Aunt Beverly, or "Billie" as she was often called as a child, lived a hard life. She was the second oldest child of my grandmother, M. Helen Bates Strawn, and her first husband, Forrest Strawn. According to my sister: "Beverly was married to Linda's father (Chuck Miller), James Evans (father of Mike, Jim, and Tammy), and also had the surname Paule at one time. I don't know the first name (mom would have known *sigh*)." She kept the name Evans after her last divorce. Her siblings were Roberta ("Bobbie"), Kathleen ("Kathie," my mother), Dan Reade, Steve Reade, and Teresa ("Teri") Reade.
I honestly don't know how many children Beverly had, as I've learned that she gave one baby, possibly two, up for adoption. My sister confirmed that: "Grandma Helen told me that there were two babies given up for adoption, one was Heath. The other was also a boy. I believe they were both younger than Tammy." The one of whom I was certain sought her out a year or two before her death--- he was Thomas "Heath" Tonack. The other children include Linda, Michael, James ("Jim"), and Tamara ("Tammy").
She was preceded in death by her sister Teri in 1973, and son Michael in 1981. She worked for Ruttencutter's Market in Springfield, among other jobs, and was very hardworking, trying to do everything she could to create a good life for her children. Unfortunately, she also suffered from alcoholism for many years, finally becoming sober in the years before her death.
I'm not certain, but I recall the cancer that killed her to have been from her smoking, and it moved to her spine and brain before she died.
Aunt Beverly tried to do the right thing by her family. I have only fond memories of her, for which I am grateful.
I honestly don't know how many children Beverly had, as I've learned that she gave one baby, possibly two, up for adoption. My sister confirmed that: "Grandma Helen told me that there were two babies given up for adoption, one was Heath. The other was also a boy. I believe they were both younger than Tammy." The one of whom I was certain sought her out a year or two before her death--- he was Thomas "Heath" Tonack. The other children include Linda, Michael, James ("Jim"), and Tamara ("Tammy").
She was preceded in death by her sister Teri in 1973, and son Michael in 1981. She worked for Ruttencutter's Market in Springfield, among other jobs, and was very hardworking, trying to do everything she could to create a good life for her children. Unfortunately, she also suffered from alcoholism for many years, finally becoming sober in the years before her death.
I'm not certain, but I recall the cancer that killed her to have been from her smoking, and it moved to her spine and brain before she died.
Aunt Beverly tried to do the right thing by her family. I have only fond memories of her, for which I am grateful.
Aunt Beverly, or "Billie" as she was often called as a child, lived a hard life. She was the second oldest child of my grandmother, M. Helen Bates Strawn, and her first husband, Forrest Strawn. According to my sister: "Beverly was married to Linda's father (Chuck Miller), James Evans (father of Mike, Jim, and Tammy), and also had the surname Paule at one time. I don't know the first name (mom would have known *sigh*)." She kept the name Evans after her last divorce. Her siblings were Roberta ("Bobbie"), Kathleen ("Kathie," my mother), Dan Reade, Steve Reade, and Teresa ("Teri") Reade.
I honestly don't know how many children Beverly had, as I've learned that she gave one baby, possibly two, up for adoption. My sister confirmed that: "Grandma Helen told me that there were two babies given up for adoption, one was Heath. The other was also a boy. I believe they were both younger than Tammy." The one of whom I was certain sought her out a year or two before her death--- he was Thomas "Heath" Tonack. The other children include Linda, Michael, James ("Jim"), and Tamara ("Tammy").
She was preceded in death by her sister Teri in 1973, and son Michael in 1981. She worked for Ruttencutter's Market in Springfield, among other jobs, and was very hardworking, trying to do everything she could to create a good life for her children. Unfortunately, she also suffered from alcoholism for many years, finally becoming sober in the years before her death.
I'm not certain, but I recall the cancer that killed her to have been from her smoking, and it moved to her spine and brain before she died.
Aunt Beverly tried to do the right thing by her family. I have only fond memories of her, for which I am grateful.
I honestly don't know how many children Beverly had, as I've learned that she gave one baby, possibly two, up for adoption. My sister confirmed that: "Grandma Helen told me that there were two babies given up for adoption, one was Heath. The other was also a boy. I believe they were both younger than Tammy." The one of whom I was certain sought her out a year or two before her death--- he was Thomas "Heath" Tonack. The other children include Linda, Michael, James ("Jim"), and Tamara ("Tammy").
She was preceded in death by her sister Teri in 1973, and son Michael in 1981. She worked for Ruttencutter's Market in Springfield, among other jobs, and was very hardworking, trying to do everything she could to create a good life for her children. Unfortunately, she also suffered from alcoholism for many years, finally becoming sober in the years before her death.
I'm not certain, but I recall the cancer that killed her to have been from her smoking, and it moved to her spine and brain before she died.
Aunt Beverly tried to do the right thing by her family. I have only fond memories of her, for which I am grateful.
Gravesite Details
This is my second-oldest maternal aunt, who died of cancer.
