Beverly Ann Beyer, 79, passed peacefully into the afterlife on May 10, 2011, at her home in Everett, Wash., following a battle with cancer. She was born in Omaha, Neb., on Aug. 30, 1931, the daughter of Dwight E. Rice and Helen E. Gilliam.

In her early years, Beverly was an aspiring musician and played clarinet, oboe and piano in school. For a time, she lived in Racine, Wis., where she attended high school and worked as a part-time lifeguard on Lake Michigan. While in Racine, she met her future husband, Donald W. Beyer, and together they raised four children in Tucson, Ariz., and later Phoenix, Ariz. Once in retirement, Bev and Don moved to Missoula, Mont., and later settled in Coeur d'Alene.

Beverly attended the Community United Methodist Church and sang in the 3Cs choir whenever she was able. She embraced life as it came and looked for beauty in the everyday world around her. She believed that death is not an ending but a new beginning, a doorway to new and wonderful things beyond, and did not fear what was to come.

Beverly is survived by her four children, Gary, Brian, Teri and Michael; seven grandchildren, David, Richard, Crystal, Jessica, Kimberly, Jennifer and Emily; and five great-grandchildren.

She will be laid to rest with her husband in the Veteran's Wall of Honor in Coeur d'Alene on Memorial Weekend, Saturday, May 28.

This obituary is not a "farewell," but rather a wish for "Godspeed" on her amazing journey ahead.