Beverly "Bev" Ann Willison of Renton, Washington passed away with her family by her side on Sunday April 10th, after a recurring battle with cancer. She was a young 61.
Bev was born in Denver, Colorado on July 31st, 1949 to Benjamin and Esther LeMaster, the third of four children. A graduate of Colorado University at Boulder with a Bachelor's degree in English, she taught middle school for a year at Manning Junior High in Wheatridge, Colorado. On June 10, 1972 she married Timothy Robert Willison and soon relocated to Kent, WA, where they settled and began a family. Bev worked for the past 20 years as the Civil Service Examiner for the City of Tukwila and will be missed by the many city employees she befriended and supported.
She was a creative soul and very passionate about music. She played bassoon in the Rainier Symphony for many years and served on their Board as treasurer. Her greatest love was the beach, especially Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast where she and her family spent time every summer for almost 30 years. She loved the Pacific Northwest and enjoyed hiking the alpine trails, visiting the tulip fields in Spring, and quiet walks with her golden retriever, Grace. Bev trained Grace as a therapy dog through the Delta Society and regularly participated in the PAWS reading program and comfort visits to local hospitals. Bev's caring and compassion for her family and friends were without equal.
Bev is survived by her husband Tim Willison, son Scott Willison, daughters Katie Wilton and Christi Cox, grandsons River, Eli and Noah, her mother Esther LeMaster , brothers Benjamin "Butch" LeMaster and Bruce LeMaster, sister Penny LeMaster, and her dogs Grace and Oliver.
Celebration of Life
A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, May 1st at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Kent, Washington at 3 pm. Her ashes will be scattered to the wind on the beach she loved so dearly.
to Tim, Scott, Katie, and Christi:
Tonight I had an urge to find Bev on the internet and write to her 30 years after our last phone call. My heart sank to see her name in the obits. She was a great friend during my time in Renton, and we shared so much in the births of our babies and in raising out toddlers/children. She was devoted to her children; they were always first in her mind. She and I shared so many laughs over the years. She has taught me an important lesson -- to keep friends in touch. The loss is greater not to have had the chance to share in her life's accomplishments, nor to have had the chance to say a final good-bye. Tim, Scott, Katie and Christi, you are all in my prayers tonight.
I wish I would have had the chance to meet you. Bruce told me such wonderful things about you and what a awesome person you were. My prayers will be with you and your family this weekend, as they celebrate your life.
My sincere condolences to all of your family and friends who will miss you dearly. May God open his arms to you with a BIG HUG!
Barbara Hummel
(Bruce's new girlfriend)
In loving memory of my sister, Bev. She was a strong, loving person respected by anyone she encountered. I will always love you and miss you, Bev.
Love,
Bruce
I am so deeply saddened by your loss. What a sweet precious little girl! Please know that you are never alone. We are assured in the Holy Scriptures at Psalms 34:18 that God is near to those broken at heart. He will never leave you but will help soothe your aching heart. Keep those most precious minutes close to your heart. Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Tim, Scott, Katie and Christi (and families):
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We are so sorry to hear of your sudden loss.
Looking back on all the years our families spent vacationing at Cannon Beach, I will always treasure the example of a wife and mother that Bev was to all of you. She clearly had as a goal that each of you would enjoy the week on the Oregon Coast together as family and also find time to pursue your personal interests (be they fishing, hiking or whatever school activity might find opportunity to be practiced on the beach). She loved walking with you, watching you build sand castles, venture through tide pools and most recently bring your kids to the beach.
Her smile was infectious. Her interest in others and the ease with which she made everyone feel comfortable and welcome were beautiful gifts to all who got to know her and your family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God's presence be sensed in this difficult time. God bless you.
Ramon and Annie Gupta
I will always be thankful for my years knowing Bev. I got the honour of watching her blossom into her grannyhood because of being close friends to one of her daughters and her grandchildren. It was clear that her children and grandchildren meant everything to her. She would do anything for them at great cost.
I will remember her pretty eyes and her generosity.
We feel blessed to have had the chance to meet Bev, albeit only for the past year, but we were able to help celebrate many happy moments with her and her family. Bev's beautiful and infectious smile was beaming with her family and friends celebrating and enjoying time together. I will always remember our parking lot picnic last summer at the Woodinville Wine Tour and Orcas Island for Christi's wedding. It was easy to see how proud Bev was of her family! Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all in these hard times.
Teresa & Ken Gash
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