Averil Marie Beaver

Averil Marie (King) Beaver of Fort Smith, AR, formerly of the Roosevelt Community (White County), passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior on July 29, 2013 in Fort Smith, AR, at the age of 90. She was born February 27, 1923 to the late James Paul and Blanche Ella (Sims) King. She married tall, good looking Ernest Beaver on January 20, 1946. Averil, "Miss Averil" to her church and community friends, is survived by her son, Harold Beaver and wife, Elaine, of Fort Smith, AR and their daughter, Carol Sanders of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Richard Sanders and wife Ana, of Sanford, NC, Karen Couch and husband, John, of Bentonville, AR, and Sarah Burlingame and husband, Matt, of Nixa, MO; a brother, Jimmy King and wife, Shirley, of Searcy, AR and her sister, Joyce Gay and husband, James, of Van Buren, AR; and 9 great-grandchildren. During WW II, Averil did her part for the war effort by working in a munitions plant in Jacksonville. In those early years Averil also became a teacher for a while. Then, she began her major life role, that of being a farmer's wife, with all of the joys and trials that went with it. During that time she also worked for a while as a bookkeeper at Tharp's Feed Mill. She loved all of her life roles (friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and Christian mentor to many) and lived those roles to the fullest. She deeply loved the Lord as well as her church, Roosevelt Missionary Baptist Church, and enjoyed the Christian friendship she had with many of its members, whose lives she was able to have a positive influence on. She was also, for several years, a member of the White County Historical Society and supplied them with many stories and other musings about her life in the country. She loved to share her special memories of those who crossed her path as she walked through this earthly life. In addition to her parents, Averil was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Ernest Beaver; a brother, Robert Vondell King, and her son-in-law, John Sanders. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2013 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy, AR. The funeral service and celebration of "Miss Averil's" life will be held at Roosevelt Missionary Baptist on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Roosevelt Cemetery. Mrs. Beaver's family offers their sincere thanks to the staff, nurses, and aides of Methodist Nursing & Rehab of Fort Smith for their excellent and compassionate care during her five year stay there and to Peach Tree Hospice for their kind care during these last days. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Methodist Health & Rehab Employee Appreciation Fund (1915 S. 74th St, Fort Smith, AR 72903) or to Roosevelt Missionary Baptist Church.

Averil Marie Beaver

February 27, 1923 - July 29, 2013