Elizabeth "Beth" Ann Welch

Elizabeth “Beth” Ann Welch passed peacefully on the morning of September 7th, in the arms of her devoted husband, her Welchie.

Beth was born on December 3, 1942, in Clinton, MA, to Lilian and Warren Goodale Jr. She was the sister of Virginia “Ginny” Krauss and Warren “Skippy” Goodale, III.

Although Massachusetts was where they lived, Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire was what she considered home. They spent each summer at the log cabin, which her grandfather built by hand. Beth spent her days driving the boat and working at Handy Landing, running around barefoot and diving off the dock. The menu was written by the lake itself, with her cousins’ fresh catch at the center of every meal. They shared the magic of the lake by opening their cabins to others, and Beth could often be found at her mother’s side, helping to ready each cabin for the next family to make their own memories.

In November of 1962, Beth began her career in the executive training program at Jordan Marsh, in the women’s sweater department. Beth became curious about the man she kept seeing limp around the ladies’ coat and suit department. That man was none other than Richard “Dick” Lee Welch, who was training to be a coats buyer and had suffered a ski accident weeks prior—hence the limp.

When they set up their first date, Dick admitted he was short on cash and that it would be a Dutch treat. Beth was stunned, but also charmed by his honesty and the ease of his presence. Though Dick likes to joke that she agreed out of pity, because he was injured and poor, those who knew Beth understood she never did anything she didn’t truly want to do—the truth was, she was intrigued from the start. Still, in her spirited way, she made him work for her heart, and he rose to the challenge with devotion. On April 5th, 1964, they were married, beginning a love story filled with learning, loyalty, and a closet full of chic sweaters.

Soon after, Beth and Dick began building their family, welcoming their first daughter, Gail Elizabeth Ann Welch, just days before Beth’s 22nd birthday. With Gail at her side, the two grew and learned together. Two years later, the family became complete with the arrival of Wendy Lee Welch on February 22nd.

For the next two decades, Dick’s career carried the family on adventures across the United States—Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Colorado—before they finally settled in North Carolina, where they have made their home ever since. Wherever they landed, Beth poured herself into her passions and her community. She worked in boutiques in every city, never letting her love for fashion fade. Beth inspired countless young women as a beloved Brownie and Girl Scout leader in Pennsylvania and Ohio. During her years in Ohio, she also hosted Bridge club and lovingly needlepointed prayer cushions for the Episcopal Church in Coshocton. In Asheville, she fostered her creative spirit by working as a florist and at a pottery studio, knitted scarves to sell, and also took painting classes in the River Arts District—each painting (or bag) a priceless gift to those who received it. She gave her time generously, volunteering at Mission Health Cardiac Rehabilitation’s Heart Path program to support others living with heart disease and fundraising for the Arc of Buncombe County.

With every move, Beth was the steadiness. No matter the city or house, she had a way of turning four walls into a home, filling each space with warmth and a sense of belonging. She welcomed everyone she met with open arms and stayed in touch with each friend she made through every move. Through all the change, she remained the grounding force for her girls and Dick, proving that home was never about the address, but about the heart she poured into it. Until her last day, she was busy redesigning and rearranging her home to make it cozy and relevant—with her own firm set of instructions on how it was to be done. Everyone knew that when Beth had a vision, you listened—even after it changed a few days later—because you knew it would be filled with laughter along the way.

In May of 1995, Beth proudly added a new title to her life, Ammy, when her only granddaughter, Kathryn “Katy” Elizabeth Ann, was born. In return, Katy quickly earned the affectionate nickname Bugsy from her grandmother. Then, on July 16, 1997, Korey Christopher Comer arrived—the first boy born into a family of women—and it was quietly understood that he was Ammy’s greatest weakness.

Even while facing numerous health challenges, Ammy never fit the mold of what the kids pictured as a grandma. She filled Katy and Korey’s lives with art, adventure, and literature. There was always an easel ready or a messy project to tackle, a trip to Barnes & Noble every visit, and St. Simons meant searching for pirate ships—once even bringing home over fifty seashells, unaware that the shells were actually homes to hermit crabs.

Through it all, Ammy always showed up, never revealing how much pain she was in, and going with the flow so she could be where she most wanted to be—with her greatest treasure, her husband and family.

In the final months of her life, Beth’s greatest joy was, as always, her family. She was able to see Katy and Julien, whom she loved like another grandson, become parents and meet her great-grandson, Theodore Patrick. She cherished having Korey and his beloved partner, Molly Donovan, living with them. With gentle yet attentive care, Molly joined Dick in caring for Beth, making sure she was comfortable and had the quality of life she hoped for. Beth was also fortunate to have her neighbor and soul sister, Doreen Peterson, by her side—always ready to get into a little “good” trouble together. She delighted in seeing her girls at least once a month—Gail helping to merchandise her closet and Wendy filling the kitchen with the comfort of her cooking. And she loved nothing more than, after a date night, sitting with her Welchie and Samantha, the kitten she questionably found under her porch, on the couch watching the Sox.

Beth was sassy and sweet, strong and sensitive. Chic and cozy, vibrant and vulnerable. Her laughter was infectious and she had a silly spirit. She knew how to keep a secret. Beth was fair and generous, could forgive and forget, but wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

We will remember her through burnt toast with orange marmalade and sweet treats, especially at midnight. Butterflies and full moons. Pirate ships and New England clam chowder. White birch trees and cashmere sweaters. Gogo jewelry and the water. A leftover bone and the sacred Ya-Ya’s chat. Scarves and “Ammy-isms.” The twirly-wirly fairy and missing glasses. Scotch old fashions and paintbrushes. Hugs and crumpled tissues.

Beth’s legacy lives on through her devoted husband, Dick, and their daughters, Gail and Wendy. She found immense joy in her grandchildren, Katy and Korey, children of Gail and Jeff Comer. Katy and her husband, Julien Rousson, blessed Beth with her great-grandson, Theodore Patrick, while Korey and his beloved Molly shared in giving Ammy so much love and pride.

Beth was predeceased by her sister, Ginny Krauss, and her brother, Warren “Skippy” Goodale III. She is survived through them by Ginny’s son, Craig, and by Skippy’s children, Mark, Chip, and Julie—each of whom carried a special place in her heart.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. To honor Beth and our Ammy, please wear color to celebrate her life, instead of mourn, as she told Katy this was her wish. A Graveside Service will be held later this year in Massachusetts, where she will be buried next to her sister Ginny, whom she endearingly called Snooks (we’re big into nicknames in this family).

We ask, in lieu of flowers, to consider donating to the below organizations that meant so much to our matriarch:
• Brother Wolf Animal Rescue — Animal Adoption and Rescue | Brother Wolf – Asheville, NC
• The Arc of Buncombe County — The Arc of Buncombe County

Written with love by her granddaughter, Bugsy