Congratulations to this year’s Living Legend, Laura Mae Beaubien! In case you missed it, here is the nomination her son sent to us which earned her this honor.
By: Robert Beaubien, Son
Laura Mae Beaubien is my father’s hidden strength. Married at 19 years old, and for over 60 years, the two of them built a bond that could only be broken by the vow, “till death do we part.”
My stay-at-home mother attended to the household and raising of six children – yes six kids! I believe there’s nothing stronger than the love a Mother has for her children. She had so many hats she had to wear.
If one of us scraped our knee, she was there as the “Nurse” to patch us up and mother away our tears, always followed with a kiss that made it better. She would take all of us to the A&P to go shopping with a bandana covering her curlers, the “Beauty Queen” to us. As a “Financial Planner,” Mom saved S&H Green and Gold Bell stamps to get something free. She could get all of us ready for church in our best Sunday clothes faster than a “Pageant Coordinator.”
I learned that when I was called, and that call included my middle name, I was in for it, as mom the “Sheriff” taught me. We had to make our beds, pick up our clothes, feed the dog and other chores, thanks to mom the “Warden.” My Mother the “Teacher” taught us responsibility. She taught us to say ‘yes please,’ ‘no thank you,’ and to show respect . Her “Dale Evans” hat was earned as we moved from our beloved Michigan to an Oregon cattle ranch. She learned how to ride a horse, brand, and vaccinate cattle. As the “Chef,” she maximized menus that would feed us and the branding/buckaroo crew for days.
With all these hats, she found time for my Dad as a loving, caring soulmate for life. Now that we have our own lives, Mom and Dad were free to do the things they put off in their youth in order to raise us as a family believing in our faith, having respect of others, and doing what is right.
This free time as “Vacationers” was cut short as my Dad was told he had cancer. Wearing this “Caregiver” hat, my mother has strengths I’ll never be able to describe, as she was a devoted companion till the end, remaining strong for us kids. Their last long trip together – with mom as the “Navigator” – wasn’t to Hawaii, Miami, or Southern California, it was home to Michigan, where they visited family and friends. They made new friends like Bob Jacquart, as they visited one of Michigan’s landmarks, the Stormy Kromer factory.
With a birthday on Christmas eve, my Mom will be 80 but not alone, as she will share in the celebration of life with her “Walton “-like family of Beaubien’s, driving from all over the state of Oregon, to be with her on this Blessed holiday and birthday. My Mother made her life in a world that said ‘they were to young’ and lasted far beyond today’s marriages, raised a family, taught us new lessons and reminded us of the ones we let slide. I nominate my Mother Laura Mae Beaubien because she would be a superior role model and a person to aspire and emulate her life’s values of a mother’s love.
