Obituary of Elita Raye Beaulieu

Elita Raye Beaulieu, (known as Raye) the second child of Donald and Nina Ness, was born on April 10th, 1950 in Stettler Alberta. While still a young child the family moved to the Peace Country, settling in the Progress area. In 1956 they made the move into town. Raye, by now part of a family of four children, attended school in Dawson Creek. The children were all quite small when their father died, and eventually their Mother remarried and was to have another five children. Raye would lay claim to each new sibling that came along and was very involved in their care. Altho she loved all of her brothers and sisters equally she and Judy were especially close. Ray was just sixteen when she began to have serious heart problems. She along with two brothers had contracted rheumatic fever at the same time and she had sustained life long complications from the disease. At sixteen, she had a defective heart valve stretched, had open heart surgery to replace the valve in 1974, and again in 1988. Through the hard times Raye was never to lose her compassionate and caring ways, always putting others before herself. Raye met Richard Beaulieu and they were married in September of 1969. Their son Ritchie came on the scene in December of 1971 and Raye was truly ecstatic. A couple of years later she and Richard would lose a baby girl (Robin) born four months premature. A difficult time in all their lives. Eventually Ritchie married (Tammy Wilson) and they blessed Raye and Richard with two grandsons, Ryan and Riley. How she treasured them all. Raye was gifted in many ways. She enjoyed crafting, knitting and crocheting. Everything she did was with others in mind. If anyone was totally selfless it would have been Raye. She loved family gatherings and functions. Christmas was a special time of joy. Raye gave generously of her time to youth bowling for several years and to babysitting nieces and nephews. It is impossible to describe Raye in a few short paragraphs. She was a very special woman. Strong and courageous, with grace and compassion, possessing a gentle spirit. Raye will live on in the hearts of the people she loved and who loved her. Raye was predeceased by her father, Donald Ness and her Mother Nina Zwilling; her daughter Robin, and her Grandmother Mable Rogers. She is survived by; her loving husband Richard, son Ritchie (Tammy) and Grandsons, Ryan and Riley. Brothers and Sisters; Paul (Arlene) Ness, Howard (Stella) Ness, Myrna (Lance) Hayter, Jackie (Merle) Shuman, JoAnn (Chris) Burke, Jeff Venker, Judy (Dewey) Evans, Jay Venker, Ava Kilkenny, Shad (Kathy) Lundquist and Harvey Zwilling, as well as many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews. A Memorial service was held on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 at 2PM from Reynars Chapel in Dawson Creek, Beverly Dunsmore officiated. Interment followed in the Brookside Cemetery. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium