Beverly Jean (Bishop) Smith

SALINA - Beverly Jean (Bishop) Smith passed away on June 26, 2022, at her home in Salina after battling Leukemia, surrounded by family. Beverly was born on April 18, 1937, in Wichita, KS to Adelbert “Ebby” Bishop and Anna Laura (Winter) Bishop. She grew up in Derby, KS and graduated from Derby High School. She went on to get her B.A. in Secondary Education from Friends University in Wichita, KS. After graduating she accepted a teaching position with Rozelle High School in Rozelle, KS where she lived for two years. She then moved to Mankato, KS where she became the Jewell County Extension Agent for three and half years. This is also where she met her future husband, Jack Smith.

Beverly moved to Salina, KS and worked for the Saline County Extension Service for ten years. In this period, she also married Jack and obtained her master’s degrees in both Family & Childhood Development and Consumer Economics from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.  

After taking a few year years off to raise their two boys, Beverly went back to work as an Associate Professor at Kansas Wesleyan University where she taught for 17 years. She served on many committees
and was a faculty member for Kansas State University for 13 years before retiring from Kansas Wesleyan. Before she officially retired, she was a consultant for Mid-American Nazarene, Baker University, Ottawa University and Saint Mary’s University.

Throughout her life she volunteered for many groups including being a camp counselor for 20 years, and a 4-H community leader. She was an administrator for the Salina Track Club/Junior Olympics and took many groups of students on trips to New York and 4-H members to Washington D.C. Beverly was also a member of the First Christian Church in Salina, where she taught Sunday School and served on the board.

Her interest’s included travel, cooking, sewing, sports and attending community theatre. She spent her last few years, taking care of her husband and adoring her grandkids.

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Jack A. Smith; both of her parents; and her siblings, Paul Bishop and Juanita “Bishop” Meissen.

She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Alan Smith of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Matthew Lynn Smith of

Overland Park, KS, and her four grandchildren: Ethan Alexander Smith, Rachel Louise Smith, Owen Jeffrey Smith, and Nathan William Smith. Along with her nephews, Greg Meissen of Wichita, Steve Meissen of Fayetteville, GA and Gerald Winkle of Puyallup, WA.

Memorial Service will be held for Beverly and Jack on Saturday, August 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Ryan Mortuary in Salina.

Memorials may be made to the Saline County 4-H Development Fund, 2218 Scanlan Ave, Salina, KS 67401.

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