Catherine Imelda “Mel” Beam 96, The Villages, FL passed away on November 25, 2023. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Walter Robert “Bob” Beam Sr. She was born in Louisville Kentucky to the late George Paul Mattingly and Theresa Schwoeppe Mattingly on October 31, 1927.
She spent several years of her youth in Loretto KY, but grew up in the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville. As the oldest of seven children, she had many good stories of life in the post-depression era. She graduated from Ursuline Academy in 1945, where she played the drums in the school band. She was a Candy Striper hospital volunteer at St. Joseph Infirmary. After high school, she went to work for Bell Telephone in the billing department where she became proficient using the Comptometer. She was later promoted to manager of the billing clerks. She married Bob in 1950. After her first child in 1953, she
resigned to stay home and save money for the family. She was an excellent artist and seamstress. She loved making clothes for herself and family members.
In 1964, the family moved to Carthage Missouri. She enjoyed the small-town environment, had many friends and enjoyed playing golf, bridge, and poker with friends. She was very active for the St. Ann’s church and school, where her children attended. She was committed member of the St Ann’s Alter Society. After retirement, they relocated back to Louisville in 1993, where they were reunited with family. They were very involved with St Albert the Great Catholic Church and St Al’s Aces, a senior group at church. She is survived by two sons, Bob (Susan) Beam Jr of The Villages, FL and Ed (Gidge) Beam also
of The Villages, FL; a daughter Deborah Beam Welch of Greensboro, NC; one sister, Ann Wolford; two brothers Ken (Mary) Mattingly and Bill (Diane) Mattingly; brother-in-law Dennis Smith, all of Louisville; three sisters-in-law, Meveral Rickert of Danbury, CT, Sara (Tom) Reynolds of Union, KY, and Toni Beam of Louisville; seven grandchildren: Jennifer Beam, Jaclyn Beam, Sara Beam Stevens, Brian Beam, Jordan Welch, Andy Cole, and Chelsey Cole Baker; and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband of 68 years, she was preceded in death by three sisters: Rose Mullaney, Norma Abrams, and Paula Smith.
A Funeral Mass will be at 1:00 pm on December 9 at St Vincent DePaul Catholic church,
Wildwood, FL. A future burial service will be at the Calvary Cemetery Chapel, Louisville, KY. In
lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, Tavares
FL or to a charity of one’s choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DignityMemorialWildwood.com for the Beam family.
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