- Date Of Birth: September 16, 1933
- Date Of Death: September 27, 2021
- State: Michigan
Beverly Anne (Jones) Goldsmith passed away in Portage, MI on September 27, 2021.
Bev was born on September 16, 1933 in Boonville, IN to Homer (Jack) and Margaret (Davis) Jones. The small family lived in Indiana during Bev’s early years and then moved to Portage, MI.
Bev and her family lived close to West Lake where Bev spent her childhood boating, fishing, and swimming in the lake. She was truly “Daddy’s little girl” and enjoyed the many things he taught her about fishing and enjoyment of the great outdoors. She was very close to two of her cousins, Robert and Gary Gowen, who lived in Indiana and would visit during the summers. They were like brothers to her, and later in life their children would refer to her as Aunt Bev. Even though Bev missed nearly half of year of school at the age of seven due to rheumatic fever, she excelled at school. Throughout her entire life she sought to increase her knowledge. She enjoyed many social activities and sports in high school. She received her varsity letters in basketball, volleyball, and tennis.
Bev graduated from Portage High School in 1951 and was homecoming queen her senior year. She was chosen as the Portage entrant for a local festival held in Vicksburg in 1951 and was crowned queen.
Bev was awarded many academic scholarships and attended Western Michigan College (WMU) after graduation. While Bev was attending college, she met John Alton Goldsmith of Vicksburg, and they were soon married. John joined the United States Air Force, and for a time they were stationed in California. When they returned to Michigan they settled in Portage and started a family. Jon Brian (Chip) was born in 1954, and in 1959 their second son, Kevin Scott, was born. John and Bev divorced a few years later, and Bev raised both her sons alone.
Bev’s parents lived closed by and were a big help to her in raising her sons. Bev worked for many years as a paralegal for the Legal Aid Bureau of Kalamazoo County. She enjoyed many activities throughout her life including sewing, vegetable and flower gardening, painting, drawing, ceramics and was well known for her culinary skills. Dinners at Bev’s always consisted of delicious and plentiful food.
In 1988 Bev was blessed with a granddaughter, Jessica Eleanor Goldsmith, born to her son Kevin and his wife Carol. She loved being a grandmother and doted on her only grandchild. Jessica loved staying with “Bubba”, and Bev took every opportunity to spoil her granddaughter. She loved buying and sewing dresses for Jessica as well as toys and clothes and pretty much whatever Jessica wanted.
Bev enjoyed a long life of social activities, family time and working in her gardens. Bev had many health problems the last several years of her life, but her fierce determination, fortitude and resilience never left her. She was kind and loving and will remain a role model for those who knew her.
Bev is survived by her granddaughter, Jessica Eleanor Goldsmith; daughter-in-law Carol (Resseguie) Goldsmith-Moore; as well as her cousins’ children. She is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Margaret; her sons, Chip and Kevin; her cousins, Robert and Gary; and other aunts and uncles.
