Beatrice Maple

Beatrice Johanna McQuinn Maple, (103) of Sedalia, passed away February 10, 2026, at E.W. Thompson Health and Rehab Center in Sedalia. She was born December 3, 1922, at a farm home near Clyde, Missouri, the daughter of Austin and Mary (Farnan) McQuinn.
The McQuinn family lived on farms near Conception and Stanberry, Missouri, and Bea attended one-room schools where she either walked to school or rode a horse. She graduated from Stanberry High School in 1941 and was in band, Glee Club, class secretary and chosen prettiest girl in her class. After taking her State Teachers Exam at age 18, she taught all grades at Star Country School in Gentry County during World War II while also taking summer and night classes at Northwest Missouri State College at Maryville, Missouri. After taking some time for family, she graduated from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, in 1972.
On April 17, 1947, she was united in marriage to Richard A. Maple at St. Peters Catholic Church in Stanberry. Dick and Bea had three children, Michael, Patricia, and Douglas.
In May 1959, Dick and Bea moved their family to Sedalia where Beatrice continued her teaching career first at Sacred Heart Elementary then Dresden R-12 and finally with Sedalia District 200 where she retired in 1988 from Heber Hunt Elementary after 34 total years of teaching. Everywhere Bea went in Sedalia, she would often encounter a former student who remembered her and wanted to say hello. Beatrice was a devout Catholic and belonged to Sacred Heart Church. She was also a member of Missouri Retired Teachers and Central Missouri State University Alumni.
Bea loved children and recounted many experiences teaching. She also enjoyed dancing with Dick to the Big Band sounds and playing bridge and other card games; however, her most favorite times were those spent with her family.
Beatrice is survived by two sons, Michael (Terri) Maple of Sedalia and Douglas (Marlyne) Maple of Knob Noster; son-in-law Dave Porter of Ellisville, MO; seven grandchildren, Shelli (Chris) Webb of Sedalia, Missi (Ryan) Riggin of Lee's Summit, Jennifer Porter and Ashley Hobbs of Ellisville, Scott Porter of Nashville, Scott Maple (Justin Womack) and Lindsey (Jonathan) Schoonover of Warrensburg; eleven great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Bea is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents; husband Richard on June 29, 2016; daughter Patty Porter on September 8, 2021; brothers Donald and Leo McQuinn, infant brother Maurice McQuinn; and sister Vera McQuinn as well as many dear friends and relatives.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Chapel. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with Brandon Hughes, Scott Porter, Ron Portner, Jonathan Schoonover, Chris Webb, and Justin Womack serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be Friday from 10:00 A.M. until time of the service at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested to Sedalia Sacred Heart School Foundation or St Jude Children's Research Hospital in care of McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Sedalia.