She graduated from Nevada High School and attended Cottey College. Beverly married James H. (Jim) Denman in 1948. Over the next fourteen years she bore John T., Mary Ann, Nancy K, and William D. Denman.
At the age of twelve, Beverly began singing with her Aunt Bea in the Methodist Choir. She and Aunt Bea also sang for the troops at Camp Clark. Beverly always had fond memories of singing in the Swingsters band with Dick Shorten, Homer Ellis, Gay Barton, Rosie Dalton and company. She was a beautiful majorette in the high school marching band. But her true music love was the Methodist choir, where she sang until she was in her 80s.
Beverly always said, “the big things seem important, but it’s the little things that matter.” She took part in some big things. One can touch her name in stone on the Moore Few Care Center dedication stone. Mrs. Denman was a charter member and first President of PEO’s Chapter KK and a 60-plus year member of P.E.O. She enjoyed Research Club since 1979.
However, the little things Bev did every day made the difference. She always had treats in the fridge for her kids and their friends. She made sure idle boys weren’t. Beverly the daughter, wife and mom, cared for her dying dad, and then her Alzheimer’s-suffering mom, then her husband, and then did her best for her daughters Mary Ann and Nancy. She was a two-time member of the grieving mothers’ club. Bev was a Cub Scout Den Mother that took us caroling at the state hospital and nursing homes before there were professional care homes. Her regular routine included visits to friends and acquaintances in the hospital and nursing homes. Mrs. Denman’s home was a second home to Cottey Girls for at least a couple of generations. She always had a listening ear and a non-judgmental word of encouragement. She routinely wrote congratulatory notes, notes of encouragement, notes of condolences. It’s the little things.
Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her two daughters, Nancy Denman and Mary Ann (Denman) Campbell, and her brother John Thomas (Tom) Braun. She is survived by two sons and their wives, John T. Denman (Christiane) and Bill Denman (Joyce). Her grandchildren thrive: Thomas Maloney (Dawn), James Hendrix Denman (Katherine); Carly K. Campbell and Casey L. Campbell; Lucas D. Denman, Emma M. Denman and Jacob R. Denman. Her great-grandchildren blossom: Ruby Denman, Matilda Denman and Polly Denman. Her nephews Jeff Braun (Melody) and Greg Braun (Susanne) also continue to be fruitful in this life.
She preferred that no money be spent on flowers. Rather, give what you would to the Nancy Denman Student Life Scholarship at Cottey, to the United Methodist Church, or to the Moore Few Care Center.
And thank you to the kind ladies and gentlemen at Moore Few for your loving care. She knew what all that entails and appreciated it until the end. Please continue, and do your best.
Services will be held on Thursday, June 29 at the United Methodist Church. Family will welcome friends at 10:00, and the service will begin at 11:00.
