OBITUARY

Name:   Beatrice Joyce (Moore) DeGolier

From:  The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Washington
Date:  Tuesday, May 29, 2007

On May 7, 2007, Beatrice Joyce DeGolier of Bellingham, WA, age 69, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a 7 1/2 year battle with ovarian cancer. She was born in Grover, Colorado September 9, 1937 to Clarence and Dorothy Moore.

Bea graduated from Pocatello high school in Pocatello, Idaho. She attended Idaho State University and graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters of education degree.

She married Larry DeGolier of Bellingham, Washington June 10, 1967 and together they raised their four children.

Bea started her teaching career at the Lummi Education Center where she taught pre-school and Kindergarten for three years. She enthusiastically shared her love of books with children for 27 years as the librarian at Mountain View school in Ferndale, WA. Bea loved to tell stories as well as hear stories from her many students, their parents, friends and family. Her love of reading and sharing books continued with her wonderful friends in the Erlichda Book Club with whom she shared adventures, stories and books for 25 years.

Bea enjoyed gardening, music, reading, researching her family tree and travel. After retirement, Bea and Larry traveled extensively including several trips to Europe and Holland with their dear friend Jan DeNooyer.

Bea loved to see new places and meet and visit with people. Wherever she went she touched those around her with her spirit. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren and was involved in all of their lives.

Family, friendship and relationships were the most important things in her life. Bea touched so many people with her positive attitude, her love of children, her passion for reading and storytelling, her sense of humor and her belief in families and the power of the human spirit. She amazed us all with her curiosity, her boundless energy, her passion for life and her genuine affection. She and Larry welcomed everyone into their home and gave us all comfort. The memory of her beautiful smile will always remind us of her kindness and enduring spirit.

Throughout her long and courageous battle with cancer, Bea inspired us with her enormous optimism, strength and grace. In the face of adversity a person's true character is revealed. She faced her fight with an amazing attitude. For four years Bea was the captain and lead sponsor of Team True Grit, a team that helped raise money for cancer research at the Swedish SummeRun in Seattle. She never complained and never felt sorry for herself. She maintained her sense of humor and love until her last breath.

Beatrice and her family were deeply moved by the outpouring of love, caring and compassion of so many friends during her illness. A special thanks to Dr. Saul Rivkin and his staff at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle for their loving care and their gifts of hope and precious time.

Besides her parents, Bea was preceded in death by her brother Dr. William Moore, her mother-in-law Dorothy DeGolier, brother- in-law Dick DeGolier and nephew Reece DeGolier.

Bea is survived by her husband of 40 years, Larry; sons, Lou DeGolier of Bellingham, Dan (Dorothy) DeGolier of Bellingham, and Jim (Susan) DeGolier of Bellingham; and daughter, Lisa (Jeff) Durham of Puyallup, WA; sisters-in-law, Linda (Ron) Bronsema of Everson, WA, Anneke (Don) Bennett, of Coeur 'd 'Alene, ID, and Carla Brigmantas of Bellingham; nieces, Linda (John) Porter of San Francisco, CA, Ellie (Rod) Marchiando of Rapid City, SD, Tonja DeGolier of Seattle, WA, Rhonda Longoria of Everson WA, and Julie Bronsema of Bellingham, WA; grandchildren, Kole DeGolier, Makena DeGolier, Aspen DeGolier, Logan Bell, Conner Bell, Marissa Bell and Elizabeth Durham; and numerous other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bea's name may be made to; Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, 1221 Madison St, Suite 1401, Seattle, WA 98104, 800-328-1124.

Memorial services will be held in the Moles-Greenacres Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.