WINTHROP – Beatrice M. Pooler Bate Mayo, 92, of Fayette, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Winthrop Manor.

She was born in Lewiston on Sept. 3, 1915, the daughter of George Phelps and Laura Mildred (Cushman) Pooler.

Her parents owned and operated a grocery store on upper Main Street when it was known as Barkerville. They later bought another store and moved onto College Street as Beatrice began attending the Wallace School. She went on to attend the Main Street Primary School and later graduated from Winthrop High School in 1934 after her family moved there.

Beatrice went to work for Francis Bate, a lawyer who was involved in politics. As he was away from the office a great deal, Beatrice took an interest in his law books and began reading and studying them. She passed the Maine Bar examination in 1940 as a self-taught lawyer. She began practicing and continued, receiving a certificate from the Maine Bar Association for 50 years of practice in 1991. Beatrice married Francis Bate in 1944. They later divorced, and she married Howard Mayo.

She is survived by her daughter, Vedna Frances Bate Thayer; her daughter-in-law, Phyllis Buck; grandchildren, Sheryl Buck Jackson, Raymond Buck and Donovan Buck; and her great-granddaughter, Katherine Buck.

Mrs. Mayo was predeceased by her husband, Howard Mayo; and her adopted son, Arnold Buck.