Beverly Johnson

In 1931 Kansas was merely dust and poverty. The ground was relentless. After your back broke from years of turning soil, dreams of a successful harvest were eaten away by clouds of grasshoppers. This was a time of unrest and uncertainty. This was a time of hard work and no money. This was the coming together of a nation. And, this was the birth of Beverly Ann Johnson. Beverly was born May 4, 1931 to Dessie and Ed Stansbury on their farm in rural Jewell County Kansas. When she was born, her brothers LaVerne and Ivan were in their rowdy teens. The Stansbury family was slow to recover from the depression. Beverly grew up with nothing more than an ugly porcelain doll and a Sears catalog under her bed. The catalog had a couple of functions; it provided tons of inspiration for a little girl’s dreams and the pages were a sought after commodity to use in the outhouse. Beverly would tell stories of hiding out to smoke in the outhouse and taking the horse and wagon every Sunday to dinner. In the evenings, she would listen to the radio and long for what her future would hold.

Beverly was a cheerleader at Formoso High School and graduated with a class of 8. The group scrimped and saved all through their school years to take a senior bus trip to California and Catalina Island. After graduation, Beverly became engaged to a former classmate that she had dated for 4 years. She soon moved to attend Fort Hays State University with her best girlfriend. On New Year’s Eve 1950, she was out with her fiancé and another couple when they were seated directly across from a booth of cocky boys, one of which kept making eye contact with her. As the night wore on, the couple went to dance, her fiancé went to get drinks, and Beverly was left alone in her booth. The good looking, cocky boy walked up to her and brazenly asked for a New Year’s Eve kiss……..and the rest they say is history!

Beverly married Ray Johnson at Niagara Falls in April 1951. To their union, 4 children were born: Devra Ann, Diana Renee, Douglas LaMoyne and Daniel Charles. Beverly and Ray spent 3 of their newly married years in Anchorage, Alaska while Ray was stationed in the Army. Beverly always spoke fondly of their time there with tales of the natural beauty and kindness of their Alaskan neighbors. Upon returning from Alaska, they settled in Wichita, Kansas. In the early 1960s, the family was transferred to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but returned to the same home 4 years later, right next door to her brother Ivan in southwest Wichita.

In 1971, Bev and Ray purchased 22 acres in rural Sumner County and built a custom home. They moved the family there August 1972 and became part of the Belle Plaine community. In 1984, Bev and Ray sold their homestead and opted RV living. They enjoyed this lifestyle until Ray passed in 1987. Bev returned and settled in Wichita, Kansas.

Beverly worked several different jobs throughout her life. She taught school in a one room school house, was a typist/office clerk at Boeing, sold toys, worked in a pharmacy, assisted a cake decorator, and worked as a part-time clerk at Tuesday Morning. She liked to stay busy and in her later years was able to do a lot of travel. Some of her favorite places were Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Hawaii, Aruba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and of course, beautiful Alaska. Beverly was an avid reader and would go through hundreds of paper back novels. If not reading, she was on her way to a casino. She loved to play the penny slots. Beverly would go to the casinos once or twice a week and take frequent bus trips to those that were more than a few hours away.

Beverly moved to Georgetown in Wichita November 2012. In October of 2015, she was transferred to the Andover LifeCare Center where she lived until her death on July 13, 2016. She was 85 years young.

Beverly is survived by her children Devra (Brett) Hudson of Haysville, Kansas, Diana (David) Otis of Augusta, Kansas, Daniel (Jana) Johnson of Mt. Hope, Kansas. Her grandchildren Karl (Alyssa) Harder, Erin Joy Foskuhl , Dustin Otis, Dayton Otis, Danielle (Ronnie) Panciera, Bryant Johnson, Savannah Johnson, and Jacob (Chloe) Johnson, great grandchildren McKenzie, Cameron, David, Evelyn and Stella plus one on the way, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is proceeded in death by her husband Ray Johnson; son, Douglas Johnson; parents, Dessie and Edwin Stansbury; brothers, LaVerne Stansbury and Ivan Stansbury.

The family of Beverly Johnson will have a private family service. A memorial is established with Freedom Hooves Therapeutic Riding Center, 7303 E. Harry, Wichita, Kansas 67207. Condolences may be sent to www.smithfamilymortuaries.com.