Obituary of Marie T. Beck

Marie Teresa Philomena McDowell Beck was born into eternal life on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 12:05 p.m. in Newnan, GA, in an embrace of love and prayer, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, surrounded by her daughters Maureen Campbell, Tricia Nixon, Barbara Kookogey, granddaughter, Maureen Kookogey, and son in law, Steve Campbell. Marie was born in Lurgen, County Armagh, N. Ireland on January 1, 1927 to James and Anne Jane Dowds McDowell. She was a tiny 3 lb. baby imbued with a powerful spirit that would serve her throughout her life and as an inspiration to others. She lost her parents when she was a little girl, so she and her brother, Brendan, were placed in the Nazareth House orphanage in Belfast, where they were raised separately and saw each other, throughout their youth, only through the fence that separated the girls’ and boys’ facilities. She was taught how to care for babies and when her brother signed her out of the orphanage when she was 18, she gained employment as a nanny in Surrey, England. Meanwhile, her extended family was in the process of emigration to the United States; one family member would come to the U.S., work and make enough money to send for another. Her brother encouraged her to go to the U.S with the help of family to start a new life. Upon her arrival to Newark, N.J. in 1949, she gained employment with Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Kalb, who came to regard her as a daughter. She became a U.S. citizen in 1956. On a trip to Titusville to visit her Aunt Mary, she met her future husband, Walter Beck, when they both served as godparents for the same baby. The Kalbs hosted her wedding reception at their home on January 28, 1956 after the wedding ceremony at St. Patrick’s Chapel in Newark. She and Walter lived in Titusville throughout their marriage, where they raised seven children. She took complete care of Walter in the last 20 years of his life. His doctors, nurses, and EMTs marveled at the quality of care she gave, thinking she was a nurse. Walter preceded her in death in 1998. She was known for knitting Christmas stockings for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other loved ones, who count hanging their stockings every year among their most precious traditions and memories of Marie. Listening to her Irish accent was also loved by all who knew her. She regarded many of her children’s friends and in later years, their children, as her own, especially Sue Hawk Finn of Miramar, FL and her daughters, Jesika, Amy, and Tarin, and nieces, Kelsey and Mary Hawk. She also cared for several Titusville children while their parents worked. She counted these children among her grandchildren as well. All of the children called Marie “Grammy”. She was a member of St. Titus parish, where she was active in the Altar and Rosary Society and Rosary Makers. She also worked as the cafeteria director for St. Titus School in the late 1970’s into the mid-1980’s. After her daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and Steve Campbell, moved from Titusville to Newnan, GA, Marie spent over half of every year in Newnan. She created a full life in Newnan, including working as a teacher’s aide at the Newnan Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten, where her daughter, Barbara Kookogey, is director. She was well loved by the children, their parents, and staff members of the preschool, especially Maribel Hazelton and Anna Insolia. She attended St. George’s Catholic Church while in Newnan. In addition, she enjoyed gardening, watching hummingbirds come to the feeder in her garden, and spending time with her faithful pet, Liam, dear friends, Paul Voisin, Pat and Dewey Williams, and Betty Barlog, and especially her grandchildren. She loved her hot tea; the tea kettle was always on the boil at her house. She is survived by children, Anne Turner and husband Richard of Pleasantville; Maureen Campbell and husband Stephen of Newnan, GA; Patricia Nixon of Titusville; Karen Frelick and husband Joe of Centerville; Barbara Kookogey and husband John of Newnan, GA; and Kevin Beck and wife Gretta of McDonald, PA; grandchildren Jennifer Turner Gossett and husband Ashley of Chesapeake, VA; Leslie Turner Kutney and husband Chris of Northampton, PA; Sean Beck of Titusville; David Turner and wife Renee of Titusville; Matthew Kookogey of Knoxville, TN; Aidan Campbell of Misawa, Japan; Ian Campbell of Rota, Spain; Kevin Kookogey of Columbus, GA; Douglas Turner of Whitehall, PA; Maureen Kookogey of Newnan, GA; and Christa Tenney of Titusville; great grandchildren William Porter and Lauren Gossett of Chesapeake, VA; Samuel and Evan Kutney of Northampton, PA; and Ryan and Claire Turner of Titusville, She is also survived by her cousin, Irene “Teasie” Wilson, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Brendan McDowell, son, Brendan Beck, and twin great grandsons, Ian and Nathan Kutney. Friends may call on Sunday, December 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gordon B. Garrett funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 17 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Titus Church with Fr. Walter E. Packard officiating. Interment will be in St. Catharine’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Newnan Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten, 38 Greenville St., Newnan, GA, 30263, Attn: Karen Geeter, financial director. FLOWERS