Beulah "Bea" Gladys Cordle went to her reward on January 24th, 2022; just hours short of her 97th birthday years. She was born to Frank and Sara McDonnell on January 25th, 1925, and was the first of their eight children. She was a talented and precocious child; and as a teenager, she won a jitterbug contest and was named Jitterbug Queen of Muskegon. In 1943, she married Thomas Lambert Cordle of Grayson, Kentucky, and they remained together for more than sixty years, until his passing in 2005. Ever the optimist, at age 82, she remarried Ben Grantham of Newaygo. Bea is survived by her children, Tom (Marilyn) Cordle of Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Ferrel (Lois) Cordle of Whitehall, Marquita (Charles) Bazany of Muskegon, Sandi Bernard of Newaygo, and Craig Cordle of Newaygo. She was also blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her infant son, Curtie, her grandson John, and both her husbands. Bea was a kind, caring, loving person, who gave of herself and her many talents freely, with no expectation of reward. She was much loved in return by all who were blessed to have known her. Like many in her family, Bea was an artist. In addition to her oil paintings and her drawings in pen and pencil, she worked in cloth, yarn, flour, sugar and other mediums of hearth and home. It would be impossible to list all the ways in which she gave of herself and her gifts during her long and fruitful life, but here's just a small sample: Working with "Kids Food Basket", she drew wonderful and detailed pictures of animals on thousands of lunch bags for needy kids; and at the bottom of each bag, she added "I Love You" in large letters. At the age of 95, the State of Michigan presented her with an award for her work with "Kids Food Basket", as well as a lifetime of tireless and selfless giving. The commendation was signed by the Governor and delivered to Bea personally by three of the Governor's representatives. That same year, she illustrated her first children's book, "I Am Never Too Me". During her long life, she baked and decorated dozens of fancy cakes for weddings of family members and friends. She also made dresses for brides and bridesmaids, and those, too, were works of art. Her work remains on display in innumerable photos in wedding albums and elsewhere. She also made countless cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, and showers ... dresses and matching cummerbunds for young folks to wear to their proms … hundreds of crocheted layettes for newborns, as well as crocheted hats donated to neonatal units at hospitals in Muskegon and Grand Rapids. She also made outfits for christenings … handmade Christmas gifts of all kinds … elaborate doll cradles fashioned from oatmeal boxes … stuffed animals from old coats reclaimed from Goodwill … and hundreds of pairs of crocheted slippers–the best slippers ever! That list doesn't begin to tell the story of Bea's accomplishments; and while doing all that, she somehow managed to raise five kids. And as she would be the first to tell you, that was her finest work. All in all, hers was a life well-lived, lived in the finest tradition of the Christian faith that teaches us it is better to give than receive and to put others before ourselves. May she rest in peace in the arms of her Savior. CELEBRATION OF Beulah's life according to her wishes with music from her family – Friday, January 28, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at the Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont MI 49412. Masks will be required at the services. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS – please consider memorial contributions to Kids Food Basket in Muskegon 1011 2nd Street Muskegon MI 49440. Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Cordle family online at www.crandellfh.com. Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel. 231-924-0800 To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Beulah G. Cordle, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. Funeral Service Fremont Chapel Friday, January 28, 2022 4:00 PM 7193 W 48th Street Fremont, Michigan 49412