Beverley A. Matthews

1936-2023

Beverley Anne (Schurman) Matthews passed away on September 14, 2023, after a short, but hard-fought, battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 87 years old. 

Bev was born on June 18, 1936, in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada to Jacques and Violet Schurman. She was always proud of her Canadian and Dutch heritage, and she remained a Canadian citizen, even after moving to the U.S. 

Bev often spoke of how her life began in May of 1958, as that is when she met her true love, William (Bill) Matthews. She once wrote that the happiest day of her life was the day she married Bill and the days each of her children were born; however, the day she met Bill made those other days possible. On July 11, 1959, they wed in Battle Creek, Mich., and moved to Chicago, Ill. in 1962, two years after the birth of their first child, Christianne. They spent the next 15 years building a beautiful family of six children — their oldest (Christianne) and youngest (Sarah) daughters were the “bookends,” with four boys (Dirk, Erik, Kirk, and Jac) in between. Her children loved her singing and her baking; they always looked forward to her shortbread at Christmas, which she took such care in wrapping up for each of them. 

In the 1980s, Bev and Bill moved to western Michigan and lived in Plainwell until Bill’s passing in 1999. Bev took great pride in her years spent working for Crossoak Family Dentistry as an office manager, where she was well-loved and respected by her co-workers and patients. She retired in 2007, moving to Tecumseh, Mich., where she purchased a home she loved and was so proud to share with others. 

She and her husband Bill began playing bridge with friends early in their marriage. Bev continued her love for bridge, joining various bridge groups in her retired years where she made many dear friends. 

Beverley is preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters, and her beloved husband, Bill. She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Christianne (Patrick), Dirk (Babette), Erik (Susan), Kirk (Kristen), Jac (Jamie), and Sarah (Frank); 10 grandchildren, Amy (Korey), Spacialle (Enrique), Ella, Kelsey, Mikayla, Marlee, Gabe, Alexander, James, and Peyton; one great-granddaughter, Azalea; as well as many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends. 

One of Bev’s favorite things was to spend time with her family and friends and just soak in the energy and laughter around her. To honor this, we will gather on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 from 2-5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 211 W. Chicago Blvd. View details and location information at Purse Martinez Funeral Home’s website.

Her internment and celebration of life will be held at a later date in Marquette, Mich. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Hospice of Lenawee. 

Condolences may be offered online at pursemartinez.com.