WEST PARIS – Beatrice “Bea” Arlene Bean, 80, of West Paris, died peacefully with her family by her side, at Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris on Nov. 25.

She was born in Bethel on May 18, 1926, the daughter of Joel and Lulu (Downs) Merrill and was educated in Bethel and Hanover schools. Bea had worked for a time at Newton-Tebbets in West Bethel and was a homemaker most of her life. She loved to cook, paint and paper, loved kids and was known as “Auntie Bea.”

She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Carroll (Cack) Bean of West Paris; five sons, Carroll “Cacky” Bean Jr., and his wife, Dora, of Alburg, Vt., John Bean, and his wife, Diane, of Baker City, Ore., Charles Bean, and his wife, Liz, of Milan, N.H., Douglas Bean, and his wife, Jenny, of Mount Vernon and Christopher “Chip” Bean, and his wife, Becky, of Errol, N.H.; one daughter, Rebecca Bean of Hanover; 15 grandchildren, Timmy, Mikey, Jenny, Jump, Jessica, Justin, Scotty, Stephenie, Gabe, Jamie, Sophia, Collin, Natalie, Kristie and Nick; and six great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by seven brothers; and five sisters.