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Beverly Jean Smith Garvey, age 97, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025 at Birch Meadows Senior Care.
She was born February 27, 1928 in Muskegon, the daughter of Victor E. and Emma (Anderson) Smith.
On August 14, 1947 Bev married Douglas B. Garvey, becoming his partner in life and later in business. She was part-owner of Gar-V Manufacturing and Fastener Coatings, and often would do secretarial work for those businesses during the evenings.
She enjoyed traveling and camping. She loved hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire. Her talents included sewing, knitting, decorating, and cooking. She made jams, jellies, juices, sauces, and delicious pies – especially cherry. Pork and beef roasts cooked together were a favorite family meal.
For Bev, holidays were always a special event, especially the Christmas season. All of December was spent baking, decorating, and wrapping all of the many wonderful gifts we got. The family still cherishes the memories of Christmas and refers to them as the best Christmases ever. Probably the most treasured of her treats at Christmas were her pecan sticky buns and fudge. For Valentine’s Day, she always made a cherry-walnut heart shaped cake for Doug. Doug always brought her carnations and chocolates. She loved playing pranks on Halloween and baked green cake on St. Patrick’s Day.
Bev lived a faith filled life, creating a beautiful home for her husband and children. An empty nest was a very difficult adjustment for her. Eventually, she found a love for tennis that became a life-long passion, which she shared with Doug and Merri. And nothing gave her more pleasure than her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Following in her own mother’s footsteps, if she had a baby to cuddle and rock, no one else had the chance.
Remaining to cherish her memory are her children, Gae, Michael (Kay), Joy and Merri (Christopher); daughter-in-law, Lynelle; grandchildren, Carly (Courtney), Joshua (Maria), Benjamin, Garvey, Max, and Paige; great-grandchildren, Madison, Kai’Lee, Grace, Asiah (Zachary), Julie, Gabriel, and Nicholas; and many dearly-loved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Doug, and son, Mitchell.
Her family will receive friends Saturday, September 27, 2025 beginning with a 10 a.m. viewing and the service following at 11 a.m. at Three Rivers Bible Church, 220 N. Erie St. with Pastor Jeff Homan officiating. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery at a later date.
Donations in Bev’s memory may be directed to Three Rivers Bible Church. Envelopes will be available at the church and at Hohner Funeral Home.
