Person:Louisa Gribble (2)

Louisa Ellen Maud Beel reached the great age of 97, just six days short of her 98th birthday. Born on 5th of March 1874, she was one of 11 children. She lived in Wandiligong until she married John Beel a miner. The couple made their home at Baarmutha (Fighting Gully Road) where her husband worked as miner until his death in 1940 at the age of 71. In 1951 Mrs Beel sold her house and land and shifted briefly into Beechworth living with her daughter (Alice Howe). In 1953 she went to live with another daughter Vicki (Mrs NA McRae) where she remained until failing health necessitated her being admitted to the Ovens and Murray Home at Beechworth. Before being admitted Mrs Beel had only ever been in hospital once for a minor foot operation. All through her lifetime she was devoted churchgoer, being a choir leader in her younger days and an organist for many years at Baarmutha. In 1942 when her son Frederick was posted as missing in action, she showed her fine family spirit by rearing one of his children Eileen Another source says she was born in Growler's Creek, Victoria, Australia