Beatrice Mae "Granny" Vermeulen

Beatrice Mae Vermeulen, known as Bea or possibly more often "Granny", passed away on June 25, 2025. She was born on May 1st, 1945 to Ben and Hazel Blunk, who worked a farm in Coffeyville, Kansas. She was one of thirteen children. She is survived by her husband, Bill; her children, Donna, Jim and Allen; her grandchildren, James, Tré, Kegan and Braden; and her great-grandchildren, Violet, Marigold, Townes and Thea Bea.

Bea worked at Phearson's Optics, and then finished her career at Hancock Bank as a loan processor, retiring in 2008. She was an avid reader, a love she tried to pass on to her grandchildren. She loved living on the Gulf Coast. Her first experience there was in high school. She took many trips to visit the Barrier Islands to enjoy nature. She would often drive around East Beach as a detour, since it was a mile away from her home.

She'll be remembered as a compassionate and caring grandmother, which was a role she excelled at. Whenever her grandchildren introduced their friends to her, she would also be referred to as their "Granny." She often wore a blue denim moo-moo dress, and when it got below sixty degrees Fahrenheit, a scarf and gloves. She tolerated hours of her youngest grandson playing the same Batman video game in front of her, any dumb TV show her grandkids watched, or even their awful sense of humor. She tried her very best to spoil them.

She will be honored privately amongst her immediate family.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Beatrice Mae Vermeulen.