Beverly Mae Williams LaClaire

NORWAY – Beverly Mae Williams LaClaire was born in Montague, Massachusetts, on Aug. 10, 1930, to Rex and Leone Williams. Beverly died peacefully on Aug. 4, 2021, at Stevens Memorial Hospital in Norway, Maine, in the presence of her son, Gary LaClaire and Randy LaClaire, and a dear friend, Diane Allen. She is survived by her three sons: Gary LaClaire and his wife Ginny of Eddington, Maine; Phil LaClaire and his wife Ellen of Marlborough, New Hampshire; and Randy LaClaire and his wife Terri of Poland, Maine, and families comprising seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Beverly was one of three children raised by Rex and Leone Williams in Leverett, Massachusetts. She was predeceased by her husband of 73 years, Alden LaClaire who died earlier this year (January 3); two siblings, Ken Williams of Montague, Massachusetts; and Allen Williams of Morse Corners, Massachusetts.

Since early childhood, Beverly served her God playing piano in several churches, leading choirs, establishing a Gospel youth quintet, and being supportive of her husband, Alden LaClaire, as they jointly helped to establish the Bangor Rescue Mission in Bangor, Maine, and the Poland Baptist Church in Poland Spring, Maine.

Beverly was the consummate mother and housewife her entire married life, proving again the proverb; “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: a prudent wife is from Jehovah!” (Proverbs 19:14)

Alden and Beverly began their married life in Montague, Massachusetts, then bore and raised their three sons in Athol, Massachusetts. They then moved their family to Bangor, Maine in 1964 to establish the Bangor Rescue Mission. After founding the mission, they moved to Poland, Maine in 1972, where in 1980 they co-founded the Poland Baptist Church.

There will be a memorial service at the Poland Baptist Church on Tuesday, August 10, at 1:00 PM. The church will be broadcasting the service over a limited-reach (parking lot) FM station for those who cannot attend in person.

There will be a brief graveside committal time at the Plainview Cemetery in Moores Corner, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, August 11, at 1 p.m.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hall Funeral Home, 165 Quaker Ridge Road, Casco. Beverly’s family welcomes your kind words and condolences on her Tribute Wall at http://www.hallfuneralhome.net.