Beatrice Darlene Carmichael

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother, peacefully passed away on September 4th, 2024 surrounded by the love of her family. She was 89 years old.  Bea was born in Blaine, Kansas on February 20, 1935 to Rosalie (Walsh) and Theodore O’Shea.  The family moved to Wapato, WA in 1938. Bea was the second of six children.  She was preceded in death by her sister Bernadine Romero and her first husband John Mauch and her second husband Larry, her sister Regina Hoier and her husband Bob, her sister Carolyn Carpenter, her brother James O’Shea and his wife Sherry, and sister-in-law Marilyn O’Shea, infant son Thomas Patrick, and many beloved relatives and friends. She is survived by her brother Kenneth O’Shea and his wife Jan and brother-in-law Clyde Carpenter, and numerous loved ones.

Bea graduated from Wapato High School in 1953. On June 7th, 1958, Bea married Dean Carmichael, who preceded her in death on May 26, 2002.  Dean sat behind Bea in the third grade. They also went to the same high school.  They had seven children, Dean (Linda) Carmichael, Jr., Shannon (Greg) Zia, Cindy (Doug) Taylor, Kenneth (Julie) Carmichael, Mike (Rachel) Carmichael, Tim (Josefina) Carmichael, and infant Thomas Patrick.  They have 10 grandchildren, Theresa (Jeremy), Michael (Gina), Sarah (Ben), Dean III, Candice (Eric), Allie, Alex (Elizabeth), Brandon (Aundrea), Hugh and Ivan; 14 great-grandchildren, Dylan (Nicole), McKendrie, Nik, Lexi, Benny, Sophia, June, Jackson, Cooper, Mickey, Hunter, Hadleigh, Aspen, and Griffin; one great-great grandchild Iyla.

Bea went to business college and got a degree in bookkeeping.  In 1969, the family moved from Eastern Washington to Tacoma.  She was a homemaker and bookkeeper. Bea worked for Ball Auto Service as a bookkeeper for several years. Dean and Bea ran the Ruston Liquor Agency.  Bea did the bookkeeping and ran the store for over twenty years.  She loved sewing when the kids were young, cooking delicious meals, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee, traveling, and being witty.

In her later years, Bea suffered from dementia.  Her wish was to stay in her home after Dean died, and she did just that.  She passed away in her home of 54 years in the same spot where Dean passed away 22 years ago, surrounded by the love of their family.

There will be a Rosary held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 18th at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel - 1002 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma.  The funeral service and mass will be at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Thursday, September 19 at 11am - 1123 N. J St., Tacoma, WA.  There will be a reception to follow which will honor Mom’s love of the social hour after mass - coffee, donuts and fruit will be served. Following the reception, graveside service will be held at Calvary Cemetery - 5212 70th St. W., Tacoma, WA. Her Celebration of Life will be held at the family home following the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity.