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| Birthplace: Everett, Washington |
| Last Resided in: Little Rock, Arkansas |
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| Obituary |
Joan Beardsley was born Joan Leslie
Caldwell in Everett, MA on Sept. 26,
1942. She graduated from Arlington
High School in Arlington, MA, in 1960,
where she me her future husband, Dick
Beardsley. Joan graduated from
Wellesley College in 1964 with a degree
in chemistry. That year, she and Dick
were married.
Joan worked as a medical researcher
before relocating to Tacoma, WA, after
Dick joined the Air Force; he was
stationed at McChord Air Base. Her
oldest son, David, was born in Tacoma
on December 1, 1965.
Joan and Dick fell in love with the
Pacific Northwest, but they left in
1967 as Dick began a career in
journalism. They settled first in
Providence, RI, where their daughter
Jennifer was born on January 3, 1968,
and then moved to Indiana and Georgia.
They returned to the Northwest in 1974,
settling permanently in Bellingham.
Joan and Dick adopted a son, Stephen,
and daughter, Bethany, on February 10,
1975. Since then, the Beardsleys have
celebrated February 10th as “Family
Day.”
Having a family of her own convinced
Joan to become a teacher. She holds a
Masters Degree in Science Education
from WWU and taught science in the
Bellingham Public Schools for nearly 30
years. Joan was among the first
teachers nationwide to earn National
Board Certification. She won the
American Chemical Society’s Northwest
Regional High School Chemistry Teacher
Award in 2003 and a Christa McAuliffe
Award for Excellence in Education in
1994. She was a finalist for the
Presidential Award for Excellence in
Science Teaching.
After retiring from teaching, Joan
remained publicly active. She was
elected to City Council in 2005, after
serving five years on the Bellingham
Planning Commission. She also served
on the board of the Interfaith
Coalition and a number of other
community organizations. A devoted
music lover, Joan sang with the Whatcom
Chorale and was an active supporter of
the Bellingham Music Festival, which
she and Dick helped to found.
In retirement, Joan advised other
teachers seeking National Board
Certification and remained active in
educational causes. She was especially
concerned about the decreasing number
of young woman studying and pursuing
careers in science and mathematics.
For that reason, a scholarship fund has
been established in her name, with
awards to go to a worthy science or
math student. Memorial donations to
the fund may be made to Bellingham
Dollars for Scholars – Joan Beardsley
Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 5213
Bellingham, WA 98227.
Joan died on March 12, 2007, in Little
Rock, AR, where doctors were treating
her for multiple myeloma. She is
survived by her sons, David and
Stephen; her daughters, Jennifer and
Bethany; her parents, Marion and
Douglas Caldwell; and her sisters,
Linda Dancy and Kathy Shetlar. She
was “Nana” to eight grandchildren
(Kendall, Samantha, Brady, Caitlin,
Jacob, Joshua, Emma, and Carter) and
had and many nieces and nephews.
A Vigil Service will be held at Church
of the Assumption on Thursday, March
29th at 7 PM. Mass will be held at
Church of the Assumption on Friday,
March 30th at 10:30 AM, followed by a
reception at the Church. |
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Obituary and Photos
