Evelyn J. Beetle, 94

Evelyn Jefferson Beetle, of Belmont, passed away June 27, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was 94.

She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Evelyn had lifelong ties to the Lakes Region, first visiting the area as a 2-week-old infant on Labor Day in 1930.

The daughter of John and Muriel (Russell) Jefferson, she was born Aug. 18, 1930, and grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts. Her family spent their summers in Belmont, New Hampshire, where they owned a home and acreage along the shores of Lake Winnisquam.

Evelyn graduated from Belmont High School in 1948, and attended business school.

She met her husband, Harvey Lee Beetle, while boating on Lake Winnisquam as a young girl. They were friends for many years and married in the fall of 1949. They made their first home in Westwood, Massachusetts, later moving to Walpole, Massachusetts, where they raised their family.

Evelyn and Harvey had four children. Their oldest son, John Steven Beetle, died at age 10 of leukemia in 1960.

Evelyn was also predeceased by her husband, Harvey Beetle, her brother, John “Jackie” Jefferson Jr., who died of leukemia at 15 years old in 1945; her parents and three older siblings — Jim Jefferson, Elinor Shatzer and Ruth Russell; and aunts and uncles.

Evelyn is survived by three of her children: Jeffrey Lee Beetle and his wife, Wendy, of Ormond Beach, Florida; Allan Russell Beetle and his wife, Jennifer, of Laconia; and Janice Ripley Beetle and her husband, Steven Roberts, of Laconia. She also leaves six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Jeffrey and Allan Beetle, and their wives, own Patrick’s Pub and Eatery in Gilford, and daughter Janice owns a PR business. Evelyn was very proud of her children’s successes and their involvement and generosity in the community.

Even as an adult, Evelyn continued to spend summers on Lake Winnisquam, living in a camp her father built on the family’s land on Jefferson Road. She took pleasure in the fact that the road was named for her father — by her father-in-law, Joseph Ripley Beetle, who also owned land on Winnisquam.

Evelyn was a homemaker who was talented, creative and determined. She enjoyed sewing, making crafts and gardening, landscaping — by herself — the sprawling yard at the family’s lake camp, building extensive stone walls and brick and flagstone patios.

Evelyn was also a golfer later in her life and waterskied on Lake Winnisquam for many years, including on her 70th birthday. As a child, Evelyn was the first resident to own water skis and go skiing on Lake Winnisquam.

Evelyn was a loyal friend to many longtime friends who predeceased her. She was an elaborate entertainer and enjoyed planning themed parties. She also enjoyed playing cards and games with family and friends, and telling stories.

She will be remembered for her generosity, thoughtfulness, incredibly sharp wit and sassy spirit. She instilled in each of her children a respect for hard work, fierce determination and a strong moral compass.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services are handling the arrangements. There will be no public services.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Granite VNA, which provided exceptionally compassionate hospice services, and Taylor Community, who took care of Evelyn for seven years — like she was one of their own.