WALDOBORO — Betheo Madelyn "Bee" (Harkins) Davis, 97, of Waldoboro, passed away peacefully on Jan. 29, 2017, at her home in Waldobor,  after a day surrounded by the love and laughter of her children, grandchildren and nephews.

She was born on Kaler's Corner in Waldoboro on Feb. 3, 1919, and was the proud 1936 salutatorian of the first graduating class of Waldoboro High School. She raised three children and was a pillar in the lives of her eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Bee was known first and foremost for her fierce loyalty to her family and friends, and her wit and sense of humor. She was always armed with a story, a (often colorful) joke, an opinion on a world event and all the latest local news. Throughout her life, Bee overcame hardships with resilience and bravery that inspired and shaped her family.

Bee was a beautician in Damariscotta and Waldoboro for 58 years, welcoming friends into her in-home shop for the last five decades. For much of her life, she spent summer days on the shores of Hog Island with her children, siblings, nieces and nephews and grandchildren, as well as loving her many days spent with family on Damariscotta Lake. Despite losing her eyesight for the last two decades of her life, she lived alone – and continued to bake pies – until shortly before passing away. Bee always looked forward to her niece, Jackie Tait's, daily telephone call to solve the Word Jumble puzzle of the day. She was a true matriarch and she will be missed daily.

She is survived by her three children, Debbie Seaver and her husband, George, of Waldoboro, Donna Miller and her partner, Les Jordan, of Kingfield, and Dana Davis and his wife, Karen, of Waldoboro. She is survived by her grandchildren, Jonathan Seaver, Andy Seaver and his wife, Catherine, Erica Belyea Crosby and her partner, Scott Martin, Tanya Miller Blodgett and her husband, John Blodgett, Jessica Belyea Sproul and her husband, Paul Sproul, Laura Seaver Maley and her husband, William, Lynsey Belyea Ward and her partner, Todd Johnston, Amanda Miller and her partner, Larry Reed, and Nicholas Seaver; her great-grandchildren, Kelsie Grady, Devon Sproul, Tabbie Johnston, Richie Sproul, Amber Johnston, Cheyanne Greene, Noah Crosby, Madelyn Betheo Ward, Arianna Sproul, Josh Ward, Theo Maley, Zoe Seaver, Susie Maley and Elliott Seaver; and one great-great-grandson, Brantley Sproul.

Bee was predeceased by her parents, James William Harkins and Madeline Alice Clouse; and her beloved siblings, James and Jennie Harkins, Anna Harkins Witham and Byron Witham, Lois Harkins Davis and Lauriston Davis, Kelsey and Vera Harkins, and Paul and Bertha Harkins. She was also predeceased by her husband, Walter Davis; and several nephews and nieces.

She will be laid to rest with five generations of her family, and beside her beloved brother, Kelsey, in the Old German Church Cemetery in Waldoboro.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m., both to be held at Hall's of Waldoboro, 949 Main St. in Waldoboro, with the Rev. Bob Dorr officiating. Reception will following immediately at the VFW on Mill Street in Waldoboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bee's honor to New Hope for Women, P.O. Box A, Rockland, ME 04841, Maine Health Care at Home (formerly Kno-Wal-Lin), 15 Industrial Park Road, Saco, ME 04072 or a charity of your choice.

Hall's of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.