02/26/2023
Pamela McInnis Beveridge
June 4, 1947 – February 22, 2023
Kenduskeag and Glenburn, ME- Pamela (Pam) McInnis Beveridge, 76 of Kenduskeag and Glenburn, ME died unexpectedly at her lakefront home on February 22, 2023. The daughter of Ruth (Jewers) McInnis, she was born June 4, 1947 in Portland, ME.
Pam spent her early years living in Portland, Maine. Summers, however, were spent in Eastport, Maine, where she had many adventures with her grandparents, Karl and Rena (Turner) Jewers, in the idyllic beauty of the Bay of Fundy, Passamaquoddy Bay, and at the beloved family camp on Boyden’s lake. She graduated from Deering High School with honors, having devoted her senior honors essay to the prejudice experienced by Native Americans in Maine; a cause she was passionate about. Upon graduating, Pam pursued her dream of becoming a lawyer and enrolled at Simmons University in Boston where she thrived, once again graduating with honors and a perfect GPA.
After law school Pam chose to work as a legal advocate for Pine Tree Legal where she could pursue her passion for advocating for those disadvantaged or unable to afford attorneys. From there, she worked for a prominent Boston attorney, Norman Zalkind who shared her passion for representing the underprivileged and forgotten.
After some time working in the law, Pam’s curiosity and public-minded spirit drew her to journalism and she became a reporter for the Lewiston Sun Journal. Though reticent about discussing her achievements, those close to Pam are familiar with one of the highlights of her brief career in journalism when she covered a story about Jimmy Carter that went national and was featured by Walter Cronkite in his news cast. A rare honor for a journalist from Maine writing for a local paper. Those close to Pam can attest to her unwavering sense of ethics. She once covered a political rally during which a politician slipped her daughter a one dollar bill. Clearly this did not sit well with Pam as she spent the next day scouring the town to find the politician to return his dollar. Votes could not be bought, even in jest.
After her time in law and journalism, Pam started yet a new career with the US Postal Service which appealed to her sense of public service and her love of the outdoors. Like many, she began this new career as a rural carrier, delivering mail in Androscoggin County. Her dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed. Over the next thirty years she rose through the ranks taking on statewide responsibilities which took her from Kittery to Fort Kent conducting audits and assisting local business owners and Postmasters manage difficult large bulk mailings.
During her time with the Postal Service, she and her family moved to Kenduskeag Maine where she bought 18 acres of farmland on two beautiful ponds near the Kenduskeag Stream; an ideal place to raise a family. This land, acquired through years of hard work, became the setting of countless childhood adventures for her children.
From the time she was a young girl, Pam had a special love for animals—especially horses. In her early years Pam regularly took two separate bus trips, travelling alone across two towns to a riding stable in Scarborough. When a friend learned of a horse in need in Bangor, Pam convinced her mom to borrow a truck and trailer to bring “Penny” home. A relationship was formed. Pam and Penny spent many years galloping through the fields of Perry and Robbinston, Maine. Over the years to come, Pam would own many horses and travel as far as New Hampshire to rescue horses in need. All beautiful Arabians, Aur Banner, Tezzie, Callie, Goldie and many more were laid to rest near the shore of her beloved farm pond. During precious time off from her responsibilities with the Postal Service, Pam spent many hours on the shore of that pond reading and exploring while her dogs (Pheamie and Cami) played. Pam’s love for animals extended beyond horses to dogs, cats, and more than one creature orphaned for one reason or another. During her final years her best friend “Cami” (a fiercely loyal Miniature Pinscher), was ever present at her side and always suspicious of those competing for her attention. Pam had an enormous heart and always room for one more—resulting in her home becoming host to a gang of rescued “barn cats”, Stewart, Mama, Muzzy, Blackie, Izzie, Saga, Fendler, Kappie and Nickie. The care and attention Pam lavished on these (often lost or abandoned) animals was reciprocated as they were all there to comfort her.
In addition to her love of animals, Pam relished history. When not working, spending time with her children or animals, Pam researched history and her love for genealogy began. Pam could quite often be found at her computer where she spent countless hours researching matters of historical interest and genealogy. She became an active member and/or officer of the Eastport Maine Border Historical Society, Maine Genealogical Society, Maine Old Cemetery Association, Penobscot County Genealogical Society, Taconnett Falls Genealogy Library and Washington County Historical and Genealogical Society. Her love of family history was first piqued during childhood summers spent with her grandparents and making rounds to check on older relatives in Downeast Maine and New Brunswick. Through her efforts, thousands of family heirlooms, letters, diaries, documents, Bibles, autograph albums and photographs were preserved and curated and are waiting to be “reunited” with their long lost relatives. You can search and locate these heirlooms at Pam’s website https://www.heirloomsreunited.com/.
Though her interest in history was expansive, she preferred to research and uncover the stories of hardscrabble Maine folk, having left little by way of records, likely to be forgotten with the passing years. Pam wanted to learn about these people and tell their stories. The challenge of piecing together these humble yet fascinating stories of Maine life from sparse records brought her immense joy. You can find these items on her blog “HeirloomsReunited.com”. She frequented local auction houses and was known throughout Maine as a genealogy expert; volunteering for speaking engagements, lining up speakers for various boards, and sharing her love of the history with others.
Though content in libraries and antique stores, Pam did not lack for a spirit of adventure. She was capable of spontaneity as anyone having spent time in a car with her can attest. If she saw a dirt road, odds were good she would stop whatever she was doing and change course to drive down to see where it led. She followed her son from state to state while he completed the Appalachian trail. In later years she took up cycling after purchasing her beloved RAD ebikes. She peddled hundreds of miles around Kenduskeag, Acadia National Park and Greenville Maine to attend multiple bike and boat fundraisers for local causes. She even led a group of Game Wardens deep into the puckerbrush to help bring her son a birthday cake while he volunteered with the Maine Search and Rescue Teams.
Finally, no remembrance of Pam would be complete without mention of her gardens which brought her much joy and satisfaction over the years. She spent untold hours with her hands in the earth, weeding and occasionally picking potato bugs to feed to the turtles with whom she shared her pond. Tending to her sprawling gardens was not an isolated pursuit for Pam. Though proud of the vegetables born of her efforts, gardening was an end in itself and not a means to an end. It provided occasion to spend time with her children and loved ones, discussing life and the issues and of the day, while engaged in the practice of tending to the earth.
Pam was predeceased by her brother, Bruce McInnis of Eastport, ME.
Pam is survived by her mother, Ruth McInnis of Eastport, ME; Daughter, Shannon (Beveridge) Emery of Bangor, ME; Sons, Jay Beveridge of Glenburn, ME and Jon Beveridge of Glenburn, ME; Granddaughter, Rachel Emery of Baileyville, ME and Great Grandsons, Jackson and Parker. Special friend and “daughter”, Kristy Albee of Glenburn, ME.
In honor of Pam’s wishes, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the https://eastportmaineborderhistoricalsociety.org/; Or better yet, please become a member and keep her passion alive.
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