BATH — Beverly Jane (Auclair) Wilson, 75, of Bath died on Saturday, Dec. 11 following a battle with cancer. She died peacefully at her home, surrounded by people she loved.

Bev was born on Feb. 12, 1935 in Worcester, Mass., the youngest daughter of Leo and Bertha Auclair, joining older sisters, Betty and Muriel. The family moved to South Portland when Bev was still a toddler, living in a small cottage on Willard Beach. Bev promptly won the Most Beautiful Baby Contest that was held on the beach the first summer they lived there.  Four years of living on the beach left Bev blonde and tanned, something she maintained throughout her life. Her Dad, Leo, a manager with Sears, moved the family to Lewiston where they lived for a period of years and where a baby brother, Richard, was born. The next move was to Augusta when her Dad opened his own department store, which eventually came to be known as the Augusta Maytag Store. Success came to the business as two more locations were opened and Bev, along with her sisters, did the bookkeeping. After her youngest brother David was born, Bev decided she wasn’t particularly interested in infants, but her love for children, especially her nieces and nephews and her best friend’s children was inspiring.

After graduating from Cony High School in Augusta in 1953, Bev started her banking career at the Depositor’s Trust Company in Augusta. She met Robert (Whip) Wilson from Bath and the two were married Sept. 1, 1956. They settled down in an apartment at his parent’s house on Washington Street in Bath; a house they occupied until their deaths. Bev started working at Bath National Bank and joined Bath Savings Bank in 1959 where she retired as vice president of marketing in 1995 after 36 years with the bank. One of her fondest accomplishments at Bath Savings was the establishment of the “Sneakers” program, which encourages savings accounts for children.

Throughout her life Bev was active in many organizations including the Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority; the Chocolate Church Board of Trustees; The Mid Coast Hospital Auxiliary where she served a term as president, and the Bath Lodge of Elks.

After Bob’s death in 2003, Bev filled in her life by helping her mother and becoming more active in the Bath Elk’s Lodge. There she met John Gumz who became her companion for the remainder of her life.  Together, they enjoyed socializing and dancing with their Elk Lodge friends and families.

Bev was predeceased by her parents; and her sisters Betty Rand of Augusta and Muriel Howe of Farmingdale.

She is survived by her brothers L. Richard Auclair of Naples, David Auclair of Winthrop; her special niece; her companion John Gumz; many loving nieces and nephews and their families.

A celebration of Bev’s life will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at the Bath Elks Lodge. Burial will take place in the spring and will be announced. Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath.  Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Mid Coast Hospital Auxiliary, P.O. Box 279, Brunswick, ME 04011 or the Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, 04011.