Bea M. Fortin, 74, Lewiston

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

On Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, Mom passed away quietly at her home with part of her family around her. She is now at peace and once again with her beloved husband, sister, brother and parents.

Bea fought hard for many years against the debilitating effects and complications from rheumatoid arthritis and a bad heart. Her body had succumbed to painful, crippling deterioration in her joints, but her spirit stayed strong and her faith in and love for her family kept her fighting for each and every day she got to stay on this Earth.

Mom was born Aug. 15, 1935, at Lewiston, to Curtis and Astrid Presby. Curtis Presby of Viola and Astrid Presby of Dunbar, Wis., had started in Lewiston where Grandpa worked at the mill. When Mom was 5, they moved to Viola to help out on the family farm. Mom grew up and went to school in Viola and Palouse, then graduated in 1953 from Moscow High School. Mom spent one year in college then met and married Bill Chandler. Living in Lewiston, they had four children. Bill was killed in 1962.

After being on her own for four years, she met and married Jim Creviston. They had three more children. In 1982 they divorced, but Mom later met and married the love of her life, Alvin Fortin. They were married in 1984 and happily shared 24 years of marriage until Al's death in 2008.

Bea was a stay-at-home mom until 1982, when she was forced to find work outside the home. She took a job at the HideAway as a cook, then later at Chestnut Insurance Agency as a secretary. She then went to work for the state of Idaho in the Health and Welfare Department as a secretary until she retired.

Mom belonged to ESA, a women's philanthropic group, for 54 years. She was state president and held every other state, district and local office multiple times. She was elected Girl of the Year and honored with a ceremony for 50 years of service. She was very proud of her time in, and of the friendships she made, in sorority.

Mom was a very devoted mother, wife and friend. She took great pride in her children and grandchildren. She had seven children of her own and two others she always claimed, Melissa Hewett and her nephew, Tony Presby, because she helped in raising and caring for them since they were infants. When Mom married Al, she was glad to accept his daughters into our family. She had a total of 19 grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly.

Mom is survived by five aunts and uncles; a sister, Joyce Presby of Moscow; sister-in-law Kathy Presby of Lewiston; five nieces and nephews; and her children, Brenda Chandler and Bill Rogers, Karla Chandler Morelock, Jeff and Bev Chandler, Brian and Judy Chandler, Lori Creviston and Darryl Wassmuth, Cheryl Creviston and Chuck Riddle, and Greg and Monica Creviston; Terry Fortin and Gary Kalmbach of Keuterville, Tracy Fortin and Rick Rogers of Grain Valley, Mo.; and her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two aunts; her brother, Richard Presby of Viola; her sister, Phyllis Presby of Lewiston; a nephew; and her husband.

We loved Mom dearly and will miss her immensely, but we know she is now in the arms of the Lord and with the family and friends who went before her. No longer in pain, we can only look forward to the day we will be with her again. Thank you to everyone who loved and befriended our mother. You made her life full and she was ever grateful to everyone who touched her life.

We will be honoring Mom at 10 a.m. Monday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home in Lewiston. There will be a luncheon immediately following at 326 17th Ave. in Lewiston, and a short graveside service at 3 p.m. at Viola Cemetery.