Beulah Ayers

Beulah E. Ayers was a loving and dedicated woman who brought joy to those around her. She was energetic and outgoing whether at home or with friends or traveling the local countryside or the vast nation. Her love for children didn’t stop at her own family but extended to hundreds of school children as well. Her service to her community reached into volunteer organizations, clubs and church. Beulah lived her life faithfully and happily.

Beulah Evelyn was the fifth child born to Lewis and Lela (Baldwin) Weller in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Her arrival on October 27, 1919 came a few months after the conclusion of the “war to end all wars.” Allied Powers had signed the Treaty of Versailles with Germany in June of that same year. With the end of the First World War that had claimed the lives of 67,000 Canadians, the nation was grateful to its service men and women and hopeful for the future.

In the prairies of Saskatchewan, the Wellers were eager to build the house they ordered from Sears and ready to move out of the temporary home they had dug into the sod of a hillside. However, when Beulah was six years old, the family of eight relocated to the Plainwell area of south central Michigan to be closer to family. They lived in the communities of Hopkins and Allegan before settling in the village of Martin, where Beulah graduated from high school in 1938.

Just before her 21st birthday, Beulah became the wife of Lyle Ayers on October 12, 1940. Their lives were enriched by the births of a son and daughter, and while the children were growing up, Beulah focused her attention on homelife. Beulah started driving the school bus for Martin public schools. It was a service she provided for 18 years.

The life that Beulah and Lyle had created was also filled with community involvement and fun. They loved to party as well as go mushroom hunting, fishing and traveling. Beulah especially enjoyed taking cruises and visiting Arizona and Florida. For many years, she played in a golf league in nearby Shelbyville and was active with Lyle in the VFW of Wayland. Beulah was proud of the public service they provided and equally committed to Martin United Methodist Church, where she was a member for over 50 years.

When Lyle died in 1987, Beulah was determined to stay focused on family. She excitedly welcomed great grandchildren and eventually great-great grandchildren into her life. It was obvious that Beulah loved being a grandmother and that her grandkids loved her in return, because they affectionately called her “Bumpy.”

For ten years, Beulah lived with her daughter Carol before moving to Life Care Center of Plainwell, where she spent the last several years.

Beulah E. Ayers, age 95 of Plainwell, Michigan passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Life Care Center of Plainwell. In her long life, she was loved as daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She will be missed and remembered by several generations who now live her legacy of love and devotion.

A funeral service for Beulah will be held on Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Martin United Methodist Church; 969 E. Allegan Street, Martin. Beulah was preceded in death by her husband Lyle, her great-grandson Jaryd Ford, 2 sisters and 3 brothers. She precedes her children Dave (Linda) Ayers and Carol Ayers, her grandchildren Mike French, Tom (Kim) Tungate, Christine Ford and Matt Clark, her great-grandchildren Jessica (Ryan) Shook, Jaryd, Jaxson and Jacob Ford and Sadie Lee French, her great- great grandchildren Coby, Ava, Ella and baby Jaryd is expected to arrive on Wednesday. Visit Beulah’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her complete life story and sign her guestbook. Memorial donations may be to the American Cancer Society.