Beverly Claire Pettengill Parsons

Beverly Claire Pettengill Parsons, 90, Greencastle, died peacefully surrounded by family at Life’s Journey Hospice in Avon on July 5, 2022, from sequelae of stroke.

Born and raised in Portland, Maine, her beloved “city by the sea,” she loved books, music and social justice and shared these passions everywhere, from Deering High School to University of Maine and Streator, Ill.

Beverly was editor of her school newspaper, first chair clarinetist and student conductor (she loved nothing more than conducting a Sousa march). In 1948 after winning Maine’s World Order Essay Contest, she traveled to New York City, meeting her lifelong hero, Eleanor Roosevelt, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. At university, she led women students and their government and assisted Dean of Women Students, Edith Wilson.

In 1951, she met her husband, World War II veteran Robert, in composition class. Their first date was a Maine Day picnic and tide-pooling at Bar Harbor. On Aug. 15,1953, they married at Portland’s Woodfords Congregational Church.

While teaching high school English, she earned her master’s in 1983 at Illinois State University. Her favorite subject to teach was poetry, and most creative project was “Port to Prairie,” a letter exchange between her and daughter Betsy’s English classes.

Retiring in 1995, she helped establish the STHS Educational Foundation, recruited members and remained on its board until 2012. As citizen, Beverly was a leader for democracy, voting in every election, often with children in tow. She staunchly defended women’s rights and public schools and served as elected member of both elementary and high school education boards. As spiritual teacher, she served both Sunday school and Session at Park Presbyterian Church. As giving citizen, she helped found Meals on Wheels, Friends of Streator Library, Books for Babies, public library book group and an Oprah Book Club. As global citizen, she hosted eight exchange students from Sweden, Norway, Russia, Kazakhstan, France and China from 1975 to 2010.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Carl Pettengill, and eldest child, Betsy (in 2019); will be dearly missed by her husband of 69 years, Dr. Robert of Greencastle; children William of Seattle, Sarah of Seattle, Susan of Arcata, Calif. (Stuart), and Scott of Greencastle (Michele); grandchildren Elizabeth, Daniel (Eva), Alexander (Sarah), Katie Rose, Benjamin, Greta and Ming; and great-grandchildren: Ruben, Josiah and Rafael.

Despite 55 years in their beloved Streator home, Bev and Bob remained Mainers. Bev wrote of her beloved, “He is the only person I know that craves a walk through the pines after a refreshing summer rain like I do,” and “Even if I paid double in sorrow for every joy we’ve had together, it would be worth it to me.”

A celebration of Beverly’s life will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Streator Public Library, www.streatorpubliclibrary.org/; Parsons Scholarship Fund for LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies,” www.mainecf.org; and STHS Educational Foundation, www.streatorhs.org/STHSFoundation.aspx