Mary Lou Bean

Mary Lou (Boggs) Bean
Feb. 27, 1929 – Oct. 19, 2021

At the age of 92 Mary Lou passed from this life to the next peacefully at home.

She was born on a farm in Pennsylvania. When she was three, the family moved back to the farm in Greenbrier Co., WV to be closer to relatives. She was the oldest of four children.

Mary Lou graduated as valedictorian from Frankford H.S. in 1946. She studied Accounting at West Virginia Business College until 1948 and from there she went on to receive a BA in Religion from Berea in KY in 1953. She completed her formal education in 1956 with a Master of Arts degree from Scaritt College for Christian Workers in TN. During this time she also gained work experience at several jobs to help put her sister through college.

In September 1957, after meeting at Mt Vernon Place UMC, she was married to Gerald “Jerry” Bean. A few years later they moved from their apartment on Duke St. to a new home in Springfield to begin their family. Eric arrived in 1962 and Janet came along in ’67. Mary Lou created a warm and happy home where everyone felt welcome. She enjoyed traveling and spent time at historic sites, festivals and picnics. Her favorite place to visit was her mother’s home in WV, where family often gathered for holidays and summer vacation.

People and relationships were Mary Lou’s calling. Her caring was genuine and sincere. Her gifts, talents, creativity and organizational skills allowed her to keep track of and show people how important they were to her. She was very active in the life of Mt Vernon Place church and had a passion for missions, supporting missionaries and for social concerns. She headed and participated in many committees over the years, and was also involved in United Methodist Women, the prayer chain and bible studies at Springfield UMC.

She was an avid writer of cards and letters and has a collection of addresses dating back to the 50’s. She collected postcards and recipes and hoped to assemble a cookbook one day. She was a “night owl” and often stayed up to the wee hours finishing a task. She liked licorice, ice cream and jelly beans. She was often described as “so sweet”, “a special lady” or “so thoughtful”. She lived her life with determination, perseverance, and most of all, with love. We always knew we were loved!

Preceded in death by: parents; Dwight Latham and Gladys Leon (Graybeal) Boggs, and siblings; Dorothy Lynn Hayes, William Donald Boggs and Sally Sue Martin

Survived by: Her loving husband of 64 years Gerald “Jerry” T. Bean, son – Eric S. Bean, daughter – Janet R. Jewell (Tony), grandson – Raymond “Ray” T. Jewell and many nieces and nephews.