Beth Welch

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Welch, 90, of Orange, Texas, passed away on July 13, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Kevin Brown and Reverend Ed Rawls.

There will no graveside service after the funeral.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, July 18, 2025, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Orange, Texas, on September 7, 1934, she was the daughter of Dewey Bean and Harriet (Dunn) Bean. An alumna of Mauriceville High School, which she graduated from in 1953, Beth carried with her a finely cultivated set of interests and hobbies that enriched her life. She had a deep love for music, often sharing her talents on the piano at various community functions. A voracious reader and a lover of the arts, she spent many joyful hours painting, crocheting, and embroidering. Connecting with nature brought her great pleasure as well, notably in her cherished routine of raking leaves in her yard, where she would meticulously tend to every leaf.

Her remarkable banking career traversed many esteemed institutions, including First National Bank, Orange National Bank, County National Bank, ultimately leading her to retirement from Sabine Federal Credit Union. Beth's dedication to her work and her unwavering commitment excellence were hallmarks of her professional life. Beyond her career, Beth was an integral member of her community and a long-time member at First Baptist Church in Mauriceville. She was a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord, embodying the principles of compassion and generosity in her everyday life. Many will remember her as a kind and loving person who offered help to anyone in need, extending her hand and heart to comfort those around her.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents, Dewey and Harriet Bean; brother, Len Bean; sister, Patricia Ann Bean; son, John W. Welch, Jr.; and the father of her children, John “Jack” Welch, Sr.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Susan Kay Copeland and husband Chuck, and Elizabeth Ann Welch; and her grandchildren, Lindsay DeAnn Cooper and husband Phil, and Clay Warren Copeland; along with numerous other loving family and friends.

Beth’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Golden Years and Gentiva Hospice for the wonderful care given to their mother. In this time of remembrance, we celebrate the life of Beth Welch, a woman of grace and heartfelt dedication, who touched the lives of many and whose spirit will live on in the memories of all who knew her.