ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. – Mother, grandmother and loving wife Beatrice E. (Pray) Messier Dutil left this world peacefully on July 2, 2022 in Zephyrhills, Fla. to finally meet her Lord and Savior and be with her mother who died from giving birth to her on March 22, 1943. She was born to Emma Beatrice (Marshall) and Robert S. Pray in Belgrade at the Pray farmhouse on Route 27 that was always in her heart until the very end.

Beatrice graduated from Belgrade High School in 1961. She was the class secretary and kept copious notes of all of the goings on of her class, as well as photos of their senior trip. She was a member of the Rainbow Girls and received numerous awards for attendance. She never forgot a face or a name, and remembered everyone’s parents and children as well.

Beatrice, “Bea” or “Beachie” depending upon how you knew her, worked for the state of Maine for 30 years in various capacities, but primarily worked at the Department of Transportation. She was an amazingly speedy and accurate typist and put her organizational skills to good use at every position she held there. She was a member of the Maine State Employees Association, at one time serving as a shop steward, and had served as a treasurer at the American Legion Post 2 in Augusta. Bea also worked many years part time for LaVerdiere’s, which became Rite Aid.

Despite many hardships, including raising her children as a single mother and the loss of her second husband, Laurence A. Messier to lymphoma, she never stopped believing in love. She finally met the love of her life, Raymond Dutil, after nearly 20 years of being a widow. Raymond has been the rock and soul of her life and brought her happiness and acceptance that she never thought that she would ever experience again. Ray was by her side and supportive of her during her final years of decline and bore witness to the terrible effects of Alzheimer’s on her abilities and memory. However, when she would open her eyes and see Raymond, her beautiful smile would immediately flash and she knew she was loved and that she loved him.

Beatrice was predeceased by her youngest daughter, Laurie A. Garland in 2016.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond Dutil of Zephyrhills, Fla.; her daughter, Elizabeth Peters of Winthrop, stepdaughters Amy Faloon and her partner Joe Kennedy of East Orland and Melanie Ingraham of Unity. She is also survived by her grandson, Norwood Pearson and his wife Stephenie and great-grandchild, River, of Brockton, Mass.; as well as her granddaughter Amber Downing and her husband Brian and great-grandchildren Kaydenn Downing and Marshall Pearson. She is survived as well by her step-grandchildren Lauren Faloon, CJ, Kyle and Colby Ingraham. Bea also leaves behind a very special friend, Nancy Litten.

A celebration of life will be held for her family and friends on August 5 at 2 p.m. at the More to Life Campground in Winthrop.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at http://www.alz.org.

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