WATERVILLE and CARY’S MILLS – Christie “Bea” G. Bither, 91, died June 12, 2011, at Inland Hospital with family by her side. She was born Sept. 22, 1919, in Haynesville, daughter of John W. and Christie (Anderson) Gavel.
Bea graduated from Ricker Classical Institute in 1937 as valedictorian of her class. After graduation, she married Preston Bither and moved to Cary’s Mills, where she remained in their home for the next 70 years. Bea had a lifelong love of learning. She challenged herself by doing crossword puzzles and matching wits with Jeopardy contestants. She was particularly interested in poetry, art and nature. Bea also enjoyed sewing, painting and woodcarving. She was an avid, lifelong Red Sox fan who enjoyed watching their games and didn’t give up on them this year knowing they would rally – and her Red Sox didn’t disappoint her. She provided bookkeeping services for her husband’s business for many years and was known to have shot a duck or two from her back porch. She provided excellent care to her ailing husband during many years of his failing health. Bea was a longtime member of Houlton United Methodist Church, where she taught a Sunday school class for toddlers for a number of years. She more recently attended Military Street Baptist Church, where she participated in a missionary circle and served as her Sunday school class treasurer. In the last 20 years, Bea traveled by herself to Alaska almost every year to visit her daughter and delighted in seeing all the wildlife and beautiful scenery there.
Bea is survived by her daughter, Marie McQueen and her husband, John, of Anchorage, Alaska; two sons, Dean Bither and his wife, Rudy, of Winslow, and Paul Bither and his wife, Carol, of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; and one special niece, Gerry Tidd and her husband, Darrell, of Hodgdon, who provided outstanding support for both Bea and her family during her later years. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Preston M. Bither; one son, Scott G. Bither; brother, Clinton Gavel; and sister, Reta Malone.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Dunn Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Randall Burns officiating. Interment will be at Linneus Cemetery. There will be a reception for friends and family after the burial at Linneus Snowsports Club. Gifts may be made in Bea’s memory to Cary Library, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.