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Bea McMahan Obituary
Bea McMahan
Bea passed away peacefully on June 23, 2024, at Arbour Heights LTC at the age of 92, just eight months after the death of her beloved husband of sixty-six years, Dr. Jay S. McMahan. She will be dearly missed by her children Marni, Jay (Christie Milliken), Peggy, her grandchildren Emily, Charlie (Erin Keogh), Jack and Leo, as well as her sisters-in-law Clem Fair, Urve Mundi, Jane Alexander and Gail Marsh.
Bea was born in June 1932 in the Swansea neighbourhood of Toronto to the late Herbert and Ellen Ford. She and her twin brother Robert were siblings to younger brother Bruce. After graduating from Humberside Collegiate Institute, Bea pursued her dreams of being a teacher and earned her B.A. and B.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario (Gamma Phi Beta sorority). After earning her degrees, she started her teaching career in Kitchener before moving to Kingston with Jay where she taught high school English and Phys. Ed. at KCVI (1956-60) while Jay attended the Queen’s University School of Medicine.
Once in Kingston, Bea and Jay started a family and Bea stepped away from teaching so she could be a devoted and dedicated mother to her three children. She and Jay shared a love of the outdoors resulting in many enjoyable summers at their cottage on Lake Opinicon. Home in Kingston was a magnet for children and family friends and Bea loved to bake (a lot). You always knew there would be something good to eat, especially homemade chocolate chip cookies, Nanaimo bars, orange date muffins and chocolate cake with butterscotch icing.
Bea was active in the community before and after she and Jay retired. She worked as a secretary for her husband’s medical practice. Bea also volunteered with the Medical Wives Society, the Women’s Auxiliary for the Hotel Dieu Hospital, Providence Manor, the Kingston Symphony Book Sale, Kingston Food Bank and the Festival of Trees. She was passionate about her many hobbies including birdwatching with the North Leeds Birders.
Bea’s children would like to thank the staff at Arbour Heights and St. Lawrence Place for their kindness and support.
In keeping with Bea’s wishes there will be no service. To commemorate Bea, please consider donating to the Kingston Field Naturalists (donate here) or Ducks Unlimited (donate here).
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June 13 1932
June 23 2024
Death notice for the town of: Kingston, Province: Ontario
death notice Bea McMahan June 13 1932
June 23 2024
obituaries notice Bea McMahan June 13 1932
June 23 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Bea McMahan June 13 1932
June 23 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.