My "back porch" is my kitchen, my favorite room in the house. Come on in, the coffee is fresh, and I just made a pitcher of sweet tea. The cookies will be out in a minute. I have over 40 years of recipes to share with you, along with my opinion on everything. Oh my, you are right, it is cocktail time. What can I get you? Of course I can make you a Mint Julep! Stop by anytime, something is always cooking, and the back door is never locked.

Bon Appetit, Y'all





Sunday, December 9, 2012

Saying Goodbye to Beverly

I am so sad to tell you that Beverly passed away Thursday the 6th.  She died peacefully in her sleep.  I was blessed to be able to spend the last few days of her life with her, and for most of that time she was coherent and was her usual funny, irreverent self.  She enjoyed hearing the blog comments and emails I read to her.

I gathered a few mementos I found in the house while looking for things that were important to Beverly near the end, including her baton from when she was a majorette (she was also Prom Queen) and a motorcycle vest from the Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson Bikers' club to which she belonged.  A patch on the front reads "I'm perfect just the way I am."

When we met with Beverly's pastor, Scott, in preparation for his composition of her eulogy we laughed and cried and told "Beverly stories" for two hours.  My favorite story, though, was Scott's.  He said that when he told his daughter of Beverly's passing a deeply spiritual women (but, obviously, one who had never met Beverly) was standing nearby and said, "Now she's singing with the angels."  Scott's quick response was, "No, she's probably having a cigarette and telling God what she's cooking for supper."  That is Beverly in a nutshell.

Thank you all so much for your comments, your emails, your thoughts and prayers.  We have all lost someone special, whether we knew her through her blog or "in real life" as we bloggers say.  Every time you cook one of Beverly's recipes think of her and smile.  She'd like that.  Special thanks go to Joyce at October Farm, who I know grieves for Beverly with her whole heart.

For those of you who live near Lexington, Kentucky and would like to attend her memorial service here are the details:

Saturday, December 15th
Old Union Christian Church
6856 Russell Cave Rd.
Lexington, KY 40511
Visitation 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Memorial service at 4:00 p.m.
Supper to follow in the church basement

If you need directions or have something special about Beverly you'd like Scott to include in her eulogy he can be reached at OldUnion@earthlink.net.  And if you do come it's likely you'll get to meet David Biddle, who grew nearly all the vegetables Beverly cooked with.  Rumor has it David may even sing.  You'll probably also meet Betty Rose and Louise Charles.  And you will certainly eat a delicious meal, because the ladies of Old Union will be pulling out all the stops and making their best dishes for Beverly, as is only right and proper.  The food for her funeral was one of the few details Beverly was willing to discuss - a food blogger to the end!

A memorial fund has been established in Beverly's honor through Traditional Bank in Paris.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the fund with checks being made payable to Larry Swetnam with "Beverly's Memorial Fund" on the subject line or on a note enclosed with the donation.  Their address is 3333 Lexington Rd., Paris, KY 40362. Please mark the envelope "ATTN: Cecilia".  And thank you, Cecilia, for helping us set this up for Beverly when we were too overwhelmed to think clearly.  ~Angie

28 comments:

  1. Angie...so sorry for your loss. I sense the spirit of Beverly is reflected in you and what a fabulous gift that is.

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  2. A beautiful and fitting send off to a beautiful and special lady. Thanks Angie, for sharing these links. I am trying to gather up as many recipes as possible. There are more recipes in this blog than in a dozen cookbooks (maybe more). Bev's legacy to us. xo

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    1. Don't rush - I plan on keeping her blog active indefinitely so that everyone can search for recipes :)

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  3. i am still having trouble wrapping my head around how this little tornado of a woman is no longer cooking up a storm and ordering everyone around. i can't stop crying. i think scott is close to being right, bev is having a cigarette and telling god what he will be eating for dinner as well as how he should be running the universe. god might just get knocked out of his job. i think bev can do it better!

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    1. Uh-oh! We better be prepared for some changes! ;)

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  4. RIP dear Bev. You will be so missed in blogland. May God comfort all who knew her. If you want to see her again be sure and be saved. Believe Jesus died for your sins and trust only that for eternal life. Go in peace Bev. Carol

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  5. We will all miss Bev but take comfort in the fact that she is no longer in pain. RIP Bev

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  6. Yes, she would be giving orders and straightening things out. I really believe that when we move on that we are as we were and not some beautified sanctified creation of someone's idea of how we're supposed to be. Why would her specialness be taken away just because she's going home? My prayers are with you and all who loved her. I will miss her posts.

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    1. I agree. I already feel like she's watching over me.

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  7. Angie, my name is JP and yes, I will contact Scott via email. Although Bev and I never "met" each other, we knew one other well. I will miss her....:)JP @ A Quiet Corner

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  8. Hi Angie & thank you for keeping Bev's loyal followers updated. Keeping her in my heart & will think fondly of her always.

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    1. Thank you, Ina. You were very special to Bev.

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  9. So sorry, Angie. I always liked hearing your stories. She has truly left an amazing legacy.

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. She has left a legacy, and I have no doubt that even though she didn't have children of her own people will be telling "Beverly stories" for generations :)

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  10. Oh what a loss. I will sorely miss her humor and her shared recipes too. I am stunned and have prayed for her to Rest In Peace.

    Blessing to all...

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  11. Angie, my thoughts and prayers are with all Bev's family and friends during this time of grief. May you find strength and comfort in knowing God is with you.

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  12. Oh I am so so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers to you all. I will miss her wit, humor and recipes. She touched many lives.

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  13. I'm so sorry for your loss and I'm sad that our friendship was so short. I lie to think of her as cooking with the angles! Rest in peace Bev!

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  14. It was quite a happy little accident when I stumbled across Beverly. One of my families lost recipes was tucked safely in Bevs archives. I keep a pint jar of her house seasoning in the cupboard with her directions taped firmly in place. I will miss miss her wry wit and "seeing" her smiling face each day. Gods blessings to each and everyone.

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  15. It was quite a happy little accident when I stumbled across Beverly. One of my families lost recipes was tucked safely in Bevs archives. I keep a pint jar of her house seasoning in the cupboard with her directions taped firmly in place. I will miss miss her wry wit and "seeing" her smiling face each day. Gods blessings to each and everyone.

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    1. I keep a shaker of her house seasoning on hand as well :)

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  16. Beverly was the force behind my move to Fl from Lex, Ky in 1978. We remained friends for all these years, even though we fell out of touch for several of them. She was the kindest, most generous person I ever knew. I have many "Bev stories". I would not be lying if I said I owe much of the person I am today to her and Art Smith. Bev never met a "stranger". I will miss her dearly. I know my husband feels the same way!
    Martha Szabo & Steve Szabo

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    1. Martha, thanks so much for leaving this comment! One of the pictures that will be on display at her memorial is Beverly with Art. I only met him a few times, but I got the impression he knew how to live life to the fullest!

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  17. I am so sorry to hear about Bev. I only knew her on the blog. Thank you for thinking of us and keeping us informed. I am glad her recipes with be around to search for a while. Shari

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    1. People who don't blog have a hard time, sometimes, understanding what close relationships are built through blogging. I'll be telling my husband about something that's happened to a friend and he'll say, "Have I met her?" and I'll have to explain, again, about someone who may live thousands of miles away but feels as though they live next door :)

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  18. I was looking for a recipe for Tomato Preserves and came across Beverly's Back Porch. I instantly was charmed by this woman. My heart just sank when I read about her passing. I did not know her and yet I was brought to tears. My sympathy to her family. I will keep reading all of her blogs and I know I will enjoy each one.

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