Vila Faye Beam

Vila Faye Worsham Beam, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Fort Collins, Colorado on June 5, 2024, with her family at her side. Vila was born on a family farm in Heflin, Louisiana on February 27, 1935. Her life was filled with self-giving love, compassion and kindness that touched the lives of all who knew her in countless ways. Vila was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Hollie Worsham and Ora Cook Worsham, and three siblings, Theron Wilson Worsham, Thomas Hollie Worsham, Jr. and Billy Ray Worsham. She is survived by her children Debbie Allen, Karen Stephens and son-in-law Edward Stephens, grandson Matthew Eschenfelder, all of Fort Collins, Colorado; grandson Joshua Allen and his wife Mallory, great-granddaughters Daphne and Evie Allen, all of Ellensburg, Washington, several nieces and nephews and her beloved cat Sassafras. Vila had a happy childhood in rural Louisiana with her family and friends. She was an accomplished basketball player and was on the first string team at her school in Jamestown. Her life changed dramatically in 1948, when she lost her father in a tragic accident and the family had to move to Shreveport, Louisiana. Vila attended Byrd High School and Fair Park High School in Shreveport. She graduated from Fair Park High School in 1953. Vila met her neighbor and future husband, John Richard Beam, after moving to Shreveport. They were married in Shreveport on June 7, 1953, and began their family. Vila was a wonderful and devoted mother who made many sacrifices in order to give her daughters a stable and happy childhood. She was a lady in every way, and instilled important values in her family. Vila was an amazing woman of many talents. She was an excellent seamstress and made beautiful clothes for her daughters for many years. She also had an exceptional gift for baking, and everyone loved her coconut cream pies and her famous rum cake. Vila was also an outstanding bowler and was in a bowling league in Shreveport. Vila decided to continue her education when the girls were older. She enrolled at Louisiana State University in 1967, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Vila was diligent in her studies and consistently made the Dean’s list at LSU. She was a teacher in the Caddo Parish school system until she began her career at the U. S. Postal Service in Shreveport in 1978. Vila and Richard loved to travel. They bought a truck camper and took their daughters, and sometimes nieces and nephews, on annual vacations to the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and western Canada. The cherished memories of those trips will always be a special gift to the family. In November, 1983, Vila and Richard moved to Colorado to be near their daughter Karen and her husband, and grandson Matthew. She continued her postal career in Greeley, Colorado. She eventually transferred to Eaton and then to Estes Park, Colorado, where she worked until 1995, when she and Richard achieved their dream of moving to northwest Montana. Their daughter Debbie and her husband and grandson Josh had moved to Montana prior to this, and they enjoyed many happy times in the Flathead Valley. Vila and Richard bought acreage near Kalispell and built a log cabin and a barn for their cows and horses in a beautiful setting at the foot of the Swan Range. Family visits to Montana were always the source of much happiness and joy for everyone. Vila was very happy during the “Montana years” when she enjoyed new friendships and new hobbies, such as gardening, hiking, quilting and making handmade cards. She was an active member of the Swan River Homemaker’s Club. Vila always enjoyed reading stories of the pioneer women’s westward journeys and she played out that role by canning fresh food from the garden and baking homemade breads and desserts. Vila and Richard were members of the First Baptist Church in Columbia Falls, Montana and later entered the Catholic Church and were parishioners at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Kalispell. Vila was a woman of faith and loved God, a gift she shared with her family and others. Vila and Richard traveled overseas for the first time in 1991 and went on to visit 19 European and Middle East countries with Karen and Ed, and sometimes grandson Matthew, over the course of several years. Vila especially enjoyed traveling to the Greek Islands, Turkey, the Holy Land and many other destinations in eastern and western Europe. She was especially happy that she was able to hike the entire Samaria Gorge, the longest gorge hike in Europe, on the island of Crete in 2002. Vila moved back to Colorado when Richard passed away in 2011. She was a parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed several happy years in Fort Collins. Vila’s memory will be held forever in our hearts and her example will continue to mold the lives of all who knew her. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 17, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins, Colorado. Inurnment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Columbia Falls, Montana.