Obituary of Beverly A. Smith

Beverly Smith was born in a Lebanese Community located within Brockton, Massachusetts.  She did not speak English until entering school.  Beverly attended Catholic schools in California and Massachusetts since she moved frequently back-and-forth between her parent’s and her grandparent’s homes.  She had no brothers or sisters but had many close and loving relatives.  Her first marriage was in Massachusetts but the couple moved to Phoenix, Arizona where her daughter, Theresa, was born.  That was an abusive marriage and ended in divorce leading to Beverly and her daughter relocating to the Los Angeles area where she met her second husband, Bruce Powell.  From his previous marriage there were three children, Bruce, Daniel, and Cynthia, whom Beverly helped raise from early childhood.  Beverly later discovered that her husband was a heroin addict; and she made the choice to join him-but both soon achieved recovery from their addictions; and Beverly became a very successful Substance Abuse Counselor for nine years at the Orange County Substance Abuse program.  The family relocated briefly to Idaho before settling in Kingman, Arizona, where Bruce died in a vehicle accident.  Beverly continued working at the Mohave Mental Health Clinic as a State Certified Substance Abuse Counselor for several years until meeting her most recent husband, Dr. Ronald Smith, a Licensed Psychologist.  They took up residence in Lake Havasu City where Beverly, again, became a stepmother, this time helping to raise Ron’s five children – Glenda, Alicia, Michael, Lowell, and Paula.  Now, there are almost thirty grandchildren and over five great grandchildren, but only Theresa continues to reside in Lake Havasu City.  The couple worked together in the mental health field until Ron’s retirement a year ago.  For over ten years, they also provided weekly study-group meetings for A Course in Miracles.

Throughout her life, Beverly had been a “Survivor” or many serious health problems.  In her childhood she had rheumatic fever and polio that left her with scoliosis.  She also had a near-death tumor that was miraculously healed.  As an adult Beverly was successfully treated for breast cancer and later for uterine cancer.  She recovered well from the full replacement of both knees.  Although she underwent the surgical removal of a disc in her back, she continued to struggle with back pain and was in Pain Management for over a decade.  Last year she successfully took the initiative to end her use of pain managing medications and also was successfully cured of Hepatitis C.  Over the last two years Beverly had recurring episodes of colitis that resulted in many periods of hospitalization and Emergency Room attention.  As she became weaker from the colitis symptoms Beverly had a series of falls, one of which fractured her left femur.  Although she responded well to extended physical rehabilitation, Beverly continued to become weaker and suffered increasingly from her long-term colitis symptoms.  On August 23, 2019 – with the helpful assistance of Hospice – this brave, greatly-loved “Survivor” determined to finally lay down her fragile body for the last time – in her own home, in her own bed.  Beverly will be greatly missed by her family and by all those who love her.

It was Beverly’s decision to have no immediate funeral service, but rather, a memorial ceremony at a later date to be determined.

Services were entrusted to the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home.  Thoughts and condolences can be made to Beverly’s family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.