Name/Title
Obituary for Lisbeth Firman, Artist (1949-2025)Description
Lisbeth Firman Obituary
From the Quoddy Tides, September 26, 2025, p. 26:
Lisbeth Firmin
New Kingston, N.Y. - During World War II, the city of Eastport was home to a U.S. Navy Seabee training center called Camp Lee-Stephenson. This is where James Firmin met Marion Colwell. They were in a band together; James played the trumpet, and Marion was the singer. They married and gave birth to Lisbeth (Beth) Firmin on August 24, 1949, in Kentucky. They divorced, and Beth was raised in California by her father. Beth was unaware of her roots in Eastport and of her biological mother. As an adult, and after reviewing her birth certificate, Beth came to Eastport looking for her mother. Marion had remarried and was raising Lisbeth’s two half-brothers, Eric and Carl Young. The reconnection completed Marion’s heart as she missed Beth every day. Lisbeth spent Marion’s final days at her side and was with her when she passed.
Beth was gifted with an artistic ability, which was noticed at a young age, as evidenced by her winning her first coloring contest at the age of six. She was awarded several scholarships to the John Hermon Art Institute in Indianapolis and received scholarships to the Chouinard Art Institute at the age of 16; she was the youngest person awarded scholarships. She spent one year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before dropping out when she couldn’t study art alone.
She met Tom Moore, a fellow artist Her beauty and incredible talent struck him. They traveled from California to another art colony in Atlanta, Georgia, where they heard of Provincetown, Cape Cod, the Hollywood for artists. By this time, Lisbeth was pregnant with their daughter, Autumn. They supported themselves by doing portraits and spending summers in Provincetown and winters in Puerto Rico.
In 1978, Beth took Autumn to New York City to pursue her art beyond the confines of the portrait studio. She worked hard to put food on the table, raise her daughter and lift her career. She worked at National Lampoon and then at King Features Syndicate. In 1998, she was able to quit her 9-to-5 job and commit herself fully to her art. At this time and long after, she was the recipient of many accolades, honors and prestigious awards. She taught art nationally and internationally, including a class at the Tides Institute in Eastport, where she found a room full of family members. She’s been written about in countless articles. Her work is featured in several museums, including a family portrait located on the third floor of the Tides Institute in Eastport.
In 2011, Lisbeth fell in love and married John Exter, the steadfast love of her life. Together, they traveled the world, including trips to England to spend time with her granddaughter, Pippa. Beth lived a rich life filled with art, family and friends.
She lost her battle with lung cancer on August 13, 2025, at the age of 76. She is survived by her husband, John; her daughter, Autumn Moore Morrison; her granddaughter, Pippa Morrison; her brothers, Carl Young and Matt Firmin and their spouses and children; her stepson, Paul and daughter-in-law Julie Exter; grandchildren, Danny Jamie and Tommy; special aunt, Frances Mitchell; many cousins including special cousins Eileen Dougherty and Elaine Spinney; and countless friends. Lisbeth, similar to her art, remains unforgettable and loved.