Beverly Anne Roath

Beverly Anne Roath, 86, died Dec. 22, 2019 at Country Living of Lyons in Lyons, KS.   She was born Oct. 2, 1933 to Robert and Mary Chase Davis in Lincoln, NE. 

Bev attended Lincoln Public Schools and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1955, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.  At college she met Dorsey C. Roath, and they married Aug. 6, 1955, in Lincoln, NE. 

Dorsey and Bev moved to Wichita, KS. following their graduation.  Dorsey worked at J.C. Penney’s and Bev taught school briefly in the Wichita schools. Because of Dorsey’s job, the family moved in 1960 to Hastings, NE.  and then in 1965 to Lyons, KS., where Dorsey became the manager of the Penney’s store.  To this union, 3 children were born.

For the majority of her life, Bev was a homemaker.  While Bryan, their youngest child, was still in school, Bev took a job as a special education paraprofessional, which served both Lyons and Sterling school districts.

After Dorsey retired, he and Bev moved to Sterling, where they bought a home.  Several years after Dorsey’s death, April 1, 2009, Bev moved back to Lyons, KS. to live at Country Living, where she has been a resident for the past 8 years.    

Bev was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lyons, Kansas.  Bryan describes her as a “devoted church goer”-- rarely missing church.    Bev had always been interested in art.  Even though she was discouraged from pursuing it as a major in college, later in life she found painting and sketching to be a fulfilling hobby.  While living at Country Living, she spent time drawing portraits of staff and residents, and gifting them the final products. 

Bev was preceded in death by her husband and parents, and her sister, Geraldine Davis of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Survivors include her children:   Cindy Kocher (Kurt) of Glasco, KS.; Brad Roath (Anita) of Lawrence, KS., and Bryan Roath (Carrie Alice) of Bella Vista, Ark., 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service with Rev. Green presiding, will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at Lyons Municipal Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Friday, December 27, 2019 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.  Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Lyons or Faith Bible Church, Lyons, in care of Birzer Funeral Home in Lyons, or to the donor’s choice.

The family would like to extend their appreciation for the great love and care provided to their mother by the staff of Country Living of Lyons, Hospice of Reno County, and Lyons Medical Center.         

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