Beulah Mae Ford Rider passed away on October 5, 2018, at home, in Corralitos at the age of 91.
She was born in Mississippi, the second oldest child of Susie and John Ford, the family moved to California where she graduated from Watsonville High School. After graduation she worked as a bookkeeper at a Watsonville car dealership. She was dared by her girlfriends to invite Allison Rider to a dance; they married in Carmel in 1954 and moved to Corralitos to begin their 62 years of devoted marriage and partnership. She was Auntie Mae to numerous nieces and nephews, mom to five children: Deborah, John, Ken, Ron, and Ali; and Granma to grandchildren Joel, Courtney, Luke, and Ciara, and great-grandchildren Jalen, Hana and Makena. Beulah’s passion was nurturing her family; they meant everything to her. She loved working in her garden of both flowers and vegetables. Her home cooked meals made all feel welcome; her kids knew there was always enough for an extra guest at the dinner table. She taught both sons and daughters to cook, bake pies and cookies, make fruit jams, and Ron has taken ownership of the Dilly Bean pickle recipe. Beulah and Allison were second-generation candy makers and would be very happy that the caramel and chocolate making will continue for successive generations.
Beulah often said her favorite place in the entire world was their Corralitos hillside home. She found a special serenity in the native oak and redwood trees, and in watching the many birds, butterflies and native animals that visited the gardens. Snakes and lizards were respected for their beneficial roles but not enjoyed. She also enjoyed traveling through most of the states, New England in the fall was one of her favorites as well as the special memories of trips to Canada, Ireland, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and especially the spring in Holland, that were precious to her as shared good times with friends and family members over the years. She was a leader for Cub Scout and 4-H groups, and a member of Chapter JB, P.E.O.; a philanthropic educational organization devoted to increasing women’s educational opportunities.
Beulah is preceded in death by her husband, Allison; and son, Ken; as well as her parents and all of her siblings and sisters-in-laws. She is survived by her daughters, Deborah, and Ali Dwyer (Richard); sons, John (Jeannie), and Ron (Laurie); grandsons, Joel (Rebecca), and Luke Dwyer; and granddaughters, Courtney Peterson (Stace) and Ciara Dwyer; and great-granddaughters Hana and Makena Durkson; and great-grandson Jalen Peterson; as well as many nieces and nephews and their extended families. We wish to extend a special thanks for the extra special care that foster daughter and niece, Traci Meidl gave to Beulah over the past five years, and to her wonderful caregiver and friend, Kuini Arthur.
A celebration of life service will be held on December 16th at 2:30pm at Corralitos Community Center, 35 Browns Valley Road, Corralitos CA 95076.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Pajaro Valley Historical Association, Hospice of Santa Cruz County or PAMF Palliative Care.
Arrangements have been entrusted in the care of The Carroll Family of Ave Maria Memorial Chapel, www.avemariamemorialchapel.com
