Maryetta Beebe, 63, of Kalispell, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, surrounded by family and loved ones, at her son’s home in Littlerock, Calif.

She was born April 13, 1948, in Bakersfield, Calif., and spent her early years in California.

In 1976, Maryetta and her family moved to the Flathead Valley of Montana, where she worked at Creston Post and Pole Yard and raised her children, along with their father, Michael Gorey. Fourteen years later, the family relocated to Lancaster, Calif., where she worked at a doctor’s office in the billing department. A few years later, she fell in love with the idea of running her own day care at her home, fulfilling her lifelong passion for caring for children. In 2006, Maryetta moved with her daughter and grandchildren back to Montana, where she began her journey with New Covenant Church and the Lord.

Maryetta’s longtime interest in the children of Africa soon found a new direction when she met David and Sharyn Curtis and became a member of the LitNet! board of trustees in support of their mission work in Uganda. In 2008, she met Annie Mugisha, of Kampala, Uganda, and began sharing Annie’s dream of opening a preschool/daycare center. The following year she traveled to Uganda with David and Sharyn and helped Annie lay the groundwork for the center. Driven by this new vision, Maryetta returned to Uganda alone less than a year later and helped form Rainbow House, which now schools and cares for 15 children. Maryetta’s alliance with Eugene and Florence Nsamba also began in 2009, and she eventually returned to their village of Maya in August 2011. She planted herself firmly in the hearts of its people, visiting the elderly, assisting the women’s cooperative, supporting orphans, doing children’s and youth ministry and helping Florence set up a daycare/preschool in the town center.

Maryetta loved the orphans and the little lost ones, and poured her heart into the Nsambas’ Hidden Treasure School. She demonstrated that same compassion years before on a mission trip with Metro Ministries to New York City, reaching out to inner-city kids. In the Flathead, Maryetta reached out to children in the Glacier Country Boys and Girls Club through Spirit Club with Dawn Griffin, and with the children’s ministry at New Covenant Church. She volunteered at the Ray of Hope homeless shelter in Kalispell, and faithfully prayed for all who experienced a hard life across her life span. She was a vibrant member of New Covenant, which sent her out as a licensed missionary to Uganda.

Maryetta had an adventurous soul that always was willing to give to others, a kindness of heart and a steadfast belief in goodness. She loved gardening, canoeing, quilting, antiquing and anything that had to do with the outdoors.

Maryetta is survived by many friends and family: She was a giver of life and protector to her daughter, Jennifer Lynn Turner, and son-in-law, Jim Turner, and their children, Daniel Gorey, Chelsie Gorey, Dave Turner and Karissa Turner, all of Kalispell; and her son, Adam Gorey, and daughter-in-law, Shanna Gorey, and their children, Macy Gorey and Ian Hunter of Littlerock, Calif. She also leaves behind two brothers and their wives, Chestine and Carolyn Beebe of Fresno, Calif., and Joebob and Joan Beebe of Arizona; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends from around the world.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Highlands Christian Fellowship in Palmdale, Calif. Plans for a local service at New Covenant Church in Kalispell are pending.

Maryetta’s final wish was to have her ashes spread where her second home was in Uganda, where she found so much joy in her life.

Memorials may be given to a foundation established in Maryetta’s name in Uganda, by mailing them to Jennifer Turner, 18 Yellowstone Street, Kalispell, MT 59901.