Beverly Hall

Beverly Kathleen O’Donoghue Hall (silent g) was born on March 19, 1943 at the Brooklyn New York Naval Hospital. Firstborn to Samuel John (Jack) O’Donoghue of New York and Sara Peyton Furcron of South Carolina.  Her father was in the marines and did not hold or see Beverly for her first 18 months as he was away in Okinawa.  Daddy’s tender words are expressed in the letters exchanged between her parents Jack and Sara Beverly is the firstborn of four sisters.  Vicki (Johnson of Carlsbad California), Lynda (Cluka of Las Vegas Nevada) and Kelly (Fischetti of Vista California).

She often expressed her fond memories of sitting under tangerine trees and eating tangerines to her hearts content and also eating raw sugar cane in South Carolina.  She enjoyed playing with childhood cousins Jackie, Judy and Donna.

In 1956, at 12 years old, the family moved to California when new military orders took them to Camp Pendleton Marine Base.  They lived in Vista California. Two years later, at the age of 15, daddy died of a heart attack in their home.  Mother was 6 months pregnant with Kelly Denise at the time.  This was a tragic loss for the family.

Beverly attended junior high at Lincoln Jr high and graduated from Vista High School in 1961.  Many of her teachers called her Kathy (you know how children use their middle names or shorten their names or gain a nick name).  She had several childhood friends she maintained correspondence with throughout their lives.  Namely Diane, Laura, Susan and Edna…. In her adult years she made lasting relationships with many people; especially Kathleen, Suzy and Linda.

She attended and graduated from Beauty College in Oceanside California.  She met a unique person (Edna Snyder) and admired her values.  She met with stake missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was baptized March 30, 1963. She often expressed “it was the best decision she ever made.”  It truly changed her life and influenced her family and others immeasurably.  She found a source of peace and values to live by that would sustain her through-out her life.  Her children and grandchildren honor her for her integrity and discipline living gospel principles.  She was a saint and a valiant disciple.  She loved others unconditionally; especially those who were unkind towards her.  She would often ask forgiveness from others even when she wasn’t in the wrong.

She married her high school sweetheart Larry Daniel Hall in the Los Angeles, California temple on June 19, 1964.  They raised their four children Karyn, Eric, Cheryl and Brian in San Marcos California.  Each one of her children has a unique and special bond with their mother.  Karyn admires her mother’s devotion to the Savior and her desire to serve in the temple over any other hobby or activity.  Eric considered her more than a mother because she was his best friend.  Cheryl respects her for her valiant testimony regardless of the trials in her life.  Brian affectionately called her his rock.  He loved taking walks with her.

Beverly befriended everyone she came in contact with and was a “Pen Pal to the world.”  She would meet people on her walks, or on park benches or at grocery stores, along the sidewalk, and in doctor offices.  She especially would greet those with their heads hanging down.  She spoke very little Spanish but knew enough to greet others and carry on a simple conversation in Espanola.  When she visited with someone long enough she would get their address and promised to write.  (I can’t tell you how many pieces of paper I’ve found with names and addresses or just a phone number among her things or in her many address books).

In recent years she lived with a friend, Gatha Wilson, only 2 blocks from the temple and found a young woman bereft on the temple grounds.  Beverly visited with her and lifted her spirits.  This was one of many, many times throughout her life she was a disciple of Christ.

She was affectionately known by her nieces and nephews as Aunt Bev. Through-out their lives she sent birthday cards and in the past years always remembered everyone’s birthdates including in-laws. One of her nephews accidently went through the sliding glass door with a wheelbarrow, because he thought the door was open and he thought he would be punished but, Aunt Bev was concerned about him instead of the broken window.

Beverly always wanted to write books about her life experiences; and she had several titles picked out (I talk to trash bags was one title and most importantly The Promise Keeper).  She was a writer at heart; a letter and avid journal writer.  She liked to write poems about her grand-children.  She also wrote poetry and submitted one for an Emily Dickenson contest at BYU.  She received an honorary award and was invited to a banquet at BYU to be presented this ward.

She enjoyed sketching birds, animals, and nature and painting with water colors.  She was an exceptional care taker and received her CNA certificate. She loved the elderly. She cared for two special friends with Alzheimer’s; Vera in the Hall home and a long term position at Lois’ home.

Larry and Beverly moved to Santa Clara Utah in March 1994.   Larry passed away in 1996.  She loved her grand-children beyond measure Each one for their unique personalities.  She adored her first great grandson Cody and spent many hours with him.  She was especially tickled with her first great grand-daughter Aleighana.  Beverly filled her life with service to her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and many others in her neighborhood, community, and church ward family.  She would spend her days visiting the elderly, homeless, or downhearted, tending grand-children, she ardently worked on her personal family history, and served countless hours and days in the St. George temple.

She struggled most of her adult life with mental illness.  Recently she was diagnosed with dementia.  The combination of these two illnesses was an overwhelming challenge for Beverly and her family.  The past year she resided at Red Cliffs Care center in the Memory Care unit called The Journey.  The staff, nurses and CNA’s all loved and admired Beverly for her smile and gratitude for their care.  She was often concerned about others around her even with her illness.

She left a legacy to her family and her descendants.  When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

If a person was measured by their actions with sands in an hour glass and the sands were each named her hour glass would be filled with words such as: Kind, compassionate, true, loving, caring, sweetheart, self-less, giver, faithful, gentle, thoughtful, amazing, valiant, rock, friend, saint, disciple, nurturing, sensitive, elect.

Beverly’s life was filled with acts of kindness and Charity.  She fulfilled all her covenants and was truly a disciple of Christ.

Preceded in death by her husband Larry Daniel Hall and her daughter Cheryl Elaine. Survived by her children Karyn (Dan) Wright of Washington, Utah, Eric (Linette) Hall of LaVerkin, Utah and Brian (Brittney) Hall of Kanab, Utah; Sisters Vicki Johnson of Carlsbad, California, Lynda Cluka of Las Vegas, Nevada and Kelly Fischetti of Vista, California. Grandchildren Danny, Shannyn, Shane, Jake, Malone, Levi, Peyton, Breawna, Presleigh and great-grandchildren Cody and Aleighana.

“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. “

Funeral services will be held in Santa Clara, Utah on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Rachel Drive Chapel, 3815 Rachel Drive. A viewing will be held 9:30 to 10:30 am prior to services. Interment will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery.