Elizabeth Maria Cameron (Hawes), daughter of Leroy and Sylvia Cameron was born August 27th 1962. Beth grew up in Portland, Oregon with her siblings Brad and Valerie. She attended Portland Public Schools, graduating from Washington Monroe High School in 1980. Beth was blessed with a beautiful voice and a vivacious personality which she shared with us daily. Beth’s young life was filled with a love of the performing arts. One of her favorite roles was playing Lucy Van Pelt in 4th grade and singing a solo – a love song to Schroeder. Beth continued to study music and piano through high school and enjoyed singing and performing in school plays and Mr. Gissell’s choir and Choralier’s Singing Group. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed being on Junior Varsity and Varsity Rally. She will be remembered by her school friends as being friendly, talented and vibrant.
Beth attended Oregon State University graduating with an Education Degree in 1985. She was a proud and active member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and participated in many community events, musicals and fundraisers. Beth was a huge OSU Beaver fan and loved watching Civil War games with her family and friends.
Beth’s passion in life was educating children. She taught over a thousand children to read and sing during her 31 year tenure with Portland Public Schools as an elementary school teacher. The majority of her teaching years were spent in her 1st and 2nd grade classrooms. Beth’s classroom was a reflection of her kindness, creativity and dedication that she shared with her students through her love of reading, poetry, art and music. She will be missed, but not forgotten, as her legacy will live on through the hearts and minds of her students and community.
We couldn’t agree more with this recent quote from one of her 2nd grade students:
“Dear Ms. Hawes, I love you. You have always been so thoughtful and good to me, I‘ll love you for all my life.”
Beth retired in 2019 after 33 years of teaching. She celebrated by hosting a family celebration at the Oregon coast, one of her favorite retreats. Beth was deeply dedicated to her family and supported each member in individual ways her whole life. After her mother’s passing in 2010, Beth continued to care for her community, family, friends and her father, until her passing on January 15th.
Family, friends and students will remember Beth for her caring, compassionate and generous nature. She strove to make the lives of others better, and this gift will live on as her legacy.
Beth is survived by her father, Leroy; her siblings, Brad and Valerie; her nieces and nephews Paige, Laura, Sean, Aiden, Sophia, Olivia; grandnephew, Scott; and numerous cousins and extended family throughout the country. We will all miss her deeply.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Oregon Food Bank or charity of your choice in Beth’s honor.
A graveside ceremony will be held at 1 p.m., July 17, 2021, at Douglass Pioneer Cemetery in Troutdale, Ore.
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