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 on Main Street and moved onto College Street so she could begin attending the Wallace School.

She went on to attend the Main Street Primary School and moved to Winthrop with her family at the age of 13, graduating from Winthrop High School in 1934.

She went to work for Francis Bate, a lawyer who was involved in politics. As he was away from the office a great deal, she took an interest in his law books and began reading and studying them. In 1940, she passed the Maine Bar Examination as a self-taught lawyer and practiced law until her retirement in 1994. In 1991, she received a certificate from the Maine Bar Association recognizing her for practicing law in the state of Maine for 50 years.

In 1944, she married Francis Bate. He died in 1956, and in 1963 she married Howard Mayo.

She is survived by her daughter, Vedna Frances Bate Thayer; her sister, Charlotte Pooler Lindholm; her brother, Elvert Pooler; her daughter-in-law, Phyllis Buck; her grandchildren, Leon Thayer, Pamela Thayer, Sheryl Buck Jackson, Raymond Buck, and Donovan Buck; her great-granddaughter, Katherine Buck; along with several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

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