Bev Lewis

Beverley E. Lewis of Fillmore Pond, Bennington, passed away on August 9th at the age of 97 after a brief illness. Bev was born on April 27, 1920, to Rhea (Dunklee) and George Bigelow in Brattleboro, VT. Bev graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1938. After high school, she studied accounting and worked as a bookkeeper and auditor for Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young) in Milwaukee, WI, as well as the Latchis Brothers in Brattleboro. In 1941, Bev married Floyd L. Lewis of West Chesterfield, NH. After World War II, they opened an office supply company in Brattleboro. In 1951, they sold the business and moved to Concord, NH, where Bev was a substitute teacher for three area school districts. She also held various positions for both the city and state governments. In 1961, Bev and Floyd opened Floyd Lewis Agency, Inc., and Bev became a licensed property-casualty agent while managing the office. She could often be heard in the Agency's radio advertising as "Spookie Ole Alice." Bev was a devoted mother. When her sons were young, she kept the official score for the boys' Concord Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion games. She attended her daughter's dance lessons and spent many hours sewing costumes for recitals. Her greatest joy was to gather her family around the dining table every night and listen to her children talk about school and activities. As the children became teenagers, the dinners became longer, and with the dishes pushed aside, a fast-paced repartee and good-natured teasing of Mom would begin. To Floyd's demand that the teasing stop, Bev would respond "Floyd, leave them alone. It doesn't get any better than this." After selling the Agency to their son Barry, Bev enjoyed retirement with Floyd in Lady Lake, FL. She hand-quilted blankets and pillows for her family. She taught ESL and reconnected with her love of writing by joining a creative writing group. Bev leaves behind a notebook of beautifully written memories for her children. When her children were young, Bev was active in Immanuel Community Church on the Heights in Concord. She was a member of Epsom (NH) Baptist Church, Grace Bible Baptist Church in Fruitland Park, FL, and Trinity Baptist Church in Concord. Bev loved to travel. She enjoyed trips to Europe, the Middle East, the national parks in the western United States, and Canada's Atlantic Provinces. Bev is predeceased by her husband of 73 years Floyd L. Lewis, her brother George E. Bigelow, and her daughter-in-law Deborah R. Lewis. She leaves behind her son Barry Lewis of Indianapolis, IN, and his children Rebekah Lewis, Karyn and Dan Hassman, Jennifer and Todd Townsend, Keith and Dawn Lewis, and Isaiah and Liz Lewis; her son Brian and Virginia Lewis of Woodbridge, VA, and their children Joshua and Vanessa Lewis, Zachary Lewis, and Gabrielle and Greg Winningham; her daughter Barbara and Nicholas Lasoff of Bennington, VT; thirteen great grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Jean Bigelow of Millis, MA, and Emily Phelps of Chula Vista, CA. For their dedicated care and loving support, the family thanks the staff of 2 West at Southern Vermont Medical Center, the Rockwell wing at the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region. At Bev's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. A private burial will take place in West Chesterfield, NH. At Bev's request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. A private burial will take place in West Chesterfield, NH.