Mary Ludlow Ramsdell Beal passed away on March 2, 2024, at her residence, the Converse Home in Burlington. She was born on Sept. 12, 1927, in Newburgh, N.Y., to Homer and Marion (Cook) Ramsdell. Mary graduated from the Knox School, attended Wheaton College, graduated from Mount Saint Mary's College and earned a MA from New York University. She was married to John W. Beal and they resided in Newburgh for many years.

Mary was a special education teacher and tutor. She was a gifted gardener and a member of the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties. She loved skiing and golf. She enjoyed biking, tennis, sailing and travel. Dabbled in sculpture, painting and poetry. Never stopped learning, her last intellectual challenge was Aramaic Greek. She loved animals, children and music. She spent several years as an EMT and gave her time to countless charitable endeavors. She was a special friend to young people and will be fondly remembered by those to whom she gave her time, advice and affection. Mary was an Episcopalian and also joined the Order of Saint Francis. In later years she became a member of the Adirondack Garden Club where she shared her encyclopedic knowledge of horticulture and passion for the control of invasive species.

Before her last move to Burlington she spent several happy years at Lake Forest in Plattsburgh, a decade in Westport, a decade in Rockport, Mass. She created amazing gardens at all of her houses.

She was predeceased by her parents, sisters Ruth Holden and Leila Rich, husband, daughter Elizabeth Bowman, and great-grandson Malcolm Bennoune. She is survived by her children and spouses, Cornelia and Peter Forrence, John and Sharon Beal and Matthew Beal. She also leaves six grandchildren and their spouses - Erica Bowman and Rob Willett, Alix Bowman and Kamel Bennoune, Henry Forrence, John and Alexa Beal, Leila and Michael Gigliotti, Sarah and David Kenyon. She also leaves seven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and, finally, many friends and admirers of all ages.

There will be a memorial service for Mary at Saint John's Church in Essex, N.Y., on Saturday, August 17th, at 3. Her ashes will be interred in the fall at Saint George's Cemetery in Newburgh.