Beverly Lawson Krause passed away on October 10, 2020 in the presence of her daughter and son-in-law, and attended to by many devoted staff at The Hamptons at Pine Forest in Tyler, Texas. 

 

Beverly was born on November 22, 1939 in Lubbock, TX and grew up in Lubbock, Harlingen, San Saba, and Brownwood where she graduated from high school. In 1960, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University). She expressed a desire to become a minister but this career path was not available to her at that time. 

 

In 1962, she married James E. Ward who was a U.S. Air Force officer and pilot stationed at Reese Air Force Base near Lubbock. Together they had two children, James and Jerri. Beverly became a devoted full-time mother, and a part-time secretary and volunteer at their church. Beverly and Jim were married for nearly 25 years.

 

When the family moved to Austin and the children grew less dependent, ministry remained in her mind, so Beverly began graduate study in Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1977. When the family moved to Beaumont, she continued her studies at The University of St. Thomas School of Theology in Houston. In 1979, she transferred to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas where she commuted weekly from Beaumont to Dallas and earned a Master of Divinity Degree in the spring of 1982.  She was the only woman in her graduating class.

 

Beverly’s first full-time appointment was in 1982 at the First United Methodist Church (UMC) in Beaumont. During her career in the ministry, Beverly served as pastor at five other churches in Warren, Spurger, Crockett, Marshall, and Tyler. She also held an administrative leadership position as Assistant Director of the Lakeview Methodist Conference Center for three years. 

 

Beverly was affectionately called “Bev the Rev” and “the red-headed preacher lady”; her work and pastoral care touched many lives. She was a strong-willed, organized, assertive and compassionate person and as a friend wrote, “Beverly is educated, graduated, dedicated, liberated, and somewhat opinionated!” She loved music, was an avid bird-watcher, and loved nature and wildlife.

 

After retirement, Beverly and her second husband Bruce Krause bought a beautiful home on 5 acres just west of New Braunfels where they enjoyed viewing the wildlife from their porch swing; taking care of their four donkeys and two dogs; hosting family and friends; and enjoying worship, friends, and activities at the Canyon Lake UMC. Beverly and Bruce moved to Cherokee County, Texas in July 2014 to be closer to family.

 

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Layton and Pearl Lawson, her sister Juana Simmons, and her husband Bruce. She lives on in the hearts of her two children, James Ward and his wife Hilary, and Jerri Berry and her husband Larry; her brother, Luther Lawson; two grandchildren, Karina and Benjamin Ward; and many others whose lives she touched. 

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Beverly's family would like to thank Heart to Heart Hospice of Tyler and the Memory Care staff at The Hamptons at Pine Forest for their compassion and loving care.