Beatrice TALMADGE Obituary (1923 - 2008) - Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Beatrice Talmadge, of Lake Havasu City, AZ; passed away on November 16, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.Bea was born in Middletown, OH; on August 29, 1923. It was there that she met her future husband, Clint. They were married in Montgomery, AL; on April 23, 1943, and remained together until Clint's passing in 1996. Life for the couple was anything but dull. They enjoyed traveling around the United States while Clint was in the Army Air Corp.From that point it was Bea's turn to shine. She was a true pioneer, and her accomplishments were many. After a friendship with Merle Norman, founder of the cosmetic empire, Bea opened the first of her numerous Merle Norman Cosmetics Studios.The Talmadge's travels were far and wide. There were used as a billboard couple advertising a resort hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, and spent many leisure hours as guests of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford at their Picfair California estate.Their move to Lake Havasu came in 1980, when the couple decided to leave the Merle Norman stores in the care of their children and retire to their sunny paradise. They joined the Relics & Rods in the mid 80's and enjoyed their classic Studebakers.Bea was active in the Lake Havasu Chamber, Democratic Women's Association, Toastmasters International, and wrote a weekly newspaper column called "Beauty for the Asking."Bea is survived by her son, Steven (Rosemary) of Toledo, OH; daughters, Cynthia Blanchard (Robert) of Lake Orion, MI; Sandra Schreiner of Lake Havasu City, AZ; five grandchildren, Scott, Kristy, Andrew, John, Paul and two great-grandchildren.Services will be held at Lakeview Community Church on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. Words of wisdom and inspiration will be expressed by Pastor Dale Ray.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Havasu, P.O. Box 597, Lake Havasu City, AZ; 86405.Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.