Obituary - Beatrice "Cleo" Mayes

Beatrice "Cleo" Mayes, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away Tuesday, November 21st, at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, MT. She was 90.

Cleo was born August 8, 1933, in Durham, North Carolina, to Aldy and Lillie Shaw. She was raised with an older brother and two older sisters. She married Edward John Mayes on January 26, 1951, at the home of Elva, Ed's sister, and Claude Brown of Mount Airy, NC. In 1953, they moved to Montana because of Ed's asthma, which went away in this drier climate. They had fun camping on the ground in sleeping bags, until the morning she woke up with a snake under her! While in Great Falls, she worked at a jewelry store in the office and in the clothing section of Buttrey's. She also golfed, bowled, painted on canvas and took a ceramics painting class. Her beautiful seascape painting hangs in her granddaughter's home today. They spent about 10 years working in Great Falls and then moved up to Joplin to farm. They were blessed with one daughter, Bette Leigh. Cleo was an excellent seamstress and sewed for people for a time.

From a young age she loved to read and could be found up in a cherry tree reading books in her childhood. Other hobbies were jigsaw and crossword puzzles, as well as knitting and sewing. After Ed's passing in 2009, she moved to Havre to be near her family. She was always optimistic and had a great attitude. She will be sorely missed.

Cleo is survived by those whom she dearly loved and was so proud of: her daughter Bette (Cory) Pierson, granddaughter Savanna (Brenden) Munson and great grandson Albie. At her wishes, no services are planned. She will be buried next to her husband at the Joplin cemetery.