Betty Jean Bean

BARRE – Betty Jean (Farnham) Bean, “Mrs. Blinky”, 82, of Cedar Street passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at her home with her family by her side.

Born on February 10, 1941, in Washington, she was the daughter of Kenneth W. and Irene (Prescott) Farnham.  Mom grew up in Barre on Cedar Street and lived there all her life. She attended Trow Hill School and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1959.

On February 3, 1962, she married Lester “Blinky” Bean.  They had three daughters Tammy Sue Bly of North Carolina, Cynthia Bean and her partner, David Jacobs of Barre, and Karen Lynn (Bean) Davenport and her husband, Michael of Orange.

In her early years, Betty waitressed in Barre until she married Blinky then she was a stay-at-home mother. After her children grew up, she returned to work within the Barre school system with the lunch program and in student support positions. When Blinky retired, she did as well, and they began traveling. They went cross country in their motorhome and saw 45 out of the 50 states. They traveled to Bermuda and the Caribbean and took a few cruises to enjoy their retirement. They purchased a Honda trike and when they began wintering in Florida, they brought it with them.  Everyone who knew mom, knew her sense of humor and how she loved to make others smile.

Betty enjoyed being a Girl Scout Leader, tending to her flower gardens, riding in parades and going to car shows in the trucks Blinky built. She was an avid Betty Boop memorabilia collector which earned her the nickname “Betty Boop”. Shopping, especially with her grandchildren, was a favorite hobby. Christmas was “her” holiday. Traveling hundreds of miles all over New England to large stores and malls.

Survivors include her husband, Lester (Blinky) Bean, her three daughters, her four grandchildren Robbie LaPerle, Jessica Davenport, Samantha Bly and Amber Sherman; her four great-grandchildren Robert LaPerle, Addison Smego, and Oliver and Leah Sherman; her brother Kenneth Farnham, Jr., of Orange; and her Aunt Rachel Rich of Northfield as well as many cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Donna Downing Holden.

A gathering to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Barre American Legion, Post #10, 320 North Main Street, Barre.  There are no calling hours.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice for the excellent care that Betty received in her final days.