Beatrice Martha (Duncan) Gillmore

CAMDEN – Beatrice Martha (Duncan) Gillmore passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Jan. 11, 2023, at the age of 99.

Bea was born on Nov. 29, 1923, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Robert and Faye (Wann) Duncan. She spent her childhood on a 14-acre farm in Osage County, Oklahoma, with her two sisters, Irene and Gladys, along with her little brother William. Bea’s time was spent equally between school, working on the farm pulling cotton, and tending to her little brother.

Bea raised her two daughters, both predeceased, Ila “Jean” Randall and Shirley Ann Pratt, with her husband of 55 years, Eldon “Buster” Gillmore, who passed away in 2001.

Bus and Bea met in Holly, Colorado, where she was a waitress and he a bartender. They quickly fell in love and took great care of one another thereafter. Bea and Bus lived in various states over the years, including Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, California, and Florida, before settling down in Winthrop, Maine. This was a decision they made to be closer with family.

Bea enjoyed spending time with her loved ones, baking fruit pies and cookies, playing Solitaire with an old deck of cards while looking out her kitchen window, enjoying chocolate malts, and watching her afternoon “stories” on TV. Bea’s superpowers included (but not limited to), spoiling her many grandchildren rotten, lawn sale haggling, making the best sweet tea imaginable, befriending all of the critters who lived fat and happy in her backyard, and snapping string beans at the speed of light.

While it’s impossible to cover ninety-nine years of a well lived life into a few short paragraphs, Bea could make you love her in a few short moments of being in her presence. With a big bear hug and a couple of soft pats on your hand, she could magically make the world a better place. In fact, a person was not allowed to leave Bea’s home without their pockets full of Juicy Fruit gum, Milky Ways, Snickers bars, and a bottle of pop in their hand. All the time knowing they were loved and cared for by this wonderful woman. Grammy Bea will be greatly missed, and we are all better people for knowing her.

Bea leaves behind four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will occur in the spring at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta, Maine, on May 12, at 2 p.m.

Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop where memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a local animal shelter

in Bea’s memory.