Margaret “Beth” Johns

Margaret “Beth” Johns, 90, formerly of Portland and most recently of Westbrook, passed away peacefully at a hospice facility in Scarborough following a brief illness. Born on August 15, 1935, at Maine General Hospital in Portland to George Sturgis and Margaret (Hudson) Sturgis, Beth grew up in Portland and graduated from Portland High School in 1953.

She built a long and varied career, beginning as a telephone operator before serving many years as an office manager for a dental practice. She later worked in financial services and with the Maine Safety Council, concluding her professional life as a bookkeeper for Smithers/Intertech. A devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church for more than 50 years, Beth was deeply involved in parish life, serving on the vestry and fellowship committee and co-chairing the church fair. She found great joy in the social and spiritual activities of her church community.

Beth gave generously of her time through volunteer work, particularly supporting individuals experiencing food insecurity and assisting recent immigrants. She enjoyed playing bridge and mah jong, reading, attending the theater, traveling, and cheering for her beloved Boston Red Sox. One of her greatest pleasures was traveling around the country with her daughter and son-in-law to visit ballparks and watch the Red Sox play, trips often shared with friends and family that created many cherished memories.

Beth will be remembered as a caring and generous person with a warm sense of humor and a deep commitment to her family, friends, and community. She is survived by her daughter, Tery Noseworthy, and her husband, Mark, of Gloucester, Massachusetts; special nieces Nancy Carkhuff of Westbrook, Cathy Smith of Westbrook, and Cindy Moody and her husband, Bernie, of Buxton; as well as many other nieces, nephews, and close friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sisters, Mary Cunningham and Eleanor Miller.