BEAL, Evorine

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, July 05, 2015 Evorine Beal experienced a heavenly reunion on June 18, 2015. She was known to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren simply as "Oma," Evorine was born to Oran and Betty Lou (Meers) Baggett on Nov. 1, 1928 in Beaumont, Texas. Evorine was as special as her name, which was uniquely given to her by her parents who saw it in the newspaper, but who didn't know it was a typo. Evorine moved to Salinas, California at the age of two. At first, her family of migrant style workers raised her and her brother Kenny in an abandoned picker's cabin. From such humble beginnings, she went on with indomitable spirit to conquer life's trials. She made life's most important decision, that of accepting Jesus as her savior as a young girl in Salinas. Her faith went on to develop and frame her life and character. She was told in high school that she could not take college prep classes because she lived in the poor section of Salinas and no one from there went to college, but she took both the non-college high school diploma classes and the college prep classes, which allowed her to be accepted into UCLA. After graduating from Salinas H.S. in 1946 she went on to graduate from UCLA in 1950 with a degree in sociology. In college, she met Robert (Bob) Brewer and they were married July 16, 1949. After a short time living with Bob's parents while finishing college, she and Bob moved into a new home in Burbank, California in which she lived and raised her family for over 30 years. In 1953, she gave birth to her first son Stephen. In 1954, she gave birth to a second son Jonathan. Finally, in 1957 she gave birth to a daughter Marta. During these years, Evorine stayed at home and was wife and mother. She was active in church, played bridge with friends, trained her children and loved to plan family vacations. In 1971, her life was changed by divorce. However, her determined spirit took over once again. She went back to school at San Fernando Valley State College to gain a teaching credential. From 1972 to 1987, she taught kindergarten for Burbank Unified School District. Often she opened her home to exchange students from around the world. She spent a summer in Mexico attending the University in Mexico City to become bilingual. During this time, she went on to earn her master's degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. On Jan. 2, 1987, Evorine married widower Dr. Richard Beal Jr. Dick, as he was known by family and friends, was an entomologist who had taught at NAU. Evorine had known Dick from her college days when he had taught at a Christian camp she had attended and as a speaker on the UCLA campus. Dick was also an ordained Baptist minister. In 1987, Evorine left her teaching career in Burbank and became a pastor's wife serving a church in Corona, California. In 1988, the Beal's moved to the Denver, Colorado area where Dick taught at Colorado Christian University. Later Evorine taught education classes at CCU. They both retired from CCU in 1994 and moved to Prescott, Arizona. In Prescott, they enjoyed retirement years traveling around the world, spending time outdoors, enjoying family and working in their church, First Baptist of Prescott. It was during these years that "Oma" began her tradition of bringing the family together for reunions. She planned special family events like a three-day cruise to Mexico or a dude ranch in Tucson. She helped her daughter battle cancer and she celebrated graduations, births, marriages and birthdays. In 2011, she and Dick moved to East Wenatchee to be close to family. Again, she became active in a local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma along with her church family at Eastmont Baptist Church. Her husband, Dick, passed away in January of this year. Soon after, she was diagnosed with a medical condition that made breathing difficult. Evorine handled life's challenges with grace and courage, knowing that life beyond death is real, but life here is a precious gift. Evorine was preceded in death by her parents, Oran and Betty Lou Baggett, her brother Kenneth Baggett, and her husband Richard Beal Jr. She is survived by her son Pastor Stephen Brewer (Tina) of East Wenatchee; son Jonathan Brewer (Mary) of La Habra Heights, California; daughter Marta Brewer of Woodland Hills, California; stepson Andrew Beal (Nancy) of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren Jedidiah Brewer (Lindsay), Marcel Simons (Justin), Riley Brewer, Taylor Brewer, Haley Brewer, Brooke Hedlund and Tess Hedlund; Tyler Beal and Noelle (Seth) Holler; and eight great grandchildren. A memorial service in her honor will take place Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m., at Eastmont Baptist Church in East Wenatchee, Washington, Pastor Steve Brewer officiating. Private interment will take place at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, California. In lieu of followers, contributions may be made in her honor to the Hispanic Ministry of Eastmont Baptist Church. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee. Information provided by survivors.