Luella Fay Beal

Luella “Fay” Beal, 100, of Echo Township passed away on Nov. 3, 2022, at home with family at her side.

   Fay was born on October 30, 1922 at home on Chemical Hill in East Jordan, to Ray Barrick and Suzie Sabin Barrick.  At the age of 3, Fay moved with her parents to her grandparent’s farm on Old State Rd in Echo Township, Antrim County.

   She attended Finkton county school through 8^th grade.  To attend high school Fay walked 3 miles to Chestonia, through all kinds of weather to catch the school bus then 3miles back home in the evening.  Fay did this for 4 years, becoming a proud graduate of East Jordan High School, class of 1940.

   On August 9, 1941 Fay married her long time childhood neighbor and the love of her life Asa Beal.  The couple moved to the farm Asa had bought in 1938, just a mile from where Fay had grown up.  They were married for 54 years until Asa’s death in 1995.

   Fay was always a hard worker.  As a young teenage girl she picked beans, sweet corn, apples, and cherries. As a young adult she worked at East Jordan Iron Works and at Foster Boats in Charlevoix during World War II.  Following the end of the war, besides farming, Fay also worked at the canning companies in Central Lake and East Jordan.  In 1954 she hired in at Mr. Clemens Metal Products, later Dura Corporation, where she worked for 30 years, retiring in 1984.

   Fay was preceded in death by her husband Asa, her sister Donna, her parents Ray and Suzie Barrick, mother and father in-law Minnie and Pearl Beal, step father in-law George Spence, son in-law Bill Midgett, brother in-laws LeRoy Beal, Leland Beal, Tim Hitchcock, and Andy Anderson, sister in laws Elenor Hitchcock, Frances Beal, and granddaughter Wendy Beal.

   Fay is survived by brother in-law Norman Beal, her son Reed (Rae) Beal, daughter Norma Midgett, grandsons Travis and friend Kelly, and Steve (Amy) Lake, granddaughters Brenda and Cindy, special friend Charlotte Beal and fix it man John McDonald, 12 great grandchildren, and many great-great grandchildren as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins.

   Per Fay’s wishes, a simple and casual graveside service will take place at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, November 10, 2022 at Dunsmore Cemetery, Echo Township. 

   Arrangements have been handled by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.