OXFORD – Ida L. Easley Beckwith, 88, of Oxford, passed away Monday, Oct. 4, 2010 after an extended stay at the Binghamton General Hospital.
Ida was the daughter of Henry and Laura Taylor Morton Easley and was born on March 27, 1922 in Dexter, Maine. She was a graduate of the Dexter High School and served as a stenographer/typist for the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C. during World War II. She moved to the Oxford area in 1955 and on Nov. 24, 1955 in Oxford married Paul L. Beckwith who passed away Feb. 25, 1985. Following her marriage she became a devoted and dedicatd wife and mother.
Ida was an avid artist, painting landscaps and seascapes from all over. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Ida would start early in the fall every year to make mittens or socks for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was well known for her cooking and baking as well as her canned and frozen goods. In later years Ida enjoyed the fellowship of the Faith Bible Church of Oxford, where she was a member and also served as the church historian.
Ida is survived by her children, Ray (Pat) Merritt of Greene, Rich (Donna) Beckwith of Smithville, E. Helen Brown of Cortland, her step-son Morris (Retha) Beckwith of Smithville and step-daughter Shirley Swayze of Smyrna. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Robert, Charles, Lori, Scott, Rebecca, Jodie, Chrissie, Sandra, Karen, Courtney, Jonathon, Jacob and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Ida is also survived by her brother-in-law Donald Morar of Mahopac, and a sister-in-law Doris Easley of Elliot, Maine. Several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews also survive.
Besides her husband of 30 years Paul, Ida was predeceased by her parents Henry and Laura Easley, her brothers, Ernest, Frank and Harry Easley, her sisters Elizabeth Easley, Mary Martin, Helen Sullivan and Susan Morar, a granddaughter Lisa Merritt Randall and her mother-in-law Minnie Edna Beckwith.
A funeral service for Ida will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Norman Holtz, pastor of the Faith Bible Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetry of Oxford.
Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday from 7-9 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Faith Bible Church, P.O.Box 128, Oxford, NY 13830.