Beatrice Marks

Bea Marks loved her family. She cherished her role as a wife, mother and grandmother. In the community, she looked for opportunities to reach out to others, knowing that the smallest act of caring could be enough to turn a life around.

Born during World War II, Beatrice Jean Marks was welcomed into the world by her parents, George and Marjorie (DeFer) Mecklenburg on July 11, 1942. Bea was the fourth of five children and because her parents divorced while she was still very young, she and her younger sister, Lynda, were raised by her mother. Bea was a true "tom boy" who enjoyed playing ball from sun up to sun down. She also loved the tap dance lessons that were a part of her childhood. At the young age of twelve, Bea began working at the A&W restaurant as a waitress on roller skates. She had taken special notice of an older boy named Walter Marks who was in the service. She decided to date his younger brother as a way to get to know Walter. Her plan worked. While Walter was at home on leave, the two met and fell in love. On July 11, 1958, Bea's sixteenth birthday, the happy couple married in Detroit, Michigan.

Bea and Walter soon welcomed their first child, Marlynn, into their family. Bea decided after Marlynn was born to earn her diploma. She worked towards her diploma by attending Garden City High School and then went on to earn an Associates Degree in Law Enforcement from Schoolcraft Community College. Her Uncle was a police officer in Detroit and he was her inspiration for pursuing an education in law enforcement. After earning her degree, Bea worked for one year at Garden City Police Department- Juvenile Division, working towards the goal of becoming a detective.

Soon Bea and Walter welcomed son Walter Jr. and daughter Susan to their family, which made for a full house. Because of the breakup of her family when she was a child, Bea made a decision early on to make her family a priority. She became very active in her children's lives and served in organizations that valued children and families. Bea was a member of the Mason County Eastern Schools P.T.A. and a volunteer for Girl Scouts. She also worked for M.C.E. Schools as a Teacher's Aid until the family moved to Sarasota, Florida. She then worked in Adult Education and After School Child Care for Sarasota County School Board. Bea worked with adult students and she related to them so well that she often convinced them to work towards their diploma rather than their GED. She would not just give advice, but walk them through the entire process of registering, enrolling and making sure everything was in order. Bea's detailed, organized and slightly obsessive compulsive tendencies came in handy when helping those young adults.

In 1993, Bea and her family moved back to Mason County. She went to work for Mason County Central Schools as the Enrichment Coordinator for Adult and Community Education. She also ran the Community Rec League during the summer, another opportunity where her organizational skills were evident and appreciated. Bea served the school in this capacity until her retirement in January 2004.

Bea's community work was important, but it didn't hold a candle to her involvement in the lives of her family. She continued to make her family her first priority and it was important for her to keep her home clean for them. She liked to plan extravagant birthday parties, each with a special theme and decorated to the last detail. Christmas was a time Bea went over and above to make her family feel special. The family enjoyed the many quality trips together, camping all over the state and spending time in the Upper Peninsula whenever Walter took a week of vacation. They also loved the weekends spent together at Bea's father's cabin in Wolverine. Camping was such a passion for the family that in 1975 they bought Timber Surf Campground in Fountain. They ran it for two years and put lots of sweat into the many improvements they made. The work was done to the ethic of: "If you're going to do something, go all out."

Bea had a special bond with her granddaughter, Holly, the first grandchild. Holly went to Bea's everyday after school and was privileged to spend quality time with grandma. Later, when granddaughter McKinley Jean , who shared part of Bea's name, arrived on the scene, Holly shared Grandma's devoted attention. Bea was then blessed with four other grandchildren: Corliss, Walter III, Mason and Easton. Along with her cherished pastime of spoiling her family, she enjoyed listening to country music ~ Kenny Rogers, Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson and Randy Travis were some of her favorites. She rarely watched television, but when she did she preferred to be entertained by court TV shows and detective shows because of her background. Bea had recently developed a passion for the Professional Bull Riding Tour and she had special cowboys and bulls that she enjoyed watching. She also enjoyed the time she was able to spend gardening. She spent time traveling and visited places like Hawaii, Key West, Nashville, Branson and California. Her favorite was Hawaii, so she went twice. She had a penchant for tropical themes. Bea had many favorites...a favorite color: purple, favorite foods: chocolate anything and McDonald's french fries, and her favorite movie:Pretty Woman, just to name a few.

Bea was a loving woman, devoted to her family and to the people around her. Her passion to care for others has endeared her to those she served and those with whom she served. Memories of Bea will hold a special place in their hearts as they draw on the inspiration and influence she had in their lives.

Bea Marks passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2005 at her home in Ludington, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother George Mecklenburg, and her sisters Beverly Strautz, and Lynda Thomas. Bea will be lovingly remembered by her husband Walter, her children Marlynn (Ted) Gulembo of Fountain, Wally (Gwen) Marks Jr. of Ludington, and Susan (Anthony) Evans of Bradenton, Florida, her precious grandchildren Holly (fiancee Erich Brooks), Corliss, Walter III, Mason, Easton, and McKinley Jean, and her brother Russell (Gail) Mecklenburg. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Bea at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29 at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville, with Rev. Norman Letsinger of Bachelor Evangelical Covenant Church officiating. Burial will follow at Bachelor Cemetery in Fountain. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Wednesday morning from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. Please visit Bea's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, sign the guesbook, or make a memorial contribution. Memorials may be made to the Sally K. Johnson Fund, the "One Good Day Fund" established to assist cancer patients, c/o West Michigan Regional Cancer and Blood Center, 6050 N. US 31, Free Soil, MI 49411.