May 3, 1925 – July 9, 2021
Beverley Anne Babb ( Beverley De Poy) former English teacher, a “Rosie the Riveter” at Boeing Aircraft, bus driver, and beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend to so many earned her heavenly wings Friday, July 9, 2021. After months of difficult decline, she was able to die peacefully at home, as she wished, with her best friend Mary Ann, daughter Elizabeth, and grandson Tyler present. Beverley lived an amazing 35,130 days. She lived every one of them with zest, curiosity, adventure, love for friends and family, and endless interest in people and subjects. After living independently until her 95th birthday, she lived her last 14 months with Elizabeth and her family. It was hard for her to lose her independence, but during the 2020/2021 Pandemic it was such a blessing to be a family and keep her with us.
Beverley was born May 3, 1925 in Wichita KS to Elizabeth (Ahrens) and William Jasper Babb II. Her mother was a Fairmont Library club member and her father was a WWI vet, high school teacher and retired US Post Office mail carrier. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother William Jasper “Bill” Babb as well as nephews Herby Babb, Ronnie Babb, and niece Charlene Babb Slater. She is survived by brother Herbert “Herb” Ahrens Babb, nieces Theresa Babb, Rhonda Babb Navarre, Kimberly Babb, and nephew Chris Babb. She also is survived by her only daughter Elizabeth and husband Scott Gray, and grandsons Chris and Tyler Gray and granddaughter Caroline and husband John Berger and a great grandson to be!
Beverley graduated from Wichita High School East in 1943. Many men she befriended or dated made sacrifices, some with their very lives during WWII. The women all assisted with the war effort by delaying school and/or working, even if married or with family. They truly were part of “The Greatest Generation”. After high school, she worked for two years at Boeing Aircraft to help with the war efforts. She helped manage the tool crib for the ladies(Rosie the Riveters) who did build the planes.
Beverley went on to graduate from Kansas State Agricultural College (now KSU) in 1949 where she earned her degree and teaching certificate to teach high school and college English. She also earned a certificate at the University of Kansas as an Aeronautical Technician. She used that for her work at Boeing Aircraft for two years, and Cessna Aircraft for 1 year.
Following her work at Boeing and Cessna, and completing her education at K-State, she worked at the job she was most passionate about: teaching English. She taught at Wichita HS East and Syracuse High School and Wichita State University, all in Kansas. She then worked at White Pass High School in Randle, WA. In later years, she retired after working over ten years at NC Employment Security Commission and then as a bus driver for American Eagle.
Beverley was adventurous! She followed a former student of hers at WSU to Alaska after receiving a bold and flirtatious letter suggestion she should come see Alaska. So, she did. Following a whirlwind courtship, she married her former student Julian “Jay” Gene De Poy in Fairbanks, Alaska October 22, 1961. In AK, she taught English and Geography at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska and also briefly taught kindergarten there too.
Jay worked on the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line in Point Barrow, AK but during time off built them a log cabin where they would live. In 1963, new jobs and adventures took them to Athens, Greece for two years. There she taught English at Athens Air Force Base. She loved Alaska and Greece very much but returned stateside to give birth to her daughter Elizabeth. She was born in 1965 in Omaha, Nebraska. Four months later, she, and Elizabeth moved again to Oberhöchstadt, Germany where Jay was now working. There he met his baby daughter for the first time. Shortly after, they moved to Pasco, Washington and lived there for three and half years. Finally, in 1968 they moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she remained the rest of her life. In Raleigh, she was happy as a wife and mom. Their marriage lasted 13 years, yet it was filled with amazing trips and many good memories together with Elizabeth.
As a single mom, she finished raising Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Scott Gray in 1985 and Beverley loved him like a son and appreciated all the many things he did for over the years. His handiness and helpfulness no doubt contributed to her living independently for over 94 years.
From 1987 on, she spent most her time helping out and enjoying her three amazing grandchildren: Chris Gray, Caroline (Gray) Berger and Tyler Gray. For over three decades plus she attended field trips, Little League games, Tae-Kwon-Do and bowling tournaments, chess competitions, dance recitals, theatrical performances, graduations, and weddings for and with them. Many meals and get-togethers with Elizabeth’s family and extended family leave us with so many good memories. She was just always there with us and will be greatly missed.
Beverley enjoyed many things outside our family too. She served as President of the Raleigh Chapter of Parents Without Partners in the 1980s. She loved attending lectures of Professor Elliot Engle’s Dickens Disciples Group with friend Sandra and Mary Ann. This ultimately led her to England to see all the places Charles Dickens wrote about and lived, as well as a trip to Cape May, NJ. She also loved and gathered many years with Hindu friends. Her friend Mary Virginia took her to India where she visited the Taj Mahal. She taught Japanese students English at the Berlitz school in the 1980s. She attended bible study with her daughter Elizabeth and her friends. She enjoyed book club for many years with Mary Ann. She loved talking art and philosophy with friends Eric and Martha. She appreciated gardening from friend Dan. She loved being doted on and receiving foot massages from friend Miguel and enjoying baked goods from his wife Tracy. She loved and remained close and made so many memories with her De Poy families too: Sandy & Jim, Donna & Marty, Marilyn and John, Joyce D, and more for many years. She was an avid reader, loved solving crossword puzzles, and all her life was a stickler for good grammar. She was feisty politically but remained tolerant and loving, especially with those who saw things differently.
Beverley remained on friendly terms with Elizabeth’s father Jay. She loved and was good friends with his next wife Litsa and Cecilia. She completely loved and was so proud of Jay’s other children Angela (and husband Stephen), Jeff (and wife Joyce), Edith, and Jimmy and all their incredible accomplishments. She gave Elizabeth the gift of loving siblings with her whole heart from other mothers. She felt if life gave you lemons, you always had a choice to always make lemonade. Elizabeth’s brothers and sisters were very special to her and loved by her. She knew they were her daughter’s siblings both in blood and in heart. What a gift.
Beverley was tolerant of differences and loving to all. She loved the Lord and she showed it by loving and accepting people. She loved learning new things all her life until the very end. She loved animals very much and owned many rescue/stray cats her whole life and had a special kinship with the Gray family’s lab: Marley.
Beverley appreciated all the prayers when times were hard this year. Over and over she and Elizabeth (and family) were overwhelmed by kindness: Visits, flowers, meals, cards, texts and calls of encouragement. 434 days of hospice care and she never went one day without fresh flowers. The outpouring of love this year was incredible. It was as if there was a trail of flower petals to lead her all the way to heaven. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Our family also wishes to thank the attentive, loving care of her friend who became like a sister to me; Theresa, as well as the hospice team at Transitions Life Care. Without their love and attentive care, she would not have lived as long. As time passes, the memories of suffering will quickly fade, but all the memories of love and kindness will grow stronger. All who knew her enjoyed loving on her these last few years when she was able to give little or nothing back, except simply say, “Thank You” or “I love you.”
May Beverley’s legacy of curiosity, attention to correct grammar (LOL!), search for adventure, appreciation for life, and love for God and all people, continue to take root and live stronger in each of us now, simply for having known her.
We miss you and love you forever beloved Mom, MeMa, friend, sister, and Aunt Beverley.
Beverley Anne Babb 