Bev was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan the daughter of Andrew J. and Catherine D. (Stevens). Bev grew up in the Oakwood neighborhood of Kalamazoo. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. She married her husband, Bill in 1962; they were married for 56 years at the time of Bill’s passing. She started working for KalEquip shortly after high school. In the early 1970’s Bev and Bill moved their family to the Gobles area where she resided until her passing. While living in Gobles she became the president of the local little league. She started the Gobles Old Fashioned Fun Days as a fundraiser for the little league. She was a founding member of the Front Row Mother’s Association. This group altered football jerseys every year when the local Tigers would make the playoffs. She then went on to be a member of the Gobles Public Schools Board of Education. She served for eight years. After her boys graduated from high school her and Bill began traveling. They went to Europe several times, went to Alaska twice and loved to travel in their RV; the miles traveled and memories made were many. Beverly then became a member of the Gobles Pine Grove Fire Administration Board. She loved her firefighters without end; she thought it her one and only job was to protect them at all costs. All the while doing all these things for the Gobles Community she was a tax preparer at home. She also was instrumental in helping run the family hobby farm. On this farm they had cows, horses, donkeys, pigs and goats. She never turned away a stray animal. Her barn cats were some of the best fed and most loved. She also grew a large garden every year. She home canned so many quarts of stewed tomatoes no one has an accurate count. She also canned green beans and made homemade jams. Bev also loved to sew as well. She made many children happy with her homemade Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. Her favorite place to go and relax was the family cottage on Wilkinson Lake.
Bev suffered a massive stroke on July 4th, 2021. She recovered enough to live at home with the help of her niece, Robin Decker. Bev was reunited with her loving husband and her infant son Chet on November 4th, 2024 from complications of her stroke. She was preceded in death by her parents, parents in law, her infant son Chet, her loving husband of 56 years, Bill, her brother, Jack and her sisters in law, Eva Mitchell, Erma Verburg and Mingo Decker. She is survived by her sons Wes(Carlos), Thad(Ruth) and Lon(Kim). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews that lovingly called her Aunt Bev. Missing her are also her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her family from the fire department will also miss her presence.
Per Bev’s wishes she will be cremated and there will be no service. As a memorial to Bev donations may be sent to the Eric Hartwell Foundation, 3154 Sky View Court, Brighton, MI 48114 or, to the Gobles Pine Grove Firefighter’s Association, PO Box 9, Gobles, Michigan 49055.
The family would like to thank Wings of Hope Hospice for the care of Beverly to make her final journey as pain free as possible. Arrangements entrusted to the Gobles Chapel, D.L.Miller Funeral Home. www.dlmillerfuneralhome.com.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
