BEVERLY HAIRE - HAPPY IN HEAVEN!

So many thoughts flood my mind as I reflect on my sister, Beverly’s life. In the couple of days since she died, I’ve received lots of comforting thoughts from so many friends. My friend, Brenda Young, captured it for me by writing: 

“It is so very hard when there’s a whole set of memories that no one has but you anymore.” 

I can reflect on the death of each of my siblings now, and with each one – Jeannette, Ira and Beverly – I was able to enjoy a period where we reminisced about our parents and the way we were raised.

I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the way, I took on the role of ‘keeper of the family stories’. It fits me well. So, in that vein, let me share a few stories about Bev.

BEV AS A TEENAGER

I only have vague memories of Ira still living at home. When we moved to New Brighton [around 1958], he commuted to Beaver Falls to finish his senior year. He was a foreground type of person who made lots of jokes and kept extremely active.

I recall a night when he popped into the house with a friend after having visited a carnival somewhere. He walked in the door with a four-foot-tall, colorful, stuffed clown that he had won by knocking milk jugs off a shelf. He only stayed a moment before heading back out for more fun. But before he left, he gave the clown to Beverly. It was clear that it shocked her! She looked overwhelmed, confused and delighted – all at the same time! I remember feeling SO HAPPY for her that night. I also remember being SO PROUD of this big brother that I hardly knew!

BEV AT IDORA PARK

We were privileged to be able to go to Idora Park [an amusement park] in Youngstown twice a year:

·         Once because it was New Brighton High School Picnic Day, and

·         Again, when our Dad’s shop – Townsend Company – provided all-day ride passes!

I’m not sure which this day was, but we were trying to squeeze as many rides in as possible. Our dad occasionally rode with us, but mom always found a bench and someone to talk with.

This was in the latter days of Idora and it was apparent that it was beginning to decline. But we were intent on having fun!

About four of us got in line for the ‘Wildcat’ roller coaster. To prevent line-jumping, they had constructed two cyclone fences really close together to help keep the line organized [they were probably about three feet apart].

The Wildcat line was always long, but it moved fast. Standing in line gave you plenty of opportunity to talk about the last ride and anticipate the next.

As we stood in line, a few kids moved through the line passing people like they had some kind of priority pass. They passed most people so quickly that they hardly had time to react. As we stood talking and waiting, this group approached us.

Suddenly – I hadn’t seen them coming – Beverly reached out and grabbed the fence across from her right at neck level for the leader of this pack. It was an intimidating moment and I feared a conflict [remember, I’m seven years younger than Bev]. That’s when I heard her say to these guys: “That’s far enough, buster! Nobody cuts in front of me!”

It was a tense moment, but her audacity apparently had just the right amount of pressure to it that they backed up and stayed behind us.

There was no further problem and we had fun on the ride.

But I had seen a side of my sister that day that I had never seen before!  😮 

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

I always felt proud of Bev. I think she held a hard spot in our family. Jeannette was the first child – and a daughter. She often spoke of how dad spoiled her.  Ira was the first boy – born three years after Jeannette. Bev was born four years later and held the ‘baby’ position until I was born. She also spoke of dad buying her dresses and making her feel special. But school was hard for her and she dealt with some self-esteem issues. However, she had inherited the ‘Walton’ gene for humor and fun! She had a big laugh and made many friends especially at church and Camp Meeting every summer. She loved to have fun and – as mentioned earlier – she loved amusement parks and roller coasters. 

LAUNCHING INTO ADULTHOOD

I’m a little vague on details here, but after graduation, Bev moved to the Rochester, NY area. I think that Ira had a lot to do with helping her to launch her independence. He was married and established. She lived with him briefly while she started working at Chili Plastics. Ira, Bev and I all worked at this plastics factory.

Eventually, she and Nancy [Hughes/Nasso] rented a small apartment and lived together for a good while. They eventually dated a couple of guys named Dick and Dom, and that’s where two love stories began all those years ago!

BEV AND DICK

Our family took to Dick immediately. I thought he was great because of the blue Mustang that he drove. When the family all came together at mom and dad’s house in New Brighton – it was always a fun time!

One of the favorite stories revolves around mom’s famous nut-rolls. During one family get-together, the container of these cherished pastries disappeared for about half-a-day. We looked everywhere, but couldn’t find them! We later realized that Ira had hidden them. After that, it was common for the container of nut-rolls to disappear from time-to-time. 

Mom and dad had camped for years at Red House [near Salamanca, NY]. It was a place of many memories and family fun! I clearly remember the first time that our family was introduced to Scott. We were all camping together. Dick and I drove back to Rochester to bring Scotty down. When he got out of the car, mom opened her arms to him and he ran to her! What a moment! It was love at first sight! She and Dad would be so proud of Scott, Robin and their family today. Dad was always heavily involved in leadership at the Rochester District Camp. Scott has taken up that mantle as a current leader at Tri-State Camp!

FLORIDA FUN!

Somewhere along the line, Dick and Bev started buying into time share vacations. This was to become a huge part of their lives! They lived for April to come when they would head to Florida for three, four, even five weeks of fun and sun!

Their generosity became famous as others joined in on the fun. Dick's sister, Aunt Peggy, was included at times. The Nassos were almost always part of the package. After Jeannette and Lib retired, they often stopped and stayed for a few days as well. One year, Bev and Dick hosted all of the Haires for a week at Orange Park! Ira and Joyce participated too. Debbie and I treasure that memory because Travis and Troy each came and we had such a good time together! 

The goal of these trips was relaxation, golf and fun! We always appreciated them taking Travis and introducing him to the world of Disney – something that we simply didn’t have the resources to do!

BACKYARD VACATIONS

A couple of times, Bev invited us to come up with our pop-up camper and set it up in their backyard. Dick featured regular cookouts, the kids swam whenever they wanted, and Bev and I competed on Nintendo playing a game that we called ‘Chicken-across-the road’! We screamed and laughed as the kids patiently waited for us to finish so they could play again! Bev made great meals for us and took us to the Rochester Zoo!

We had so much fun! Two years in a row, I had to drive back to East Liverpool to do funerals. That’s part of the inconvenience of being a pastor. With low salaries and a growing family, Bev and Dick sure added a lot of joy to our lives by their generous invitations! Our kids definitely loved their Uncle Dick and Aunt Bev.

LIKE HER MOM

When our dad died, we emptied out his house. It was the worst week of my life! When the end of this process arrived, I was given my mom’s and dad’s Bibles. What a treasure! I value them highly! My mom’s is filled with prayer lists of people from church, from camp, family connections and friends from the past and the present. She had taped pockets to the front and back covers to hold all of these lists!  

As the youngest, I often wondered which of our parents we took after the most.

It was clear to me that Jeannette favored the Walton side of the family. She looked like the Waltons and certainly had the mischievous humor of the Waltons. But I always thought that Ira, Bev and I took more after the Haire side. Ira – as he grew older – came to look just like our dad. It was actually remarkable.

With Bev, there was no doubt! She became a spiritual clone of our mother!

I’m a Facebooker! Until recent years, Bev was also a Facebooker. I used to marvel at my sister as I saw her brief comment over and over and over again on Facebook: “I’ll be praying for you!”  And I often told people that when my sister tells you that she’s going to pray for you – SHE WILL!  She believed in prayer! She practiced prayer! After our mom died, Bev was my number one prayer partner! Aside from Debbie, she was the first person I turned to for prayer!

She enjoyed a dynamic, personal, infectious relationship with God and she used it to bless untold thousands of people through her prayers! 

FAMILY REUNIONS

Joyce took the lead to get our Haire family together several times while they were living in Canton, PA. I’m not sure how many times we did it, but I think it might have been three. I know we did it once over Thanksgiving and another time was over July 4^th.

We all invaded their home and stayed for a few days! We took rides, enjoyed hayrides, played lots of games, ate lots of great food and just enjoyed being together! There were some great pictures taken of the four of us sitting around Joyce’s table while talking.

Thank you, Joyce, for making those great memories for us!

PRAYER TIME

There’s a striking memory that all of us have that I’d like to close with. Back in the day when mom and dad were both living [which means before October, 1981], we would all occasionally come home to visit at the same time. Our wedding was one of those times – August 11, 1973. 

I’ve already mentioned the ‘nut-roll’ story. We loved being together and would almost always attend the New Brighton Free Methodist Church together on Sunday morning. This gave our parents a great deal of pride.

All four of us – Jeannette, Ira, Beverly and me – were blessed by being raised in a home where God was highly honored! We were raised in a godly home by parents who loved the Lord and served him faithfully through their church!

After church, we would all crowd around that beautiful, oak, pull-out table…By the way, that table is still in the family! Jon and Tracie, Rylie and Coltin eat at that table every day in Rockledge, Florida!

After that meal, it was time to pack up the cars so that each of us could head home.

BUT, there was a tradition to closing those weekends. My dad would gather us all in the living room where he would ask us all to kneel. He would then lead us in a prayer in which he would pray a blessing over each one of us in order. It was a precious bonding time for our family! It was followed, of course, with lots of hugs and kisses and words of affection as we piled into our cars and left for our individual homes.

I can only imagine the loneliness that mom and dad felt as they watched the last car disappear around the bend. I’m sure he wrapped his arm around his treasured Hazel, gave her a squeeze and said something about all her hard work in making the weekend a reality!  He loved her so much! Our parents modeled a great marriage for each of us kids! We all knew that we were loved!

And friends, it’s into that loving and growing heavenly fellowship, that…

[Looking at Dick]  -  your wife

[Looking at Scott and Heather]  -  your mom

[Looking at the grandkids]  -  your Grandma

[Looking at the friends present]  -  your dear friend, Beverly

It’s into that precious, loving, heavenly fellowship that Beverly has now entered!

But far more important than family is the fact that she has finally come into the presence of Jesus – whom she loved throughout her life and to the day of her death!  Can you imagine that?

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 Let's pray.

Our kind and loving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 

We thank You for the way You blessed and watched over Beverly’s life all through these nearly eighty years!

Thank You for all in her that blessed us:

her loud laughter

her frequently repeated stories

her love for fun

her passion for worship

her desire to please her family

her committed prayer life

her love for Dick

her love for Scott and Heather

and her love for her grandchildren

and the joy she was able to take from her great grandchildren!

 

Help us, O Lord, to let go of the memories of the past two or three years

and cling to the memories that have been evoked today in this time we’ve taken to reflect on her life!

 

Help us to be grateful!

Help us to stand strong beside Dick as he moves forward without the one who stood with him in marriage since 1967.

Help us to emulate all in Beverly that was good and admirable!

Help us to use our lives to make a difference!

Help us to love one another and others.

 

If we know You, Lord, and live for You, then help us to let our light shine brightly!

If we’ve fallen away from You – call and pull us back into Your favor!

If we don’t know You yet – help us to find a quiet moment and surrender our lives into Your hands! For only then can we know the deepest of joy and peace!

 

We honor You – kind and gracious God.

                            And we pray in Jesus’ Name.                             

Amen.