Marguerite Helene Beaver

Marguerite Helene "Ty" Cobb Beaver, 94, passed away on November 21st in Canton, Massachusetts. Marguerite went by both her middle name, Helene, and nickname "Ty" Cobb. She was born in Custer, South Dakota in 1922. As a child, she witnessed the blasting and sculpting of Mt. Rushmore. She experienced the challenges of the Great Depression as a young girl and the impact of World War II during her college years. At the robust age of 90, she returned to Custer to see the family farm on Cobb Street and to meet relatives. At age 92, she travelled to Florida to surprise her brother on his 95th birthday.

Helene's life was centered on music, the church and education. Her father, Charles Monroe Cobb, was a travelling Baptist minister; her mother, Marguerite Avey, was an accomplished pianist. Her parents instilled in Helene a love of music and a spirit of humility, kindness and generosity. Helene went to Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, as well as the national honorary women's musical group, Mu Phi Epsilon, and was active in the drama club. She continued her love of music as an accomplished vocalist, pianist and violinist, signing with the Whitman College choir and performing with the Walla Walla Symphony. Helene met her true love at Whitman College, Frank Joseph Beaver, and they married in 1948. She graduated with a degree in English in 1949 and began raising her family, yet found time to serve as President of the 200-member White Temple Baptist Church Women's Society. They lived in several cities, including Spokane and Yakima, Washington, Portland and Hillsboro, Oregon, and Santa Cruz, California, before settling in Edmonds, Washington. One of her favorite places was the farm in Yakima where she enjoyed the warm summer days raising her young family and canning fruit.

When she was 44 Frank died, leaving Helene to raise two teenage sons and her 7-year old daughter. She had just begun working at the University of Washington in Seattle, and continued for 30 years, managing the student union building and directing the engineering co-op program before retiring at age 75. In retirement, she enjoyed tending to her beautiful rhododendrons and travelling with friends and family. At age 85 she moved across the country to Walpole, Massachusetts to be near her daughter, Brenda Stewart, son-in-law, Brian Stewart, and her grandsons, Andrew and Douglas Stewart. She enjoyed hours of watching her grandsons compete in sports and perform in concerts, theatre and circus productions. She also continued her love of music, attending the Boston Symphony, joining the bell choir and glee club at New Pond Village and singing with the Crooners of Cornerstone at Canton.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her three brothers, Martin, Burdette and Anah Cobb. She is survived by 3 nieces, Vicki Cobb Jenkins, Lorna Cobb Hebbeln and Janice Cobb Morrison, and nephew Jerry Cobb. She will be deeply missed by the Stewart family of Walpole and her two loving sons in Tacoma, Gregory Beaver and Stephen Beaver, and daughter-in-law Nancy Tabor.

She recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award which noted, "Helene exemplifies the definition of grace and reminds us that manners and kindness always matter." In her final days she was constantly thanking and complimenting her caregivers. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at both New Pond Village and Cornerstone at Canton for ensuring the rich quality of life she enjoyed while living at each community.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, December 17th at 11:00am at the United in Church in Walpole, 30 Common Street. In celebration of the season and in honor of her favorite color, attendees are invited to wear red. Another Celebration of Life service will be held in Tacoma, Washington in the spring of 2017, followed by a private burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, where she will be laid to rest with her husband. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Cure Alzheimer's Fund at www.curealz.org. Arrangements by James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, Walpole.