Laverne Beeler

Lillian LaVerne Beeler ("LaVerne") died Sunday morning, Oct. 25, 2009, at the age of 92. She died in Keene, TX where she has been a resident for the past 28 years-the past six years at Town Hall Nursing Home.
LaVerne was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on November 25, 1916. Her parents were T.D. and Willie Mae Wharton. LaVerne was the eldest of six children: Mary Polk, Bonnie Smith, Don Wharton, and Lindy Wharton. A baby sister, Mary Jo, died in infancy.
LaVerne grew up and went to school in Duncan, and the family moved to Chandler when she was 17 years old. She wanted to attend school in Texas. After much cajoling, LaVerne's father finally agreed that she could attend Southwerstern Junior College, on one condition-she and her sister Mary had to take turns attending Christian college.
LaVerne took "Normal" courses (education), planning to be a teacher-preferably a missionary teacher. While at the college, she met Charles Beeler, a ministerial student. They both taught church schools in northeastern rural Texas. At the end of that school year Charles returned to the college to attend his graduation ceremonies, and they married in the home of their Bible teacher, Elder Miller after his graduation on May 21, 1938.
After a short honeymoon, LaVerne and Charles lived in a tent while holding Evangelistic meetings in Uvalde, Texas. Charles and LaVerne were then invited to pastor in Baton Rouge, Louisianna where their first daughter, Martha Frances, was born; and then they were called to serve in Pocahontas, Arkansas where their second daughter, Rebecca Fern, was born.
In 1944, LaVerne's lifelong dream came true-she and her family, and her mother-in-law, Myrtie Beeler, flew to the Dominican Republic where they served as missionaries for three years. There were two more 3-year terms in Caracas, Venezuela, and Medellin, Colombia. During those 9 or 10 years, LaVerne taught "Normal" to the Latin American teachers, and she was known for vivid storytelling in both English and Spanish. She had several articles and stories published in the church periodicals.
The Beelers returned to the States in 1954, where they served in various conferences-Charles as pastor and in public relations positions, and LaVerne as church school teacher. She also worked in the administration office of the Christian Record Services for the Blind in Lincoln, Nebraska.
After 50 years of service for the church, the Beelers returned to Keene to retire. LaVerne took an interest in collecting, cataloging and displaying various items, artifacts, and documents donated by alumni and other persons associated with the history of the college. To begin with, the "museum" was in a small building by the radio station, but later a new museum was built next to the church on Hillcrest. They continued as curators until 1994.
LaVerne was a volunteer at Huguley Memorial Hospital in Ft. Worth for over seven years, and served as President of the Huguley Auxiliary for two years.
LaVerne loved entertaining-this usually meant having folks over for a home-cooked vegetarian meal after church on Sabbath. The Beeler home was the gathering place for many happy times with their friends, colleagues, and family members.
LaVerne is survived by two daughters-Martha Schack-Voth and husband Gary Voth, of Keene, Texas; and Rebecca Beeler, of Oregon City, Oregon. Six grandchildren-Shawn Schack Johnson and Ronnie Johnson of Florence, South Carolina; Rhett and Annie Schack, of Ft. Worth, Texas; Flynt and Betty Schack, of Tolstoy, South Dakota; Charles Watson of Axtell, Nebraska; Sgt. Michael Watson, currently deployed in Iraq; and Timothy Watson, of Sandy, Oregon. Ten great-grandchildren-Autumn and Saulo Watson; Kiefer and Chloe Johnson; Bailey Jane, Nathan, and Jonathan Schack; Sierra Watson; and Emily and Ramey Schack.
LaVerne is also survived by her youngest brother, Lindy and Beth Wharton of St. Cloud, Florida; numerous nieces, nephews and friends and second cousins, Caroline Jo Weir and Eddy Wayne Tomblinson, of Keene, Texas.
The Life Celebration will be on Sunday, November 01, at 1:00 p.m. at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel. Burial will be in Keene Memorial Park. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Friday evening, Oct. 30, from 6-8 p.m.
No flowers please. Donations may be made to the Hopps Museum, Southwestern Adventist College, Keene, Texas.

Visitation

Crosier-Pearson Cleburne
512 North Ridgeway Dr.
Cleburne, TX 76033
Friday, October 30, 2009
6-8 p.m.
Map to Visitation Location

Service

Crosier-Pearson Cleburne
512 North Ridgeway Dr.
Cleburne, TX 76033
Sunday, November 01, 2009
1:00 p.m.
Map to Service Location

Interment

Keene Cemetery