Beth so loved animals, with the exception of Bert.  Bert came to us as a young Royal Poodle weighing about as much as Beth only taller. He would greet people by standing on his back legs while placing his paws on their shoulders. Beth had come over expecting to meet our new puppy not an unruly beast.  In greeting Beth he also tried to steal her earrings. The scene was laughable due to Bert's antics, but looking back it is understandable why this little slip of a lady would have been intimidated. 

Then there were the animal web cams.  Shortly after my retirement I caught myself spending hours each day watching Yun Zi from birth to becoming a young male Panda.  For which I can thank Beth who was responsible for introducing me to the San Diego Zoo web cams.  And then there was the Barn Owl babies and the Eagle babies and ......  Thanks Beth, for so enriching my life.  

What can you say about Beth without being overly somber? She was one of the most caring people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She really had to get riled up before you’d ever hear her say anything negative about anyone. She was a friend and confidant to so many of us at BCSI.

As everyone knew, her feeling for cats was over the top. Way beyond the average person. She could take the nastiest stray and through love and lotsa, lotsa food turn it into an animal that would only occasionally take a swipe at you. Annie, the latest shop cat, was a perfect example of that. Beth kept photos of many of our family pets on her bulletin board. She loved them all.    

Beth was also shy of cameras. As we are putting together these memories of Beth, I’ve found it really difficult to find photos of her in our system. The few that are posted are really all we had. She’d always wag her finger at me and hide behind something whenever she saw me with a camera.

Beth was a huge part of who we are at Bodine Construction. Her passing has left a hole that will never be completely filled. We will gradually heal but we will never, ever forget.

There are so many ways I remember Beth, but standing out was her love for animals, mostly cats.  We had a few walk-ins (cats) throughout the years at work.  All of them started out as feral/strays.  Beth was so attracted to them.  Loved to feed them, usaully too much.  You can see in some of the photos they were on the plump side.  One day Beth came to work, and I could tell something was wrong. (Beth had been crying.)  I asked someone else, "What's bothering Beth?" They responded, "deceased cat in the road."  Well I thought she might have ran over it, but later found out it was just a deceased cat in the road that somebody else had hit.  She asked one of the workers, to go get it and bury it. (They did.)  That taught me that Beth had a love of animals that was well beyond most.  Even deceased ones.  We had another cat at the office, her name was "Annie."  The cat really didn't like me.  Probably because once in a while I would hiss at her or somehow startle her.  (A bit of a tease thing, I guess I would do.)  Beth with her back to me would catch me and say, "Steve Bodine, I saw that."  I think everytime now I hiss at a cat I will remember seeing Beth looking over my shoulder correcting me.  Maybe I will stop hissing at cats.

Beth you were an inspiration to me and our girls.  We will always remember you.  Our girls remember you as "the very nice lady at work with the cat (Annie)."  You brightened each day with your friendly smile and comforting demeanor.  Always in a pleasant mood, and willing to offer help whether it was asked for or you just thought it was needed.  I am glad and honored to have met you and become your friend and colleague.  Will see you someday again.  Say hi to Annie for us.