Elizabeth A. "Beth" LaClair

Elizabeth “Beth” Ann LaClair, 63, passed away Wednesday afternoon at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown.

Born on March 31, 1961, in Alexandria Bay, Beth was a daughter to George and Mary Delosh Shultz. She was a 1980 graduate of Alexandria Central School. On November 10, 1984, she married the love of her life, Alan LaClair, at the Plessis Methodist Church.

Throughout her lifetime, Beth held many hats, and often worked three or four jobs at a time. In her younger years, she worked at her parent’s store, the D&G Market in Plessis; was a dispatcher for Lyle VanTassel; cooked at many local restaurants; sold Avon; and worked a majority of her career in the cafeteria and custodial departments within the Indian River School District, retiring in 2020 due to ill health after close to 30 years of service. Beth was a caregiver to several elderly people around the north country and spent many years cleaning houses for coworkers and members of the community. However, her most honored titles were wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.

Beth loved to travel, and one of her proudest accomplishments was visiting all 48 states in the continental US. Her goal was always to make it to Alaska and Hawaii, but her untimely death did not make that possible. Her father often joked that Alan never knew anything existed past the Theresa Bowling Alley until he met Beth, but together, Alan and Beth embarked on many journeys and happy memories.

Beth bowled on several leagues at the Theresa Bowl in years past. A lover of dirt car racing, she was “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie’s biggest fan. She did the books for his racing accounts and never missed a feature. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she often went all out on decorating and festivities, making every moment magical. Her family will always remember the happiness on her face every Christmas morning, and how picture perfect it always was. She never missed an episode of the Young and the Restless or the Bold in the Beautiful. In recent years, scrapbooking and Diamond Dot Art were some of her favorite past times.

The happiest moments of Beth’s life were spent with Family and Friends. Many of those times were spent with her “camp family” on Lake of the Woods. Beth was an amazing cook and could often be found making delicious dinners for her loved ones, including homemade spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp and scallop scampi, and chicken marsala to name a few. Sunday mornings were for “Egg McBeth’s,” where neighbors from around the lake would stop in for coffee and a sandwich. She loved to entertain and always had a story to tell. Anyone who knew Beth would tell you that she had a heart bigger than the world. She would do anything for anyone, and often loved people the moment she met them. Her infectious smile, contagious laughter, and bright personality were a few of her many qualities that people admired about her. She always enjoyed when friends and family would randomly stop in for a visit; a pot of coffee was always ready to brew for an afternoon full of chit-chatting and reminiscing.

Surviving besides Beth is her husband of almost 40 years, Alan; a daughter, MaryAnn (Mike); her mother, Mary; a sister, Marion Ward (Jeff); niece Teagan Ward (Travis), nephew Brock Ward (Kurstyn); great nephew Hudson Ward; brother and sister-in-law Timothy LaClair (Michelle); sister and brother in-law Cathy Paro (Jim); brother and sister-in-law Jim LaClair (Patti), nephew Zachary LaClair (Gabrielle); a great niece Averleigh LaClair; great nephew Whitaker LaClair; niece Meaghan LaClair; great nephew Matthew Comini, III; an Aunt, Gail Hunt (Lorne); her best friends Kelly Toutant (Frank); and Carrie Adams; along with several cousins, friends, and friends that became family.

Beth will be missed deeply by her beloved cat Callie, Grand-Dog Charley, and Grand-Kitties Patches and Luna.

Beth was predeceased by her father, George; in-laws Peter and Mary LaClair; Aunt Frances Cook; Aunt Audrey and Uncle Tony Robbins; Grandparents Gladys and Albert Delosh; and Grandparents Danford and Marion Shultz, along with various cousins, friends, and family Beth loved dearly.

There will be no calling hours or funeral service, per Beth’s wishes. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Theresa Fire Department, 400 Mill Street, Theresa, NY 13691, and/or the Indian River Ambulance Service, 6.5 Sand Street, Philadelphia, NY 13673 in Beth’s memory, as both organizations were very dear to her heart.

Beth’s family would like to thank the staff at the Samaritan Medical Center for all their care, dedication, and compassion shown to Beth and her family during her final days. Your kindness will never be forgotten.