Beatrice Emily Winn

born January 12, 1920

*Springfield, Baca county, Colorado

the oldest daughter of Jerry Lemon Winn and Cecil Emily Parkinson

* Lamar, per obituary

Printable Portrait

Bleak Beginnings in Colorado

In 1917, Bea's grandfather, Joe, and her father Lem, were homesteading in desolate Baca county, Colorado while 3 other sons were serving in the Great War. During these years, they proved up their claims. Around 1926, they sold their lands and moved back to Protection, Kansas.

• Bea was born in Springfield in 1920
• Myrtle Mae, her dad's sister, was married in Springfield in 1921.

Reflections of a Son by Randy C. Smart

Mom seemed to see into the minds of others--either very empathetic or simply very wise. She asked why people acted the way they did and then wondered what caused them TO feel that way. She was loved by all who knew her, including her four boys.

She was a facilitator as well as an advocate of those in need, quietly helping others with the necessities they were hard-pressed to provide themselves. She was pro-active, seLf-assured and usually had a couple of strong boys at her disposal. To her thinking, there is always someone who can use a little help.

Dad was away much of the time--moving around with the railroad. She was resourceful and soon realized this lifestyle allowed her to test her resolve. Her successes validated her approach to life--her failures provided needed lessons. She quietly got wiser with time, making life look easy along the way.

She never grieved for what she didn't have but rather, counted herself blessed. She realized that all people suffer from one thing or another. Neither the rich, nor the religious, have a lock on happiness.

Mom worked first as a waitress. Eventually motherhood required most of her time. She had worked through any frivolous delusions early on and approached raising her children with her usual progressive nature. She was there when we needed her and she didn't miss a thing that went on in a house of four boys!

Eventually, with the older boys in the Navy and the younger two in school, she got a responsible older woman to live in as "nanny" while she returned to work, giving all she had to managing the Greyhound Bus in Atwater, California and partnering in the local taxi service. Together with other odd endeavors, she ran the bus depot and taxi out of the old Southern Pacific railway station until it was torn down--partly by Ralph and kids for salvage of the tongue-and-groove lumber.

She moved across the street and continued running her enterprises until moving to Tracy around 1962, where she began a long career at the Sears catalog store. She was always a hard worker and adored by co-workers. She took an interest in everything around her and maintained a cheerful and helpful outlook all the time.

She canned tomatoes and fruit, pickled cucumbers and made delicious home-made relish and bread. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many of the families clothes, rugs, and quilts. She readily shared her time and skills with other mothers.

Voice Recordings

Her Life in Pictures

Bea didn't keep a lot of pictures of herself. This is one of the few pictures found (in her album) of her during her earlier years.

She spent a few years in Colorado before moving to Washington when??? She we too young to remember much of it other than living in a dugout and enduring windstorms.

The picture is pretty damaged. Here is a restoration by Steve Moser.

Bea did a lot of baby-sitting of her younger brothers and sister and some other children. But her first job was working for Ramsey Ice Cream as a waitress.

It was on a trip to the park in Wenatchee park (kids in tow) that she met a young man she would eventually marry.

Taken at Icicle--in the mountains near Wenatchee--where the young adults went to have drinks away from the crowd.

Bea is having a real belly-laugh with her glasses off, which was unusual for her. Is it possible she had a snoot full?

Bea in her finest prairie attire.

~1936-8 ?

I believe this is her outfit for waitressing at the ice cream parlor in Wenatchee.

She either made it or altered it for work as she was real handy with a needle.

Be with Dewayne and Randy at the farmhouse in Madera around 1952.

Bea was the strong one during the early years in Madera when Ralph was sick for a long time with an unknown illness.

She was a mom with a gentle but firm touch.

Mom bought her own Volkswagen eventually. She was the very picture of a liberated woman and understood this very well.

About 1959-60?

Atwater/Merced?

Marriage in Wenatchee, Washington

Bea married only one time. She married Ralph Smart in Wenatchee, Chelan Co., Washington on November 15, 1939 at 7 PM. The Schaefers, Ralph's little sister and her then husband, stood up for them.

Four Sons in Madera, California

Working Life

Very little is said here about Bea's working endeavors yet she was an incredible liberated working woman, way before it was fashionable. Her extensive "supervision" of younger siblings, coupled with her empathetic nature, led to her natural leadership qualities being obvious. She served ice cream and coffee where she learned to count change. From there it was management of the Greyhound Bus Depot, etc. leading her to Sears, where there was some sharing of the profits.

Working at Sears was my first job... Worked for Dave McNinch. Bea was my trainer and Mentor. I remember how she taught me how to make coffee for the employees (I opened the store at 4AM to receive the Truck with all of the catalog orders) and she also taught me to not throw away the "returned" Christmas Fruit Cakes (they's last for months and made for good snacks will into Spring!). Love that Lady! Best Regards, jim pierce March 19, 2013

Passing in Sequim, Washington

Beatrice Emily Smart Obituary - Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, Washington

Funeral services for Beatrice Emily Smart, 62, were held at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Sequim, on Monday, November 15. Burial was in Mt. Angeles Memorial Park. Bishop Michael Millet officiated. Arrangements were by Sequim Valley Chapel.

Mrs. Smart died in Port Angeles on Thursday, November 10, She was born on January 12, 1920 in Lamar, Colorado, the daughter of Jerry and Cecil Winn. She married Ralph W. Smart on November 15, 1939 at Wenatchee, Wa. He survives at the family residence in Sequim.

The Smart's lived in Sequim for the past 7-1/2 years, coming to the area from Tracy, California. Mrs. Smart was a member of the Sequim Ward - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Sequim Prairie Grange.

Survivors include her husband Ralph; mother, Cecil Clements of Roseville, California; sons: Jack of Port Angeles, Randy of Pismo Beach, California, Gary of Sequim and Dewayne of Manchester, New Hampshire; ten grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; brothers Floyd Winn of San Carlos, California, Jerry Winn of Lake Don Pedro, California and Curtis Winn of Roseville, California; and sister: Shirley Caudell of Wenatchee.

Pallbearers were: Jack Smart, Gary Smart, Levern Smart, Lowell Smith, Clarence Blackburn and Randy Smart.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.