BEALS – Myrtle Mertina (Beal) Lenfestey, 92, wife of the late Farrell Lenfestey, who died in 2006, went to be with her Lord May 7, 2009, from Sentry Hill Nursing Home, York. She was born July 5, 1916, in Beals, daughter of the late Esten and Calista (Alley) Beal. She graduated from Beals High School in 1933. Miraculously healed as a little child, she lived her life for and loved her Savior. Myrtle was a member of Beals Wesleyan Church, where she was organist and director of music for many years. She will be remembered for her music, which she loved and which became a major part of her life. With a beautiful singing voice she harmonized with friends for duets, trios and quartets. She especially enjoyed singing with her dear friend, Norma. She was a piano teacher for many Island children. Two of her students, Herrick Carver, who has continued his piano music and Leon Crowley, who followed her as music director and organist of Beals Wesleyan Church, were very special to her. She also taught others, especially her nephew, Luther, to love and appreciate all kinds of music. For years she played the Baccalaureate march at the high school event, as well as taking part in and accompanying many church, school and community musical performances. Myrtle was a writer, including poetry with themes of nature, which she loved. How she reveled in a beautiful sunset or the song of a bird. She looked forward to each seasonal change, especially the majestic colors of fall. Camping was a passion. She loved “getting away” to Pond camp with her niece, Joan, where they camped at grandfather C.H. Beal’s hunting camp. There she was surrounded by God’s creation, which inspired some of her best poetry. She is survived by two daughters, Sylvia (Lenfestey) Peabody and her husband, Earl, of Rochester, N.H., and Carolyn (Lenfestey) Gordon and her husband, Jack, of Eliot; four grandchildren, Cheryl (Peabody) Szacik and her husband, Peter, of Madbury, N.H., Capt. Ronald Peabody of Bristol, Amy (Gordon) Fuller and her husband, Michael, of North Berwick and Geoffrey Gordon and his wife, Kathy, of Eliot; four great-grandchildren, Jacob Farrell Gordon, Madelyn Beth Fuller, Kylie Ruth Gordon and John “Jack” Michael Fuller; three great-stepgrandchildren, Kaitlin, Daniel and Meghan Szacik; brothers, Esten Beal Jr. and his wife, Patty, and Elmer C. Beal and his wife, Marion, all of Beals; special nieces and nephews. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joys. She lavished her unconditional love on them all. Her extended family and friends she valued dearly. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband; a brother, Charles Beal and his wife, Leila; a sister, Fannie Bishop and her husband, Ellis; a sister, Susie Johnson and her husband, Leon; and a sister-in-law, Willavie Beal. She was a blessing and shared her love, God’s love, with her caregivers and staff at Sentry Hill. Greatly loved, her impact has been expressed by many. Heaven is the richer with her home going. Services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, May 11, at Beals Wesleyan Church, Beals, with Pastor George Woodward officiating. Burial will be after at Village Cemetery, Beals. If desired, donations may be made to Beals Wesleyan Church, care of Sonja Skurdall, P.O. Box 166, Beals, ME 04611. A service of Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Milbridge. For online condolences, please visit our Web site at www.bragdonkelley.com.
MYRTLE MERTINA (BEAL) LENFESTEY
