Lynne Beebe

Lynne Anita Beebe, 81, of Central Lake, passed away on September 26, 2020 surrounded by her loving family and heaven bound to be with Jesus.  She was born March 21, 1939 in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of the late Paul and Florence Cummings.  She grew up in Cedarville, Ohio, but spent her summers at the family cottage on the south end of Torch Lake, where she made many lifelong friends. She graduated high school in 1957 from Cedarville, Ohio.  She obtained her BA in Education from The Ohio State University.  She was a proud and faithful fan of the Buckeyes, especially their football teams, and was always ready to crow about their victories, especially those against Michigan.

Her first teaching job was in Livonia, Michigan, where her unique style of teaching quickly earned her many admirers.  She then relocated to northern Michigan, which she had fallen in love with as a teenager, and started teaching at Central Lake.  She spent the remainder of her educational career there, touching young many lives and hearts.  She always had a heart for her students that had special needs or were in difficult circumstances, and was willing to do anything to help them. She was a true life long teacher and learner. She obtained her Masters degree in Education from Michigan State University.

In addition to teaching, she was a tireless worker. She sacrificed her weekends and summers to provide for her family as a waitress at the Rowe Inn and a proprietor of a gardening business. The sacrifice and resourcefulness paved the way for her two sons to obtain a university education.

She had a passion for gardening and companion animals.  She was a master gardener and was always in search of her next great gardening challenge.  Her house and garden were always teeming with all sorts of interesting and unique flora.  She loved the challenge and process of cultivating almost anything.  Her passion for gardening was only exceeded by her love for animals.  She kept many interesting critters in her classroom at school, and some eventually found their way to her home.  However, it was her cats and dogs in which she poured her soul and devotion in caring for.

Her greatest legacy was the devotion to her sons and grandchildren. Through both personal and financial sacrifice, she consistently sought to fulfill their happiness and leave them without a doubt that they were loved and advocated for. For this, her family meets her departure with immense sorrow, but also, abundant joy and gratitude for having the unique blessing that she brought to their lives for so long.

She is survived by one sister, Claire J. Scheibner, of Rapid City, MI, 2 sons, Kirk (Melanie) Beebe of Apex, NC, and Otto (Janet) Beebe of Rapid City, MI, 6 grandchildren, Tristan, Lachlan, Portia, Audrey, Natasha, and Liam, and her treasured companion Herb.

Lynne was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Florence Cummings, and her former husband Bruce Beebe.

Funeral services will be held Thursday October 1, at 5 p.m. at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes with Pastor Gary Bekkering officiating.  The family will receive friends from 3 p.m until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Help From My Friends’ Pet Crisis Center Bellaire, MI.

Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.