Betty Jane Beaver-Freeland

Betty Jane Smith Beaver-Freeland, 98, of Shell Point Retirement Community, Fort Myers, FL, previously of Frederick and Damascus, MD, went to be with her Lord on December 27, 2023 with her daughter and son-in-law by her side.

Jane was born July 1, 1925 in Daisy, MD to the late Edgar Smith and Katherine Hobbs Smith. She graduated from Lisbon High School and began her work career with Schreiber Brothers Food Market at Lexington Market in Baltimore where she took charge of the rations stamp program during World War II.

In 1945 she married Charles W. Beaver of Ellicott City, MD and went to work for Hood Rubber Company (division of B.F. Goodrich), also in Baltimore, until she started a family in 1948. After her daughter Joan was born, she worked for Hyman Viener Sons in Woodbine, MD until they moved from Lisbon to Damascus in 1955 after the birth of second daughter Jean.

For eight years, she was a homemaker in addition to working part time for Perry G. Burdette Builder, Damascus Electric, and Wachter & Poole. In 1963 she began working for IBM Corporation in Montgomery County where she retired after 25 years of service.

Jane has been a member of the Lisbon Methodist Church where she grew up and was married, and then transferred to Montgomery United Methodist Church, Damascus, where she sang in the choir for 25 years. She also served as Memorial Chairperson for many years and chaired the Decorating and Furnishing Committee for the new Sanctuary. When she moved to Frederick she attended the Frederick Church of the Brethren, and then The Village Church at Shell Point in Fort Myers, FL.

Jane was always very active in her community serving as corresponding secretary for the Damascus Family Garden Club, and also served as recording secretary for Charles’ 896th Signal Corp Army Unit reunions held each year in different states. She was a member and served on numerous committees of the auxiliaries of the American Legion, Post 171, Damascus, and the VFW, Post 10076, Mt. Airy.

Additionally, she was very active with Charles in the Damascus Rotary Club, particularly during his tenure as club president. The club honored her with a Paul Harris Fellow, being the first woman and non-member to receive the award in the Damascus Club.

She loved entertaining. She and Charles were famous for their parties given at their home for family and friends. Visiting sick friends or those in need was her passion. Her pastime was corresponding with their many friends living in numerous states. She will always be remembered for her love of the color pink - anything and everything pink!

In 1998 she and Charles downsized and moved to Worman’s Mill in Frederick near daughter Joan.

After Charles’ passing in 2001, she met and later married Colonel John R. Freeland, USAF Ret., in 2008. They lived in Mercersburg, PA until moving to the Homewood Retirement Community in Frederick. Following John’s passing in 2020, Jane moved to Fort Myers, FL with daughter Jean. 

She is predeceased by her parents and her brother, Edgar, “Smitty” Smith, Jr., husbands Charles Beaver and John Freeland, and daughter Barbara Joan Buckley. She is survived by Joan’s husband Francis “Bucky” Buckley of Frederick, and daughter Jean and her husband Andrew Hawkins of Fort Myers, FL; grandchildren Matthew Hawkins and wife Crystal of Lebanon, TN, Katherine Bissinger and husband Bradley of Souderton, PA; great-grandchildren Andrew and Ethan Bissinger, and Maggie Jo Hawkins; sisters Lorraine Ridgely and husband Charles of Sykesville, MD, and Charlotte Mullinix of Hanover, PA; and many other family members in her’s and Charles’ extended families. Also, she is remembered by her step-family Rick and Christy Freeland, Dave Freeland, and their families.

Jane is lovingly remembered by the friends she made while in Fort Myers, many of whom visited her regularly during her time in assisted living and in skilled nursing at the Shell Point Retirement Community. In addition, the family is grateful for the loving service provided by the staff at Shell Point, and for the many family and friends around the country who regularly called her and sent precious cards and letters.

Visitation will be held at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD on Saturday, January 6 from 10 a.m. to the time of service at 11 a.m. The memorial service will be officiated by Rev. Andrew Hawkins (son-in-law).

A private internment service will take place at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Marriottsville, MD. Donations may be made to the Memorial Fund, The Village Church at Shell Point, 15100 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers, FL, 33908, or to the Memorial Fund of Montgomery United Methodist Church (designate to Memorial Garden in memory of Jane Beaver-Freeland), 28325 Kemptown Rd., Damascus, MD 20872.