Beulah A. Gallagher

Beulah A. Gallagher, a lifelong resident of Churchill Township, passed away peacefully at the Bortz Health Care Center in West Branch on Tuesday, February 13, 2007. She was 93. Beulah was born March 13, 1913, the first of seven children of Ray and Lucie (Rosebrugh) Parliament. Beulah suffered three severe attacks of rheumatic fever in her pre-teens, and concerns were expressed whether she would reach adulthood. Nontheless, Beulah graduated in 1930 from West Branch High School, and was the last surviving member of that class. After graduation, Beulah attended Ogemaw County Normal and received a teaching certificate. She taught at the Palmer and Withey rural schools. Beulah was married in 1935 to Russell G. Lovell, a dairy farmer, and took up the life of a farm wife, which she enjoyed immensely, naming and caring for her cows, feeding threshers, and doing the many other tasks of a farmer’s wife. The couple enjoyed ice fishing, playing cribbage, and many other activities together. One child, Jerald R. Lovell, was born in 1944. Russell Lovell was drowned in a boating accident in Ontario on June 10, 1951. Beulah married Lawrence M. Gallagher in 1955, and the couple remained married until 1984, when Mr. Gallagher passed away suddenly. They traveled, played cards, and enjoyed relaxing Sunday drives. No children were born of this marriage. Beulah worked as a bank teller for many years at the State Savings Bank, and its successors, in the main office in West Branch. She was always known for her friendly, cheerful manner, and for the care she took in her work, particularly in aiding elderly customers. She enjoyed the job greatly, especially in meeting and conversing with strangers who became friends. Beulah was a lifelong, active member of the Churchill Methodist Church, and served as secretary-treasurer of the Women’s Society of Christian Service for nearly two decades. She also taught Sunday School and adult Bible classes, and retained a keen interest in biblical studies throughout her adult life. Beulah enjoyed taking part in bake sales and other social and fundraising activities of the church. She was known especially for her cinnamon rolls and bread. Beulah enjoyed games of all sorts, especially cards and dominoes, doing difficult crossword puzzles, reading, traveling, rock collecting, and was known for her collection of models of birds. She had a lively curiosity about everything, and a keen wit, balanced by a sense of enduring wisdom. Beulah loved dogs and always had one for a pet. Her dogs lived to ripe old ages for the most part and were treated like royalty. Her last dog, Chloe, has been taken in by her son. Beulah is survived by her son, Jerald (Lynn) Lovell, four brothers and sisters, Dr. Burt Parliament, D. Joseph (Joyce) Parliament, Mary Duggan and Inez (Jack) Schubert, and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husbands, brothers Loren (Pat) and John (Charlotte) Parliament, brother in law Mickey (Mary) Duggan, and sister in law Arlee (Burt) Parliament. Visitation at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will be held on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 from 1-9 p.m. Services will be held at the Churchill Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2007, followed by burial next to Beulah’s first husband, Russell Lovell, at the Brookside Cemetery, West Branch. Rev. Donald J. Wojewski will officiate. In lieu of flowers, it was Beulah’s request that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Helping Hands or to the Churchill Methodist Church.