Firefighter buried with full honors Volunteer died when firetruck crashed

KINGMAN – Selby Beebe-Lawson spent 10 years watching her husband overcome major recurrent depression and debilitating anxiety with hard work, profound faith in God and a deep love of people whom he worked tirelessly to serve.

That’s why she called him “my hero.”

Beebe-Lawson watched with pride and composed grief Thursday as more than 100 firefighters made 50-year-old Peter Beebe-Lawson everybody’s hero, honoring the volunteer firefighter with full honors during funeral services Thursday for making the ultimate sacrifice while helping battle a fire in Prentiss on Monday.

“I am so glad that people from the fire service have come from all over the state to honor Peter,” Beebe-Lawson said just before services conducted by the Rev. Roger Cyr at St. James Catholic Church. “He was an outstanding guy who put his life on the line to help others. I think people from all walks of life can relate to that.

“Now he’s a lot of people’s hero,” Beebe-Lawson said.

The tiny 70-seat church hall was filled to capacity for the service with about 100 firefighters, residents and journalists on the grass outside. After the service Selby Beebe-Lawson was buried on family lands in Springfield off Route 169 no more than two miles from where he was killed.

He was coming out of a sharp curve on his way back to a fire at Cole’s Shingle Mill on Mud Pond Road in Prentiss when he apparently lost control of the 3,500-gallon Freightliner tanker truck shortly before noon.

The tanker went off the right side of the road before veering into pine trees on the road’s left side and landing on its passenger side. Beebe-Lawson, the truck’s sole occupant, was dead at the scene.

He died of blunt traumatic chest injuries, a state medical examiner’s office spokeswoman said Thursday.

Investigators have not yet determined why the tanker truck swerved out of control, Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland said Thursday.

The Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum Corps honored Beebe-Lawson with “Amazing Grace” as about 70 uniformed firefighters stood in formation and saluted the flag-draped coffin as it was strapped to the top of a Springfield firetruck.

The four-member corps repeated the honor at the grave site as the coffin was borne over a 25-foot-wide logging pathway to a small circular clearing about 225 yards from the highway. Then Penobscot County dispatchers radioed three tones and all firefighters’ condolences as part of Beebe-Lawson’s “last call.”

Beebe-Lawson was a founding member of Mary’s Ward, a religious organization he founded with his wife. The singer and community theater performer moved from Portland with his family about three years ago. Beebe-Lawson joined the Springfield Fire Department about two years ago and quickly distinguished himself within the small community for his ardent volunteerism and deep religious faith.

Honors for Beebe-Lawson and his family will continue. A potluck supper will be held June 2 at the Springfield Gym to raise money for his family, Selectwoman Lorna Thompson said. Donations will be sought at the door, she said.