1917 – 2013

BRYANT POND — Evelyn Louise Thurston Bean, 96, of Bryant Pond, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 7, at her home.

She was born in Rumford on July 21, 1917, the daughter of Herman Lamont and Arvilla Gammon Thurston. She attended Rumford schools and graduated from Stephens High School in 1935, then took a two-year course at Lassell Hotel Training School. She was employed at Sunnyridge Farm and the Tea Room in Rumford as a dining room hostess.

She married Chester Crockett Bean of Woodstock on Dec. 31, 1942, at the Universalist Church in Rumford. A resident of Woodstock since her marriage, she has been a member of the Universalist Church of Bryant Pond and the Fellowship Club, and it was Evelyn who served as the organizer and chairman of the building fund for the church. She also served as director, clerk and moderator for many years and when many of the improvements to the building were done.

Evelyn served 15 years as chairman of the cancer fund for the town and the same number of years for the heart fund. During World War II, she served as the chairman of the U.S.O. and did much volunteer work for the Red Cross. She was a member of the Pythian Sisters Order and served in all offices. She also served in the Grand Temple of Maine, where she served as the grand chief for the state of Maine in 1962-63. In 1964, in Washington, D.C., she joined the Supreme Temple and took the degree.

She did work for Pineland and the Home for Little Wanderers for the state. She was past president of the Past Chiefs Club of Maine and also past president of the Pythian Home Association. She joined the Rumford Grange, and after her marriage transferred to Franklin Grange, where she was a past master. At one time, she served as the youngest president of any literary club in the state when she was a member of the Christian Valley Club of Rumford. She was also past president of the Bryant Pond Garden Club.

Evelyn was very active in the Republican party of the town, county and state, serving several years as chairman and two terms as state committeewoman of the county. She also organized the Hannibal Hamlin Republican Women’s Club of Oxford County, serving three terms as president. She was past president of the Woodstock-Greenwood Senior Citizens and also the Pine Tree Quilters. She made and sold many quilts from the shop owned by her and her late husband from their home.

She served many years as a ballot clerk and planning board member for the town. Evelyn was a member of the Woodstock Historical Society and a past president. She was a director for Stephens Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and on the town committee when the hospital was built. She was always willing to serve in all ways for the betterment of the town and its residents.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, Villa and John Ramsay of Deering, N.H., Carole Hockmeyer of Milan, N.H., Ricky Thurston of Portland and Scot Warchol of Portland; special friends, Jim and Jutta Thibodeau of Rumford, Alex and Joyce Thibodeau and children, Matthew and Emily of Turner, Kenrick and Sonia Thibodeau and children, Kassie and Kenrick of Rumford, Ted and Janette Orino of Rumford, David and Ann Kimball of Rumford, Pattie Howe of Bryant Pond and Buzz Levensalver of Yarmouth.

She was predeceased by her husband, Chester, on April 30, 1981; and her brothers, Bernard, Donald and Ray.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.