Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

THOMASTON - Patricia Ann (Wallace) Beckett, 67, died Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Maine Medical Center in Portland following a long illness. Born July 5, 1947 in Thomaston, Maine, she was the daughter of William A. and Celia Stone Wallace.

She attended local schools, and was a member of the first graduating class of the newly built Georges Valley High School in 1964. Upon graduation at the age of 16, she began work at the Knox Hospital in Rockland.

Patty met Robert Beckett, brother of schoolmate Eileen, and they were married on June 28, 1969, at the Methodist Church in Camden. Their daughter Melanie was born in 1971, and son Brian in 1978. At that time, she stayed home to raise her children. Over the years, Patty enjoyed teaching preschool at the Learning Center located at the Thomaston Federated Church, as well as taking care of neighborhood children in her home. Later in life, she earned a Certificate of Religious Studies.

One of Patty’s favorite memories included gathering with aunts, uncles, and cousins at her parent’s summer cottage on the St. George River in Cushing. She also enjoyed family lobster cookouts at the home of her Aunt Marion and Uncle Lewis Stone in Thomaston. Family holidays and birthday gatherings were always special times and created memories she cherished. Patty enjoyed baking and decorating for holidays.

Some of her favorite hobbies included keeping scrapbooks, watching the Cooking Channel, going to Marshall Point Light and Drift Inn Beach, and reading. She loved animals, and always had cats in her life.

The lights of her life were her grandsons, Jacob Hyatt and Joshua Beckett, for whom she cared during their younger years. She was particularly proud of watching them grow and marveling at all their achievements.

A consummate caregiver her entire life, Patty cared for both her father, William, during his battle with Parkinson’s Disease, and her husband, Bob, during his illness with Alzheimer’s Disease until the final stages took them to nursing care. Since her father’s death in 2007, she was the primary caregiver of her mother, Celia, allowing her to remain in her home until her death in February of this year at age 92.

Following the death of her husband Bob in 2010, Patty struck up a lasting friendship with Thomas Kelley of Lockport, NY. Tom made trips to Maine over the past few years to be with her. She enjoyed sharing with him the beauty of the Maine Coast and they spent many happy times together and kept in touch for hours over the phone. She was thankful for his love and friendship in her life.

Patty’s illness took her to many different care facilities over the past year. She received attentive care at Windward Gardens in Camden, Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, and Maine Medical Center in Portland. During the final stage of her life, she was able to return home to her son Brian’s home for a few weeks, which made her very happy. This was made possible due to the nursing care of her daughter-in-law, Lidia, to whom she was particularly grateful.

Patty was a member of the Ladies American Legion Auxiliary in Thomaston, as well as a Mayflower descendant.

She is survived by her son, Brian Beckett and his wife Lidia of Thomaston; her daughter Melanie and partner Jim Bazin of Thomaston; grandsons Joshua Beckett of Warren and Jacob Hyatt of Thomaston; and granddaughters Viviana, Nashelee, Eileen, and Beverly. She leaves behind several special cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and lifetime friends. An enduring friendship with Jane and Paul Crawford of Gorham, Maine, was always dear to her heart.

A celebration of Patty’s life will be held, Monday, December 8, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. Interment at the Village Cemetery, Thomaston will be announced in the spring.

Memorial donations in Patty’s honor may be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1079, Rockland, Maine 04841.