, in Zalma, to the late Buford Harrison and Iva Crites Fowler, she was a member of the First Christian Church in Chaffee.

On April 28, 1930, she married Clarence Earl Dudley who preceded her in death on June 26, 1982.

She was also preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

She is survived by one son, Ronald Dudley of Oakland, Calif..

Visitation is after 3:30 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Matt Butrum officiating.

Burial will follow at Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee.

© Copyright 2012, Sikeston Standard Democrat

Story URL: http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/1862680.html

Eulogy

Aunt Bea

There was never a time in my life that Aunt Bea and Uncle Earl weren’t just down the street from us.

Even though they weren’t my real aunt and uncle, they always were.

What a lady – I don’t ever recall her being upset or angry with anyone. She loved to have a good time: she was still bowling up into her 90’s, with her picture in the Signal with her birthday cake at the bowling alley. Even when she had to quit bowling, she still celebrated her birthday there with her friends. Aunt Bea and my Mom, Ruth, lived across the street from each other. She always said my mom was her oldest and dearest friend. She said they were closer than sisters. She and mom used to play pool in our basement – what a sight. Aunt Bea always added the ‘bluing’ to the tip of her cue. That’s what she called the chalk.

One story I was told of her and Mom during one of their walks – they looked like Mutt and Jeff – Mom so tall and little Bea – they collected aluminum cans for the Eastern Star. One got down in the ditch to pick up a can and couldn’t get out, the other gave her a reaching hand and they both fell in the ditch. They ended up lying in the ditch and laughing until they could both get up.

Mom and Aunt Bea both loved the neighborhood cat “Lady.” There was usually a saucer of milk o Bea’s porch.

They both smelled alike – Estee Lauder - Youth Dew bath powder.

Aunt Bea loved the Lord and her church- she always said she didn’t know how the little church (with only 35 members) survived but the Lord always provided.

I remember them quilting at Grandma Cunningham’s – Mom (being left handed) quilting from the left and Aunt Bea from the right. Perfect partners.

They always ended the evening with a piece of pie – another favorite thing. Aunt Bea was a good cook. Made the best pies and chicken and dumplings.

She loved playing Bingo in town with Ruby and other friends – which ever one won – they shared the pot between them.

For Mick and I many of our dates were playing Pinochle at home and a lot of times that included Aunt Bea.

Aunt Bea and Mick loved teasing each other – about who was going to pay for the pie when we would go on trips. Mick would remind her to be sure she had her ‘pocketbook’ so she could pay. Mick loved her gooseberry pie, Tom loved her lemon pie and I loved her raisin pie. Several years ago she told me her recipe for it.

Aunt Bea took care of herself by walking and watching her diet. She loved chocolate. Her son Ron would bring her Russell Stover Chocolates from California. While in the nursing home we kept her supplied with Chocolate Covered Marshmallow eggs. One time she said Dr. Wulfer would not like me eating so much of these with my high cholesterol. I told her, ‘Aunt Bea at 98 years old I think you should eat what you want.”

I had the privilege of being there and pinning on her 50 year Eastern Star pin several years back.

She loved life and what a gift we all had in celebrating it with her.

Linda Wessell

Bea was the wife of Sarah Louise Cunningham 1/2 brother Earl. Earl and Bea lived next door to the Cunninghams for most of their married life. Linda’s parents (also Eugene Cunningham's brother) Ruth and Harrell Cunningham lived across the street to from his parents, the Cunninghams. So when Eugene and Sarah married get togethers included both families.

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