Mary Hurkett-McQueen died on September 24, 2011. She was 51 years old.

Mary Elizabeth Hurkett-McQueen went to heaven on Sept. 24, 2011 after losing her courageous battle to cancer.

Mary was known by many names such as “Buff,” “Auntie B” and “Mom” but she was best known as “Beth.”

Beth was born on May 25, 1960, the youngest of four daughters, Lori, Theresa and Julie. She was born and raised in Lakeport and attended Lakeport public schools from grades kindergarten through 12th, graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1978 and enrolling at Heald Business College.

She excelled in her studies and was one of the fastest typists in the history of Heald, where she is listed on their Hall of Fame.

After college, Beth started her career as a secretary, working for the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for the next 19 years.

She then began a new career at Lakeport Unified School District where she was the secretary to the superintendent, serving in that position from 1999 as a valuable and trusted employee.

Beth was the loving wife of Mike McQueen, a.k.a “Uncle Fuzzy” or “Captain Mike,” and loving mother to sons Jared and Brendan. They were the lights of her life and there was nothing that she wouldn’t do for her boys.

She was a person who exhibited love, kindness, integrity, truthfulness and loyalty. She loved her family and her dear friends more than herself. Her happiest times were spent with family and friends in Hawaii, at Giants baseball games and lounging outside the house on the deck with her pets, Happy, Hootie, Chuckie, Biscuit, Willow and Jasmine.

In addition to her husband and boys, Beth is survived by her three sisters and families, Julie and Mark Frazell, Theresa and Greg Pickle, Lori and Les Pinson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a local animal shelter.

A celebration of Beth’s life will be held at 7786 Wight Way, Kelseyville, Calif.

The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. on Sept. 30, with a dinner/potluck to follow.

Please contact Carol Thorn at 707-349-6847 if you plan to attend the dinner/potluck.