Bethine B. Lavery

Bethine Bea Lavery

Oct. 24, 1929 - Dec. 24, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — Bethine Bea Lavery, age 89, of McCook, passed away Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, at Community Hospital in McCook.

Bethine Bea Blakeslee was born Oct. 24, 1929, to Hartley Wright Blakeslee and Lela Irene (Hubbard) Blakeslee of Eddyville in Lexington, Neb. She attended District No. 24 through the third grade and then went to Eddyville School. She was valedictorian of the 1947 graduation class. She attended summer school in Kearney which enabled her to start teaching school at District No. 10, by Eddyville, at age 17.

She was a member of the Eddyville Evangelical Church in her youth.

Bethine and Murl Lavern Lavery were married March 26, 1949, by Rev. L. R. Davis in the Methodist Church in Lexington. They farmed north of Overton, then in 1962 west of Sumner and in 1976, north of Wauneta. They moved to McCook in 1990. She enjoyed reading, handwork and puzzles.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Murl, on Nov. 27, 2006; her mother on Sept. 23, 1953, her father on May 21, 1961; son, Blake Allen Lavery on June 11, 2018; a granddaughter, Ashley Marie Lavery on July 28, 1988; her sister, Lucene Lea Blakeslee Miller, on June 6, 2000; brother-in-law, Gordon Miller, on Nov. 23, 2003; and daughter-in-law, Dianne Ruth Imel Lavery on Dec. 24, 2001.

She is survived by two daughters, Lana Lou Ator of Colorado Springs and Shirley Ann Johnson of McCook; one son, Lloyd Lee Lavery and friend, Rose Lockhorn of McCook, daughter-in-law, Pat Lavery of Columbus; nine grandchildren: Richard, Ryan, and Amanda Lavery, Wendy, Robert, Randy Ator, Misty Wilger and Stephanie Valcik and Karl and wife, Gloria Johnson; and eight great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Dakota, Erica and Jaqueline Lavery, Vincent Baker, Katalyna Pena and Kennedy Wilger, Dominic Watts; two step-grandchildren, Greg and Rachel Major; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Memorials may be given to the McCook Public Library, 802 Norris Ave, McCook, NE 69001.

The family will honor Bethine’s wish not to have a public visitation.

Funeral services will be held at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, with Pastor Clark Bates officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook.

Friends may send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com