She was born Jan. 25, 1917, in Topsham, the daughter of Ralph and Nellie (Hall) Merriman. She graduated from Brunswick High School in 1935 and Westbrook Junior College in Portland in 1937. On Aug. 8, 1939, she married Philip C. Beam, professor of art at Bowdoin College and director of the Walker Art Museum.
She and her husband made their home in Topsham and Brunswick. In 2003, they moved to Lewiston to be closer to family.
A homemaker most of her adult life, Frances did volunteer bookkeeping for St. Paul's Episcopal Church and its Thrift Shop in Brunswick. She was a lively, outspoken and independent conversationalist, an avid and gifted bridge player, and a talented seamstress and enjoyed preparing gourmet meals for family and friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Beam of Exeter, N.H.; her son, Christopher Beam and his wife, Joline, of Lewiston; grandsons, David Beam and his wife, Clare, of Arlington, Va., Michael Beam and his wife, Sarah, of Portland and Gregory Beam and his wife, Kimberly McKean, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and three great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Philip in 2005; her three sisters; and a brother.
Obituary published in the Sun Journal on April 20,2013
She was born Jan. 25, 1917, in Topsham, the daughter of Ralph and Nellie (Hall) Merriman. She graduated from Brunswick High School in 1935 and Westbrook Junior College in Portland in 1937. On Aug. 8, 1939, she married Philip C. Beam, professor of art at Bowdoin College and director of the Walker Art Museum.
She and her husband made their home in Topsham and Brunswick. In 2003, they moved to Lewiston to be closer to family.
A homemaker most of her adult life, Frances did volunteer bookkeeping for St. Paul's Episcopal Church and its Thrift Shop in Brunswick. She was a lively, outspoken and independent conversationalist, an avid and gifted bridge player, and a talented seamstress and enjoyed preparing gourmet meals for family and friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Beam of Exeter, N.H.; her son, Christopher Beam and his wife, Joline, of Lewiston; grandsons, David Beam and his wife, Clare, of Arlington, Va., Michael Beam and his wife, Sarah, of Portland and Gregory Beam and his wife, Kimberly McKean, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and three great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Philip in 2005; her three sisters; and a brother.
Obituary published in the Sun Journal on April 20,2013
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